President Trump – Diplomatic Idiosyncrasies

 

President Trump – Diplomatic Idiosyncrasies

Diplomatic and political eccentricities are often marked by unusual or unconventional behavior that can be humorous, insightful, or even unsettling.  These days President Donald Trump has become a butt of jokes with his eccentricities in dealing with the world, irrespective of friends and foes.  With his recent policies and actions, more so in recent months, he has falsified what his predecessor, President George W. Bush said, “For diplomacy to be effective, words must be credible.”  I will focus on a couple of statements and actions of President Trump with regard to his unpredictable and not-understandable dealings with India and its leadership.  While time will give its verdict in due course, prima facie, President Trump has clearly shown his disdain to both diplomatic and political sensitivities in his unreasonable and avoidable behavior.

First, President Trump’s claims on his role in halting the hostilities and armed conflict between India and Pakistan in the wake of brutal happenings of Pahalgam in J&K and Operation Sindoor in April-May, 2025. India does not admit, as matter of policy, any third party role in relations with Pakistan and intends to settle all issues with Pakistan bilaterally. President Trump or anyone else must have

intervened and advised both India and Pakistan to refrain and control the conflict both publicly and otherwise. Both India and Pakistan, in their judgment and decision, agreed to the ceasefire on May 10. Without any diplomatic regard to the sensitivities, President Trump preempted and announced the decision on his social handles before it was made known by the parties, India and Pakistan. It was highly unbecoming of a leader of a friendly country, President Trump to embarrass a friendly country, India and its leader, PM Narendra Modi, a professed dear friend of Trump. The behavior of President Trump and also its Administration is out rightly undiplomatic and unfriendly. India has shown a considerable restraint and diplomatic maturity in responding to the US affront in the larger interests of India-US relations, the two mature and established democracies. It seems, President Trump has been bitten by the award called Nobel Prize for Peace. Prizes are not demanded but earned and deserved.

The First trickled to the Second – the trade war, unilaterally inflicted by President Trump on India and many other countries. The trade negotiations have been called off and the new tariff structures are announced every day. From 25% to 50% and ‘lot more secondary
sanctions’ have been levied on Indian exports to the US. The

rationale given by the US Administration for these ‘unfair and unreasonable’ tariff structures, matching duties bilaterally and punishment of oil imports from Russia,  are not based on diplomatic and political understandings between the two countries but on sheer whims and fancies of the world power called the USA. India has rightly termed these as ‘unjustified and unreasonable’ and has asserted that it would take all necessary measures to “safeguard its national interests and economic security like any major economy”.

The real reasons are the sheer eccentricities of President Trump and nothing else. India has hurt the ‘Ego and Nobel Aspirations’ of President Trump by not endorsing his self-proclaimed mediations in averting the conflict, perceived nuclear war, between the two nuclear powers, India and Pakistan. US has signed, to affront India, an agreement with Pakistan to exploit its oil reserves and even have had the undiplomatic temerity to say that in the future India would import oil from Pakistan. These diplomatic idiosyncrasies of Trump would adversely affect good and friendly bonds of cooperation between India and the US.

It seems that President Trump is following the famous dictum of Napolean Bonaparte, "In politics, stupidity is not a handicap." Let it be but the question is what India needs to do to meet the challenge as a dignified and sovereign country. As of now, Indian leadership and its diplomatic machinery have made things clear both in the matter of halting of conflict with Pakistan and role of President Trump and its Administration that there was no role and scope of third party in bilateral matters between India and Pakistan and has also clearly termed the US ‘Tariff War’ as ‘unfair and unreasonable’. India has also refused to ‘bow down’ to the US dictates. No more and no less. India needs to stick to its guns. The days of ‘goody-goody’ treatment are over. India has faced many ups and downs since its

independence. The US and its Administration had not been reasonable towards India viz a viz Pakistan. India, the largest democracy and the fast growing economy with more than 1.4 billion people, is a force to reckon with. I recall a quote from an American President, John F. Kennedy, “Let us never negotiate out of fear. But let us never fear to negotiate.” India is in a position to follow John F. Kennedy. As regards vocal responses to all the googlies and machinations of President Trump, I would tend agree with PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee who said, “Quiet diplomacy is far more effective than public posturing.”  We are to make pragmatic and considered decision to Make India Great Again – MIGA, come what may. I conclude this with a poetic composition of Bahadur Shah Zafar which exactly explains the state of mind and eccentricities of President Trump:

