Who's Traveller Dharan?

Sridharan Madhusudhanan, also known as Traveller Dharan (பயணி தரன்), is an officer of the Indian Foreign Service. With over 14 years of expertise in Chinese-speaking regions, Dharan has served in Beijing, Hong Kong, and Taipei, alongside postings in the United States and the Fiji Islands. His most recent role involved overseeing the Development Partnership Administration Division as Joint Secretary at the Ministry of External Affairs, India, where he managed over 600 projects across 65+ countries. He is currently serving as the Indian Ambassador to Azerbaijan.

Dharan’s academic journey is as diverse as his professional one. He holds an MBA from Colorado State University, USA, and a certificate in Chinese language from the Beijing Institute of Economic Management. In India, his academic credentials include a Master’s in Human Resource Management (MHRM), a Master’s in Public Administration (MA Pub Ad), a Post Graduate Diploma in Journalism, and an Undergraduate degree in Science.

As an author, Dharan has published six books, showcasing his talent for translation and historical insight. Among his notable works are the first-ever direct translation between Chinese and Tamil: Shi Jing, the Book of Songs, a translation of Nobel laureate Mo Yan’s novella ‘Change’, and "80+ Best Historical and Natural Sites for Bicycle Tours in Delhi", which features recommendations for 40+ famous eateries. His most recent work is a translation of the celebrated novel "Ali and Nino", set in Azerbaijan. In 2016, Dharan was honoured with the SPARROW Literary Award for Translation, and he has published scholarly articles in the fields of Lexicography, Ecology, and Literature.

Dharan’s wife, Vaidehi, is an international educator & trainer of educators. Their son is a hip-hop artist in the USA, and their daughter is pursuing a PhD in Video Games & Linguistics in the Netherlands.