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Today is an exciting moment for the 2018 batch. It marks the
successful completion of their training. Officer trainees are embarking on
their careers, full of zeal and enthusiasm to serve our beloved Motherland. In 1976, when we joined Service, we had no Foreign Service Institute.
The FSI under EAM’s guidance and a charismatic Dean and devoted faculty
members is now acknowledged globally as a premier training institute. All of
you have benefitted from this training. Gandhiji had said: “That service is the noblest, which is rendered for its own sake.” Ultimately, your task is to serve India’s
national interests, often in the face of adversity and physical challenges
and to keep India’s flag flying high under all circumstances. That is what we
endeavoured to do. That is what we
expect from all of you! The Association* of Indian Diplomats is a gathering of former
Ambassadors and High Commissioners of India and those who have held senior
posts in international organizations at the level of Under Secretary General
and above. Formed in 1980, we have 269 regular members and 33 guest members.
Today we have established AID as an important think-tank with an enormous
reservoir of experience and knowledge which is available when required. AID
has participated in many task forces, contributing analyses and policy
options for the Government. Members of the Association have given great
support to the ‘Distinguished Lecture Series’ of the Ministry, covering
outlying institutions and Universities in India. In doing so, it has provided
a much required link between practitioners of foreign policy and academia and
the general public. Our main outreach Public Diplomacy activity, supported by the
Ministry, is our flag ship publication, The Indian Foreign Affairs
Journal, now in its 14th year, which has become an
invaluable addition to the reservoir
of authentic international relations publications on India. The oral
history section is an unique compilation of diplomatic narratives by iconic
figures in our Foreign Service who left their mark and made India proud in
the many challenges faced during
India’s journey to great power status. We have also supported the FSI training of officer trainees. It is a
privilege to render some support to our beloved Service which continues to be
such an important part of our lives today.
I am privileged to be associated since by childhood with Ambassador
Sanyal. His only child Usha Sanyal is a very close friend. Uncle Bimal, as we
called him or Ambassador Bimal Sanyal was a visionary and a pioneer who saw
economic diplomacy as a growing aspect of and a future tool in conduct of
foreign relations – before it became a fashionable term. He established the
separate economic wing in the Ministry that has today blossomed into an
important part of Ministry’s functioning. |
Bimal Uncle served with distinction from 1948 to 1976, having earlier served
in the Royal Navy. Fondly remembered by all his colleagues till today, he was
above all a true patriot who passionately believed that our diplomats must
also focus on economic, commercial and trade diplomacy. He was the first
Secretary in the Ministry of External Affairs exclusively entrusted with
‘Economic Relations’ as a tool of diplomacy – that has since become a
‘mantra’ for modern day diplomacy. After superannuation, he served as the
first Secretary General of the Association of Iron Ore Exporting Countries,
based in Geneva. In his memory, out of this corpus, initially medals used to be awarded
to the best essay in a contest open to all IFS officers. Later – and till
2010 – we were awarding a gold
medal to the best officer-trainee and a silver medal to the best dissertation amongst the graduating
IFS batch. Starting 2011, as the medal for the best officer-trainee is being
awarded by the MEA, we decided to augment this award with an ‘Ambassador Sanyal Memorial Prize’
and ‘Ambassador Sanyal Memorial
Medal’.
Let me conclude by underlining that our culture and civilisation is
our gift to the world. It is a composite culture spread worldwide. It
reflects the evolution of our own history, the manner in which India
seamlessly absorbed other cultures but never lost its own. William Dalrymple
had pertinently noted in this context: “India has always had a strange way with her conquerors. In defeat,
she beckons them in, then slowly seduces, assimilates and transforms them”. Dalrymple was only echoing
Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore. I had
visited Vishwa Bharati University, Shantiniketan under our Distinguished
Lecture Series and noted with reverence Gurudev’s inspirational message which
still resonates till today. Gurudev had said: “India
represents the wealth of mind which is for all. We
acknowledge India’s obligation to offer to others the hospitality of her best
culture And
India’s right to accept from others their best.” Go and spread this message.
India demands no more and no less. Jai Hind! Bhaswati Mukherjee 16th May
2019 ________________ * Beautiful explanation by Swami Vivekananda: Explaining the meaning of ‘Association’ he said:.. “A rain drop from
the sky: if it is caught by clean hands, is pure enough for drinking. If it
falls in the gutter, its value drops so much that it can’t be used even for
washing your feet. If it falls on a hot surface, it will evaporate... If it
falls on a lotus leaf, it shines like a pearl and finally, if it falls on an
oyster, it becomes a pearl...The drop is the same, but its existence &
worth depends on whom it is associated with.”...Always be associated with
people who are good at heart..You will experience your own inner
transformation"... |
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