ज़फ़र' आदमी उस को न जानिएगा वो हो कैसा ही साहब-ए-फ़हम-ओ-ज़का

जिसे ऐश में याद-ए-ख़ुदा न रही जिसे तैश में ख़ौफ़-ए-ख़ुदा न रहा

Tailpiece – I am reading these days the book – A Life in Diplomacy, a biographical account of Ambassador Maharaj Krishna Rasgotra. I quote here a paragraph from the book which sets the tone of India-Us relations from the early years of our independence –

“But the relations between India and the US continued to decline, not because of  Dulles’s (Secretary of State) condemnation of India’s

Non-alignment policy as evil but because he considered India’s policies concerning China and other Asian issues – the Korean truce negotiations, the Japanese peace treaty etc. as anti-America, pro-communist and pro-Soviet Russia. Vice President who entertained similar views had visited India and Pakistan in 1952. He was lionized in Pakistan but in India he was given VIP treatment appropriate, protocol; wise,  to his status. On return, he complained that his meetings with Nehru were a long lecture by the PM on world affairs as if he (Nixon) was an ignorant novice. Consequentially, he nursed a lifelong grudge against India, Nehru and his daughter Indira. He did his worst to spread prejudice against India in Washington’s political circles.”

A Life in Diplomacy – Chapter 6 – Washington DC: Early Warnings of an Indo-US Rift

 

 

 

 

 

The New Normal or Modi Normal – Policy to Deal with Terrorism

The New Normal or Modi Normal – Policy to Deal with Terrorism

Much water has flown in the Sindhu and the Ganges ever since the Pahalgam terror attack and shelving of Indus Water Treaty in April, 2025. The Operation Sindoor mounted to avenge the Pahalgam barbarism was halted on May 10 after achieving the objectives of the
Op. Sindoor as claimed by the GOI but vehemently questioned by the opposition.  In this background, India-Pakistan relations have stooped to the lowest rung. There is no hope of any improvement in the years to come given the emerging geo-political situation in South Asia and the role and involvement of China and the USA, the two major powers with their stakes in the region. India is compelled to deal with the challenging situation, a difficult one, obviously. EAM S. Jaishankar while responding to the debate on Operation Sindoor in the parliament the other day registered the new policy to deal with cross border terrorism encouraged and initiated by Pakistan. He termed it New Normal or Modi Normal policy to deal with the challenge -

● One, Terrorists will not be treated as proxies.
● Two, Cross-border terrorism will get an appropriate response.
● Three, Terror and talks are not possible together. There will only be
talks on terror.
● Four, Not yielding to nuclear blackmail.
● And finally, Terror and good neighborliness cannot coexist. Blood and water cannot flow together.

These five point policy, prima facie, seems a good deterrence to meet Pakistan’s nefarious designs to trouble India, But the question is as to how would we proceed to implement it on ground as proof of pudding lies in its eating. Let us examine these points –

Terrorists will not be treated as proxies – It means we will hold responsible the government and authorities including armed forces and intelligence paraphernalia of Pakistan for terror attack supported and afflicted from across the border. It sounds good. But how do we propose to deal with home grown terrorists who are trained, supported and unleashed by their mentors and masters sitting across the border? It is easier said than done. It is clear from the Op. Sandoor when we decided to hit the proxies and not their mentors and masters in Pakistan.

Cross-border terrorism will get an appropriate response – Yes, it should be responded with an exemplary intent to teach them a lesson and not as ‘controlled, restricted, measured, proportionate, restrained, one as was done in the Op. Sandoor. Otherwise, Pakistan will not be deterred from inflicting the low-cost war on us.

Terror and talks are not possible together – Obviously, any meaningful talks and dialogue can happen only in a conducive atmosphere. But there is no point in closing the doors and windows of diplomacy. Of course, we reserve the discretion of picking the subjects and issues of concern and interest to us like POK, Terror, Regional Cooperation, and Confidence Building Measures among others.

