VB Pyarelal is a 1983 batch retired IAS officer of the Assam-Meghalaya cadre. A postgraduate in Economics, Pyarelal has held important positions in Assam, Kerala and New Delhi during a career spanning 36 years. While working as Director, Ministry of Culture, he was passionately involved with performing arts, National Manuscripts Mission and international cultural relations. While working as a Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, he shouldered the responsibilities of organising the India International Film Festival (IFFI, Goa, arguably the biggest Film Festival in India) and also the Mumbai International Film Festival (MIFF). He was entrusted by the Ministry to organise the India Pavilion at the Cannes Film Festival and leading the Indian contingent to Cannes.
He has a deep interest in Indian classical music and musicology.
Before returning to Assam, Pyarelal worked as Joint Secretary and later as Member Secretary of the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA), New Delhi which is well-known globally as the premier research centre for art and culture in India.
He was also instrumental in organising the Guwahati International Film Festival (GIFF) while he was working as Additional Chief Secretary, Cultural Affairs Department and Finance Department of the Government of Assam.
Retired IAS officer
