IFSA mourns Rukmini

“She was a role-model for all junior Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officers, particularly, for the lady officers,” Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao said in her condolence message. Rao, who heads the IFSA, presided over the condolence meeting.

Menon passed away at her home in Bangalore recently.
During her diplomatic career, she served with distinction in many capacities in Europe, Australia, Canada, Asia and Africa.

Second woman

She was first posted as India’s ambassador to Denmark – the second woman from within the service to be appointed ambassador. 

Later, she served in Italy and her last posting was to Nigeria.  
Born in Kerala, Menon completed her schooling from the Vani Vilas High School and graduated from the Maharani’s College – both in Bangalore.

She did her post-graduate studies from Presidency College in Chennai and the London School of Economics.  She also has the distinction of being the first woman officer to be enrolled at the National Defence College.

Following her retirement from the Indian Foreign Service, she served as member on the selection board of the Union Public Service Commission.  She continued to write prolifically and on a range of foreign affairs issues after her retirement.

In recognition of her services to the nation, at her retirement, the Foreign Minster in a unique gesture wrote her a letter of appreciation that said “she had served beyond the call of duty.”

Rukmini Menon was married to distinguished musicologist, music critic and author of many books on music, Raghava Menon.