Not yielding to nuclear blackmail – In the changing international scenario, these weapons of mass destruction are increasingly becoming symbols of deterrence and, I think, rightly so. Pakistan or anybody else should be mindful of the fact that India is also a nuclear power. PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s assertion in this regard is relevant – ‘ If Pakistan dares to resort to nuclear option, it would not see the light of the next day’ It should be clearly made known that we have ‘credible deterrent’ to safeguard our security and sovereignty.

Blood and water cannot flow together – This is with regard to the Indus Water Treaty with Pakistan which was signed in all good faith of friendship and good neighborliness. The changed ground situation has diminished the very rationale of the IWT and as such our national interests do not require these arrangements. It is a good decision to hold the IWT in abeyance and eventually terminate it. GOI should gather political will to implement the decision as there would be considerable pressure from the friends of Pakistan who tend to support Pakistan and hyphenate it with India on account of their own strategic interests.

All said and done, the crux of the matter is that the time has come, perhaps, India should come out of the; Goody-Goody’ phase and assert itself for its due space in the world order starting with our
region – South Asia. The first requisite for this is to stand united internally on the PM Narendra Modi’s dictum of ‘Sab Ka Sath, Sab Ka Vikas, Sab Ka Vishwas’. If we can translate this slogan into ground reality, India would become a power to reckon with. The sooner the better.

Rulata Hai Tera Nazara Ae Hinduston! Mujh Ko
Ke Ibrat Khaiz Hai Tera Fasana Sub Fasanon Mein
(Your spectacle makes me shed tears, O India!
Your tales are admonitory among all the tales)

 

 

 

The Bits and Pieces – As I Please – 6

 

The Bits and Pieces – As I Please – 6

Fake Ambassadors – Interesting Scenario -  One fake and self-styled diplomat/Ambassador Harsh Vardhan Jain has been arrested, according to media reports, in Ghaziabad , He was manning the Embassies/Consulates of various fictitious and non-existent countries like “West Arctica”, “Saborga”, “Lodonia”, “Poulvia”. The

“diplomat” was working out of the “Consulate”, which also hoisted “flags” of these “nations” and a fleet of luxury cars with special blue coloured (diplomatic registration) number plates parked outside, the police sources said. Harsh Vardhan Jain is said to be an educated person was engaged in this illegal activity for the last so many years, first from his family house and later from a huge rented bungalow in an upscale locality in Ghaziabad, just outside Delhi in UP. First obvious question which comes to mind is that where were the local government including police authorities where these illegal establishments were being run? The answer, in all probability, is involvement of local politicians and bureaucrats and corruption as such open operation cannot stand for long without the connivance of civil and police establishments and also public bigwigs of the area.  Jain is reportedly associated with controversial personalities such as Godman Chandraswami and international arms dealer Adnan Khashogi, even setting up shell companies in the UK and Dubai to launder funds and establish brokerage networks. Where are our intelligence and other agencies like ED and others? Somebody would need to answer these questions. Jain may not be alone. There may be more HEs in the garb of influencers roaming around in the corridors of power in and around Chanakyapuri in Lutyen’s Delhi.

Indian diplomacy at work in Scotland

There is a need to alert and educate the common citizens about the diplomatic and international relations. According to Ambassador Talmiz Ahmed, “Most Indians have either never heard of the Indian Foreign Service (IFS) or have only the vaguest notion of what the Service does.” It is true. I narrate here an anecdote of a case which came to me in Kampala (Uganda) in 1995-96. One day, an Indian young man approached the High Commission with the story that some agents brought him from Patiala in Punjab to Kampala in Africa on the pretext that from here he will be sent to America neighboring Africa. After fleecing him of his passport and money, deserted him at some petrol station. I asked him about his background back home. He turned out to be a so called educated man with MA and B.Ed. degrees. He resigned from his job as a teacher and fell prey to the agents. I scolded him and joking asked him to stand up as educated people like him didn’t deserve a seat in this room and asked him did he not know that America and Africa are located in two different continents? His innocent reply was that he studied history and not geography. My experience in the diplomatic circles in Delhi tells me that there is a well- organized clique of self-proclaimed and appointed influencers who are permanent invitees to all diplomatic receptions in various Embassies and High Commissioners. The next day one can find them in various high offices of the GOI just to say Hi as they met the other day in so and so diplomatic reception. It is advisable to include some matter in the school curriculum to inform the young students about diplomatic functionaries like Ambassador, High Commissioner, and Consul etc. My own experience back home in Jalandhar is that most of the people including junior government functionaries do not know who an Ambassador or any other diplomatic designation means. Many self-appointed HEs tend to take advantage of this ignorance to promote their vested interests.

