Vikas Swarup is an author and former diplomat. He graduated from Allahabad University and joined the Indian Foreign Service in 1986. During his career of almost 35 years, he served in diplomatic assignments in Ankara (1987-1990), Washington DC (1993-1997), Addis Ababa (1997-2000), London (2000-2003) &Pretoria (2006-2009). He was Consul General of India in Osaka-Kobe (2009-2013) and High Commissioner to Canada (2017-2019). At Headquarters he served as Chef-de-Cabinet to the Foreign Ministerand head of the United Nations-Political and Public Diplomacy divisions. He was the Official Spokesperson of the Ministry from 2015-2017 in which capacity he significantly upscaled the Ministry’s social media outreach. After serving as Secretary(West) with responsibility for the UN, Europe and Central Asia, he retired from the Foreign Service in June 2021.

Vikas is also the author of three bestselling novels, Q&A (adapted as the multiple Oscar winning Slumdog Millionaire), Six Suspects (which is being made into a web-series for Disney-Hotstar) and The Accidental Apprentice (which has also been optioned for a film) and is currently working on his new novel. His books have been translated into more than 40 international languages. He has participated in all major literary festivals and written for several international publications such as TIME, Newsweek, The Guardian, The Telegraph, Financial Times and Libération(France).

An acclaimed public speaker, Vikas has given talks across the world, from school students in Hong Kong and South Africa to university students in the United States and Sharjah; from the employees of Googleand SAP, to the delegates of the Seoul Digital Forum and the annual United Way Community Leadership & Impact Conference. He has served as a jury member at the 33^rdCairo International Film Festival and for the 2012 Man Asian Literary Prize. Vikas is the recipient of a degree of Doctor of Literature & Philosophy (honoris causa) from the University of South Africa (UNISA) and an Honorary Doctorate for literary excellence and dedication to diplomacy from the Montreal-based Concordia University. He is also the recipient of the US-India Business Council’s Lifetime Achievement Award for “Contributing to the Cultural Ties that Bind”.