K Kailashnathan sworn in as Lieutenant Governor of Puducherry

Puducherry: K. Kailashnathan, who previously served as the Chief Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister of Gujarat, officially commenced his role as the Lieutenant Governor of Puducherry on Wednesday morning. The oath-taking ceremony took place at Raj Nivas and was led by Justice D Krishnakumar, Acting Chief Justice of the Madras High Court.

K Kailashnathan, having recently retired from service on June 30, was appointed to the post by the President. He brings with him a wealth of administrative experience, having served in various capacities.

Kailashnathan's roots trace back to Vadakara, where he was born to Govindan and Leela. He did his basic education from Ooty, as his father was a postmaster there and later to the Theosophical Society's school in Adyar, Chennai, supported by an All India Merit Scholarship. Kailashnathan’s mother, Leela, once noted that since he won the All India Merit Scholarship in the 6th grade, he has achieved many significant milestones. She also mentioned that the three letters ‘IAS,’ which his father frequently repeated to Kailashnathan during his childhood, greatly inspired him.

Entering the IAS in 1979, Kailashnathan started his career as an Assistant Collector in Baroda under the Gujarat Cadre. His tenure in Gujarat also included his role as Principal Secretary. He was a trusted official of Narendra Modi. Despite retiring in 2013, Kailashnathan was appointed as Chief Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister.

Kailashnathan's wife, Beena, is the daughter of T. R. Raghavan, a partner in the Thrissur Elite Group. They have two children: Yamini, a doctor based in the UK, and Rohith, a businessman.