Common Causes Need Public Support – There was news story in the Hindustan Times on July 27 ‘SGPC will urge Un to mark International Human Rights Day November 25’ – the Martyrdom Day of Guru Teg Bahadur, 9th Guru of the Sikhs – Navmi Patshahi. The proposal has been floated by some eminent and established

personalities and outfits of the UK, USA, Canada and other countries and has solicited support of the SGPC and other stakeholders in this regard. Whereas it is a praiseworthy initiative to honour and recognize the sterling role and contribution of the great Guru in upholding human dignity and rights of all in his life time and sacrificed his life for the religious rights and freedoms of the Hindus opposing the inhuman and barbarous conduct of the Mughal rulers of the time. The proposal of the Sikhs and SGPC, if accepted, would be a befitting tribute to Guru Teg Bahadur in the 350 years of his Martyrdom which will be observed throughout India and the world at large. Obviously, all such proposals do need public support which, I am confident, will be forthcoming as the Sikh community and its outfits like SGPC among others are vocal and strong to pursue the proposal. It is just a mention that SGPC and the proposers of the idea must know that we already observe International Day of Human Rights under the aegis of the UN on December 10 every year.  Human Rights Day is observed by the international community – the day on which the UN adopted the Declaration of Universal Human Rights in 1948.  

It will not be out of place to mention that why I say that common causes need public support. My own experience is my guide in this regard. In the run up to celebrated 125^th birth anniversary of Babasaheb B. R. Ambedkar in 2015, a proposal was made to MEA/PMO/GOI to declare April 14, birthday of Babasaheb Ambedkar, as International Day of Equality under the aegis of the

UN not only to pursue our Soft and Cultural Diplomacy and honour one of greatest sons of India but also to carry forward the agenda of UN itself in establishing a just and fair world order. I regret to say that in spite of the fact that all political parties and the their leaderships including the ruling BJP and PM Narendra Modi fall on each other to claim and own Babasaheb Ambedkar and his legacy yet the proposal on International Day of Equality is gathering dust in the cup-boards of MEA/PMO for the last 10 years or so. Not that we have not been occasionally reminding the powers in the South Block that is MEA/PMO but we could not generate matching common support from the public to the proposal. With this, I take this opportunity to solicit wide spread support to the proposal on International Day of Equality particularly of the followers of Babasaheb Ambedkar. If they vocal and communicative, nobody will be able to block and stop the proposal. I may add for the information with a sense of satisfaction that taking cue from the proposal in International Day of Equality, the followers of Babasaheb Ambedkar abroad associated with the outfits like Chetna Association of Canada, Federation of Ambedkar and Buddhist Oganisations (FABO) of UK, The Ambedkar Times and the Desh Doaba Group of Publications of the USA among others did a great job in this regard. As a result many cities, provinces un Canada, USA and UK have proclaimed April 14, birthday of Babasaheb Ambedkar, as Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Day of Equality locally to honour the icon and his thought. I hope that much needed public support to the proposal on International Day of Equality would be forthcoming in the days to come.

 

The Bits and Pieces – As I Please – 5

 

The Bits and Pieces – As I Please – 5

Memory Failed Me – Old Age Impact – Last week I wrote a blog on Indian diplomats in politics which may be accessed at:https://diplomatictitbits.blogspot.com/2025/07/diplomats-donning-robes-of-politicians.html

