Author of the bestselling book, Adi Shankaracharya: Hinduisms Greatest thinker, Pavan K. Varma is a writer-diplomat and now in politics, where he was till recently an MP in the Rajya Sabha. He was earlier Advisor to the Chief Minister of Bihar, with the rank of Cabinet minister. He was Ambassador in several countries, also Director of The Nehru Centre in London, Official Spokesperson of the MEA, and Press Secretary to the President of India. Author of over a successful dozen books, Pavan K. Varma is currently the National General Secretary and National Spokesman of the Janata Dal (United). He was conferred an Honorary Doctoral Degree for his contribution to the fields of diplomacy, literature, culture and aesthetics by the University of Indianapolis in 2005. He was also awarded the Druk Thuksey Award, Bhutans highest civilian award, by His Majesty the King of Bhutan. In 2018, on the instructions of His Holiness the Shankaracharya of Sringeri, Pavan K. Varma was conferred an honorary doctorate by the Sri Sharada Institute of Indian Management.