Bio-data of Mr R.K.Bhatia, High Commissioner to South Africa Name : Mr. R.K Bhatia Designation : High Commissioner to South Africa Mr. Rajiv Kumar Bhatia is India’s High Commissioner to South Africa. A career diplomat, Mr. Bhatia is known for his intellectual inclinations and professional dynamism. He holds a Master’s degree in political science from the University of Allahabad, India. Thereafter, he served as a lecturer in a university college in India for three years. Since joining the Indian Foreign Service in 1972, Mr. Bhatia served in Indian Embassies in Paris, Beirut, Brussels and Jakarta. More recently, he served as Consul General in Toronto, Canada; High Commissioner to Kenya and Permanent Representative to UNEP and UN Habitat; Ambassador to Myanmar; and Ambassador to Mexico. In Toronto, the Indo-Canada Chamber of Commerce recognized Mr. Bhatia’s contribution to foster business relations by conferring on him the President’s Award for 1997. Kenya gave him the opportunity to acquire expertise in multilateral diplomacy, especially during his tenure as the Chairman of Group of 77, Nairobi Chapter in 2001. In Mexico City, he was instrumental in establishing the India-Mexico Business Chamber (IMBC) in 2006. Mr. Bhatia enjoys writing on a range of issues and has published numerous articles in prestigious newspapers and magazines in India and abroad. He has also given many interviews to media and delivered lectures at universities and other institutions in the countries of his accreditation. He is particularly interested in arts, culture, history and Indian diaspora. His other interests are yoga, golf and listening to classical music. He loves traveling and has journeyed to nearly 60 countries so far. Mr. Bhatia is married and has two children. His wife, Kumkum, has generously contributed her time and energy towards cultural, intellectual and spiritual welfare of NRI/PIO women and youth in several countries.