I missed out a couple of important personalities without any rhyme and reason. The only answer, to my mind, is that advancing age takes its tool. My senior colleague and my immediate boss in Peking (Beijing) in late 1970s, Ambassador Avinash Gupta was kind enough to point out these inadvertent omissions (later one of good friends, Sat Paul Ahir, a retired IRS also observed these slips) – Romesh Bhandari, a flamboyant but easy going diplomat who was called
‘Sheikh Bhandri’ because of his excellent rapport with the Sheikhs of the Middle East was the Foreign Secretary in late 1980s. Being the professed foster son of Krishna Menon, Bhandhari Sahib enjoyed good connection with Nehru/Gandhi clan and as such, after retirement, he became the Lt. Governor of Delhi and later Governor of UP. Secondly, M. H. Ansari, popularly known as Hamid Ansari was my boss as the COP in early 1980s. He was honoured with

Padam Shri after the NAM Submit and rose to become Vice President of India in early 2010s. I have had opportunities to work and interact with him for very important assignments and events. The best quality of Hamid Ansari which impressed me was that he never made me feel small in his presence, a loving fatherly figure. I thought of undoing my memory failure by adding this narration. Thanks Ambassador Avinash Gupta and my fellow Jalandhrite and a close family friend, IRS Sat Paul Ahir, Former Income Tax Commissioner of Uttrakhand.

Lahori Ram Balley –

Lahori Ram Balley was a son of the soil and a leader by his own right who passed away on July 6, 2023 remained a public figure of Jalandhar and beyond to reckon with. His 95^th birth anniversary was observed at a solemn function at Ambedkar Bhawan on July 20 hosted by the proud family of Balley Sahib. From the
remarks of the invited speakers, it came out clearly, as expected and deserved, that Balley Sahib earned his due status and respect in the community and the society at large by his sheer work and dedication to the mission and thought of Babasaheb Ambedkar as an intellectual – Thinker, Editor, Writer and Orator and also Politician to contend with. Balley Sahib was one of the founding fathers of Ambedkar Bhawan, a nerve center of dalit awakening in the region. He wrote more than 100 books on Babasaheb Ambedkar, his thought and legacy and also relevant subjects of concern and interest to the community and the country, besides many small fliers and small pamphlets on various issues of topical and current subjects. He distributed these at cost effective costs or even free among the public and contributed immensely in generating much needed awareness to stand and fight for Equality, Justice, Liberty and Fraternity in the country as stipulated in the Constitution of India. Balley Sahib was a much sought after speaker at political rallies of the opposition parties in and around Jalandhar as a tall leader of All India Scheduled Caste Federation and later Republican Party of India, the political outfits floated by Babasaheb Ambedkar. He was instrumental in establishing Ambedkar Bhawans and Buddha Viharas at various places in Punjab and beyond. Though Balley Sahib, as he himself professed, was an atheist yet he embraced Buddhism following his master, Babasaheb Ambedkar. Dr. Gian Kaul speaking at the birthday function clarified the notion that being a Buddhist he was against the dalit spiritual icons namely Guru Ravidass, Bhagwan Balmik, Satguru Kabir among others and said that Balley Sahib was not dogmatic but pragmatic in his approach. He always stood with the Deras and the Sants whenever and

wherever the issues pertaining to the rights of and justice to the marginalized segments came up. His politics was people centric and not ideological for the heck of it. In my brief remarks, I recalled the healthy influence of Balley Sahib’s writings in the Bheem Patrika and his public speeches and also his pleasant demeanor including impressive dress sense with Lenin cap and Fidel Castro waist coat on my own development in my formative years in Bootan Mandi, the Karam Bhoomi of Balley Sahib in Jalandhar in his early years of public life. As such, Balley Sahib was a much respected and revered personality – Badi Muskil Se Hota Hai Chaman Mein Didawar Paida.

With a view to pay a befitting tribute to Balley Sahib, Charan Sandhu, an ardent follower and aide of his, released a song track ‘Kaumi Jodha’ emotionally written by Charan Sandhu and beautifully sung by Sunny Saleem was formally released at the

function. The hosts, Balley family, gift a new book of Balley Sahib,‘Dr. Ambedkar De Mahan Karaz’ to the audience.  The worthy family of Lahori Ram Balley led by Rahul, Anand and Baldev are fully dedicated and committed to carry the caravan of Balley Sahib forward for the larger interest the community and the society at large. I take this opportunity to wish them all the best in the days to come.

Kaun Kehta Hai Ki Maut Ai To Mar Jaunga?

