Syed Ata Hasnain sworn in as 43rd Bihar governor

Patna: Lt Gen (retd) Syed Ata Hasnain was sworn in as the governor of Bihar on Saturday at a ceremony held at Lok Bhavan here. The oath of office was administered by Patna high court Chief Justice Sangam Kumar Sahoo. Hasnain succeeds Arif Mohammed Khan in the constitutional post.

The swearing-in ceremony was attended by CM Nitish Kumar, along with senior members of his cabinet, including Samrat Choudhary, Vijay Kumar Choudhary and Bijendra Prasad Yadav. Senior govt officers and other dignitaries were also present on the occasion.

Hasnain brings with him a distinguished military career spanning four decades in the Indian Army. During his service, he was posted in some of the most demanding operational theatres, including Sri Lanka, the Siachen Glacier, North East India and several tenures in Jammu and Kashmir. He also served in United Nations peacekeeping missions in Mozambique and Rwanda.

His final assignment in uniform was as military secretary of the Indian Army, a crucial role involving senior-level personnel management. Before that, he served as the general officer commanding of 15 Corps in Srinagar, and the general officer commanding of 21 Corps in Bhopal.

Hasnain is regarded as one of India’s foremost experts on the Jammu and Kashmir conflict, Pakistan, the West Asia and transnational extremism. After retiring from the Army on June 30, 2013, he remained active in public, academic and national service roles. In 2018, he was appointed chancellor of the Central University of Kashmir. In Feb 2020, he was appointed member of the National Disaster Management Authority. Since 2015, he has also served as a member of the executive council of the Prime Minister’s Library and Museum.

His service has been recognised with six awards from the President of India and two from the Chief of Army Staff. Among his major honours are the Vishisht Seva Medal in 2003, Sena Medal in 2005, Ati Vishisht Seva Medal in 2009, Uttam Yudh Seva Medal in 2012 and Param Vishisht Seva Medal in 2013.

Educated at Sherwood College, Nainital, St Stephen’s College, Delhi, and King’s College, University of London, Hasnain is married to Sabiha Hasnain and has two daughters.