Arundhati Ghose, the lady who told the world "not now, not later", passes away

Former diplomat Arundhati Ghose, who earned the sobriquet 'Iron Lady' within the foreign service for her handling of India's CTBT negotiations, passed away in the early hours of Tuesday. She was 76.

Ghose was India's first permanent representative to the UN offices in Geneva and headed Indian negotiations on the nuclear Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty at a time when India was under intense pressure from Western powers to sign the treaty.

Ghose famously told the conference in 1996, "I would like to declare on the floor of this august assembly that India will never sign this unequal treaty -- not now, not later".

Ghose was ambassador to South Korea and Egypt.

In 1971, during the Bangladesh war, she was also Prime Minister Indira Gandhi's chosen liaison with the Bangladeshi government in exile.

Here are some tweets condoling her death:

Heartfelt condolences for demise of an eminent diplomat Ms. Arundhati Ghose. She was head of Indian delegation at CTBT conf 1996 in Geneva

— Arjun Ram Meghwal (@arjunrammeghwal) July 26, 2016

Arundhati Ghose, former diplomat & Ambassador passed away earlier tonight. She was head of Indian delegation at CTBT conf in Geneva. RIP

— Sagarika Ghose (@sagarikaghose) July 25, 2016

Amb Arundhati Ghose, outstanding diplomat, is no more. Re CTBT, she said, "India will not sign this unequal treaty. Not now, not ever." RIP

— Gurmeet Kanwal (@gurmeetkanwal) July 26, 2016

Friends, Arundhati Ghose, one of India's finest diplomats and former ambassador, passed away this morning. RIP

— Rajdeep Sardesai (@sardesairajdeep) July 26, 2016