Mein To Darya Hoon Hun Samandar Mein Utter Jaunga.

 

 

 

Diplomats donning the robes of Politicians

Diplomats donning the robes of Politicians

 My immediate motivation to write this came from the news that former diplomat and my colleague in the IFS fraternity, Harsh Vardhan Shringala has been nominated to the Rajya Sabha by the President of India, perhaps first such nomination to include a former career diplomat among the nominated members since independence.
At the dawn of independence, PM Jawaharlal Nehru did select and appoint some politicians and Princes of the States as Ambassadors and High Commissioners and also nominated some of them to the Indian Foreign Service (IFS) which came into existence on October 9, 1946. After the UPSC Examination, the first batch of IFS was selected and appointed in 1948. The Indian Foreign Service (IFS) is one of the three all India services one can aspire to if one crack the UPSC Civil Services Exam.  It is a prestigious service on par with the IAS in stature. As an IFS officer, one can serve in the various diplomatic missions that India has in other countries. One can even move up the ladder to become HOM –Ambassador/High Commission of the country. Notwithstanding the assessment made of the IFS by one of

its illustrious members, Ambassador Talmiz Ahmad in his review of a book on diplomats and foreign policy of Kallol Bhattacharya where he said, “Most Indians have either never heard of the Indian Foreign Service (IFS) or have only the vaguest notion of what the service does. It does not have the name-recognition enjoyed by the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) or the Indian Police Service (IPS). Unlike earlier times, these days the IFS is not even the premier choice among those hundreds of thousands of candidates who annually knock at the doors of the UPSC to gain entry into India’s elite government services.”, After this reality check, I come to the theme of my blog; diplomats and Indian politics.

After the role and contribution of personalities like Vijay Lakshmi Pandit, Asaf Ali, Leilamani Naidu, in diplomacy in the early years of independence, I come, off the cuff, to IFS diplomats who made to politics and delivered in the process. The first diplomat, I understand,
was Manohar Lal Sondhi, my fellow Jalandharite, who resigned from the IFS on the issue of Nehru’s China policy in the early 1960s and became a member of the Lok Sabha on Jan Sangh ticket. Many of us may not remember that Syed Shahabudin, a maverick, also entered politics and became an MP from Bihar in 1980s. K.R. Naryanan, an intellectual face of the IFS, with whom I worked in Peking (Beijing)

Vidya Chander with Usha Narayanan in Peking

as a junior diplomat joined politics in the days of PM Indira Gandhi and got elected to Lok Sabha from Kerala, his home state. He became a Minister and later held the coveted positions of Vice President and President of India. Kunwar Natwar Singh, a scholar diplomat, followed suit and joined public service again under PM Indira Gandhi and worked in the coveted Ministerial positions even as EAM. The heading of this blog ‘As I Please’ is in fact has been borrowed from his columns which I read and relished in the near past. Next name which comes fore is of Meira Kumar, a sober but gracious daughter of Babu Jagjivan Ram. Meira Kumar made to Lok Sabha and became a Minister under PM Rajiv Gandhi and even rose to become Speaker of the Lok Sabha.

Another illustrious diplomat, Mani Shankar Aiyar who worked in PMO as a senior Aide to PM Rajiv Gandhi won the trust of his boss and became an MP and a Minister in the process. I always tended to read his informative and thought provoking columns in the media. Going down the line, Pavan Verma was elected to Rajya Sabha and served as an Advisor to CM Nitesh Kumar of Bihar and now, I understand, he has joined hands with the newly floated outfit called Jan Suraj Party of Prashant Kumar in Bihar. Yet another diplomat, Manoj Bharti who replaced me in Minsk (Belarus) as Ambassador in 2011, its seems, has jumped the bandwagon of Jan Suraj Party as I saw him sitting by the side of Prashant Kishore in a public event the other day. I also read somewhere that Madhu Bhaduri, a sober and gorgeous diplomat, also joined politics for some time and was one of the founding members of the AAP and later resigned. I also, as a novice, burnt my fingers and worked with AAP in Punjab for a year or so in 2016-17 and resigned as I found politics was not my cup of

