Vijai Vardhan is a graduate and post-graduate in History from St. Stephen’s College, Delhi University. Prior to joining the Indian Police Service in 1984 he represented his College in Badminton, Squash, Boxing and Athletics.
In the year 1985, he joined the Indian Administrative Service and was allocated the Haryana cadre. In his distinguished career, Vijai Vardhan has held important assignments like Secretary to Governor of Haryana, Chairman, Haryana Tourism Corporation, Chairman, Haryana State Pollution Control Board and Principal Secretary Tourism and Renewable Energy Departments. As Administrator, Haryana Urban Development Authority, Gurgaon and Panchkula, he was instrumental in catalyzing the industrial, residential and commercial development of Gurgaon, Panchkula and various other towns of Haryana. While posted as Deputy Commissioner, Faridabad and Municipal Commissioner, Faridabad, he took several initiatives in the urban development of Faridabad.
Vijai Vardhan is drawn to the mystic and has a deep and abiding interest in Sufism, Confucianism and Taoism. A keen historian, he has ‘authored five books till now. His book ‘Kurukshetra- Timeless Sanctity’ published by the reputed publishing house ‘Wisdom Tree’ is a result of six years of intense historical research and it captures the history, mysticism and spirituality of Kurukshetra from the earliest times till now. He has recently authored a book titled ‘Pinjore – The Garden of Paradise’ which is the first ever book on the 17th century Mughal gardens of Pinjore. His collection of Sufi Haiku poems in English titled, ‘Beyond the Great Beyond’ and ‘Ibadat – The Breath of My Soul’ have been greatly appreciated by critics and readers alike.
He has also authored three well researched monographs about the history and heritage of Haryana titled ‘Buddha’s Trail in Haryana’, ‘The Magnificent Monuments of Narnaul’ and ‘RakhiGarhi Rediscovered’.
Vijai Vardhan has contributed to the preservation and propagation of our heritage by conceiving the Pinjore Heritage Festival, Kartik Utsav at Raja Nahar Singh’s Palace, Ballabgarh, Faridabad and by restoring the ancient Mata Mansa Devi Temple at Panchkula (near Chandigarh) and the Mughal Gardens of Pinjore.
As a voice-over artiste, he lends his voice regularly to documentary films, theatre, social causes and poetry festivals. He gives occasional public recitals of ecstatic poetry of the world’s greatest romantic, radical and Sufi traditions in Hindi, English and Urdu languages.
Vijai Vardhan is presently posted as Additional Chief Secretary, departments of Higher Education, Cultural Affairs, Archaeology & Museums and Archives, Government of Haryana at Chandigarh.
