Dayal, who had earlier served as the Indian Ambassador to France, was appointed as the Head of the United Nations Operation in the Congo in September 1960 and he held the post till May 1961.[2] He also worked as the Representative of the Secretary General of the United Nations.[2] He published several books on socio-political themes,[5] including a book on Panchayati Raj under the title, Panchayati Raj in India.[6] The Government of India awarded him the second highest civilian award of the Padma Vibhushan, (then the highest civilian award) in 1969.[7]
He died on 17 September 1999 in New Delhi, following a stroke.[3] His life has been documented in his autobiography, A Life of Our Times, published in 1998, one year prior to his death.[8]