tea. Harinder Singh Khalsa, son of a renowned politician of Punjab, Gopal Singh Khalsa in 1940s, resigned from IFS in the wake of Operation Blue Star at Harmandir Sahib in Amritsar and later joined politics. He was elected to Lok Sabha more than once and remained Chairman of the National Minority Commission of India. I also read that K. C. Singh, who also worked with President Giani Zail Singh in mid 1980s, also tried his hand at politics and floated a fledgling outfit in Chandigarh towards the end of 2020s but could not make much dent.. Azad Singh Toor joined public life under the banner of Congress Party and INLD of Haryana in 2020s but could not make any headway like K.C. Singh. It was also in the news that Sanjiv Arora whom I replaced in Prague in 2004 also jumped on the Congress Party bandwagon in 2024 but is yet to become vocal and visible. In the recent years, Hardeep Singh Puri and Dr. S. Jaishankar made their mark in the government of PM Narendra Modi and are holding coveted positions as Minister of Petroleum and Minister of External Affairs respectively. I have had opportunities to work with both of them during my diplomatic career, with Hardeep Puri in Sri Lanka

Vidya Chander with Kayko Jaishankar in Prague

and with EAM Jaishankar in Prague. As the shining stars of IFS, both of them did well in politics and are delivering with authority and competence. The latest entry into politics, before the nomination of Harsh Vardhan Shringla to Rajya Sabha, was that of Taranjit Singh Sandhu who immediately after his retirement as Ambassador of India to the USA was picked up by the BJP to contest Lok Sabha election from Amritsar in 1924 but he could not make it. I have opportunities to meet and interact with Taranjit Sandhu and his gracious wife, Reenat Sandhu, yet another diplomat, short in height but big in stature, in early 1980s when Taranjit was attached to EE Division of MEA where I was an Under Secretary. I am recounting this just from my memory as a student and practitioner of diplomacy since 1970

and might have missed some name by oversight.. With this I wish Harash Vardhan Shringla all the very best in his new avatar as a politician. I am confident he will do his best and deliver like his illustrious IFS colleagues who ventured to join politics. This piece may not be complete, if I don’t mention the names of some of the personalities who transformed themselves from diplomacy to public life - Mohd. Yunus, a trusted Aide of PM Indira Gandhi, P.N Haksar, an intellectual face of PMO during PM Indira Gandhi’s regime, Brajesh Mishra, J.N. Dixit who respectively served as National Security Advisors to PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee and PM Manmohan Singh. Both Brajesh Mishra and Mani Dixit were men of caliber and jewels of IFS fraternity. The process is on would continue adding more feathers in the hat of IFS in the service of India that is Bharat.

Apna Mukkadar Aap Banate Hain Ehle-dil

Hum Who Nahin Jine Zamana Bana Gya

 

 

 

 

 

 

Narrow minded approach on University Curriculum

 

Narrow minded approach on University Curriculum  

In the recent past, the new education policy attracted adverse reactions as it allegedly attempted to change and rewrite history particularly with regard to Islamic or Mughal role and contribution in the history of India.. Now the Vice Chancellor of Delhi University, Yogesh Singh has started yet another controversy. It was reported that while speaking to the Tribune, he said, “The University of Delhi will offer a General Elective Course for undergraduates titled 'Sikh

Martyrdom in Indian History (c.1500–1765)' starting from the upcoming academic session.” Vice-Chancellor Yogesh Singh lamented that while Indian varsities had no qualms teaching Iqbal, the poet who spent a better part of life opposing India and propagating the idea of Pakistan, they were not teaching the sacrifices of Sikh Gurus, their children and of other Sikh warriors. He added that correct recording of Sikh history would automatically mean correct recording and perspective of the history of Hindus and said, “Sikh aur Hindu ek hi baat hai (Sikhs and Hindus are one). We share our culture and are not apart. We are as they are. The Sikh Gurus are our Gurus." It is not only a narrow approach towards history but also has the potential to disturb the social fabric of the country. Do the Sikh spiritual and temporal (Miri and Peeri) leadership accept and recognize the assertion “Sikh aur Hindu ek hi baat hai (Sikhs and Hindus are one)” any more in the changing scenario of social establishment of the country? While it is good to include the Sikh history in the university curricula where is the need to blind the young generation from the sterling role and contribution of Allama Iqbal in understanding the socio-cultural and even political ground realities only because that he was a Muslim and who supported Pakistan? Creation of Pakistan and partition was also supported by C. Rajagopalchari and Babasaheb Ambedkar well before it was decided to partition the country in 1947. The understanding and vision of Allma Iqbal about Hindustan that is Bharat will remain a lofty ideal for the generations to come.

