Aditya Narayan Dhairyasheel Haksar, commonly cited as A. N. D. Haksar, is an Indian career diplomat and a prolific translator of Sanskrit literature into English. After a long service in the Indian Foreign Service, he turned to literary translation, producing English versions of a wide range of classical Sanskrit works including narrative, didactic, and erotic texts, and contributing to the popular accessibility of Sanskrit classics in modern India.
| Full name | Aditya Narayan Dhairyasheel Haksar |
|---|---|
| Known as | A. N. D. Haksar |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Profession | Diplomat; translator of Sanskrit |
| Service | Indian Foreign Service |
| Education | Doon School; University of Allahabad |
| Primary field | Classical Sanskrit literature in English translation |
Haksar belongs to the Kashmiri Pandit Haksar family, which has produced several prominent figures in Indian public life. He was educated at The Doon School in Dehradun and went on to the University of Allahabad. He joined the Indian Foreign Service and served in diplomatic postings over a career spanning several decades, representing India in multiple countries before retiring from the service.
As a member of the Indian Foreign Service, Haksar held assignments at Indian missions abroad and at headquarters in New Delhi. He served as India's ambassador and high commissioner in several states, with postings that included assignments in Europe and elsewhere. After retirement from active diplomacy, he devoted himself to translation and literary work.
Haksar is best known for rendering classical Sanskrit texts into accessible modern English prose and verse. His translations have been published by major Indian and international publishers, including Penguin Books, Rupa, Aleph, and HarperCollins India, often as part of widely circulated paperback editions that have helped bring Sanskrit literature to general readers.
Haksar's translations are noted for their readability, light annotation, and willingness to engage with the lighter, satirical, and erotic registers of Sanskrit literature alongside its didactic and religious traditions. By translating lesser-known texts in addition to canonical works, he has expanded the English-language readership of classical Indian literature and contributed to its presence in popular publishing.