Sobha Nambisan

Sobha Nambisan did her schooling in Delhi, after which she studied science at the undergraduate level and English Literature at the postgraduate level in Kerala. She has taught in Nirmala College, Coimbatore, and Emerald Heights College, Ooty, for three years, before attempting the Reserve Bank Probationary Officers’ exam and the Civil Services Examination in 1975.

She joined first the Reserve Bank as a probationary officer, and then the Indian Administrative Service in 1976. She was allotted to the Karnataka cadre.

As an IAS officer, she held many interesting posts, among which were Assistant Commissioner Dharwad, Director Social Welfare, Chief Secretary Zilla Panchayat Kolar, Housing Commissioner, Managing Director Apex Bank, Principal Secretary Higher Education, Director of Census Operations, Karnataka, CMD KSIIDC, and Principal Secretary, Planning Department. She retired in December 2009.

She was the Director of National Gallery of Modern Art, Bengaluru from March 2010 onwards, for two years. As the first Director, she put systems in place and helped to make the museum a vibrant cultural center.

She now spends her time reading, drawing, painting, and enjoys travelling occasionally.