He called Lord Rama as the “Imamme Hind”. His vision in the Quomi Tarana – Saare Jahan Se Accha Hindostan Hamara is all well known. Iqbal said – Chisti Ne Jis Jamin Pe Paigamme Haq
Sunaya; Nanak Ne Jis Chaman Mein Wehdat Ka Geet Gaya; Jannat Ki Zindgi Hai Jis Ki Fiza Mein Jina – Mera Wattan Wahi Hai Mera Wattan Wahi Hai. These are a couple of demonstrative lines of Iqbal. He said much which unveils the grandeur of Hindostan. And we intend to negate Iqbal. It is unfortunate. I think it is more appropriate and needed to give impetus to the aspects of education which would help us make India a developed country by 2047 as visualized by PM Narendra Modi. These are – Study of India’s Constitution with extracts of relevant Constituent Assembly debates and important speeches of our forefathers particularly Babasaheb Ambedkar and Courses on Civic Sense for good Social Order among others. I only wish and pray that God would show us the way. Let us start living in unison and harmony – Samrasta, the lofty agenda of RSS, the only way to transform Hindostan into Bharat.

वतन की फ़िक्र कर नादाँ मुसीबत आने वाली है

तिरी बर्बादियों के मशवरे हैं आसमानों में

ज़रा देख उस को जो कुछ हो रहा है होने वाला है

धरा क्या है भला अहद-ए-कुहन की दास्तानों में

न समझोगे तो मिट जाओगे ऐ हिन्दोस्ताँ वालो

तुम्हारी दास्ताँ तक भी न होगी दास्तानों में

 

The Bits and Pieces – As I Please – 4

 

The Bits and Pieces – As I Please – 4

Social Media Hanky Panky – It is an unusual subject for me as I am not a not a computer or social media savvy person. These days, it is common that we all get too many unwanted and unnecessary posts, messages, suggestion on social media.  There is media reports everyday of cheating, fraud, crime perpetrated through social media.

The authorities and the other concerned caution and warn us on these matters occasionally. In my case, my children are my conscious keeper and advise me on these matters and I tend to listen to them too. Obviously, we need to be careful.

The other day,  I fell prey to one such instance. I was at the Punjab Press Club at Jalandhar for release of a book. Since I am involved in the socio-cultural life of Jalandhar some of the media functionaries there were my acquaintances. One of them came ahead to say hello to me. I requested him it will be good if he could share the report he would made of the event. He immediately asked for my phone and my Facebook ID. I could not think or say no. He did something and returned the phone. On return from the function, I found that the report on the function was already viral among my Facebook contacts. He posted the report and requested to like the post from my ID. I never did this before. What my contacts may be thinking of this I don’t know but I did not relish the favour done by my media acquaintance. It is also possible that he might have done so without any ulterior motive but I did not like it. The QED of the narration is that never handover your telephone and IDs to others to ward off the untoward ramifications of such actions. Hopefully, my Facebook contacts would read this as I would post this for their benefit.  My children have cautioned me again and I would tend to listen to them.

Interaction at Punjab Press Club Jalandhar – It fell on me to formally launch the book – Bunga Nanaksar: Ravidassia Singhan Da Jujharu Itihas – Revolutionary Role of Ravidassia Sikhs to save and preserve Bunga Nanaksar authored by Roop Lal Roop, an intellectual face of the community at the Punjab Press Club on June 28. This historical book highlighting the sterling contribution of Ravidassia

and Mazhabi Sikhs in the Sikh history is well researched and documented book. Though it confines to Bunga Nanaksar of Talwandi Sabo in the district of Bathinda in Punjab yet some thoughtful comments on the lopsided behavior of spiritual leadership of the Sikhs in integrating the marginalized sections of the society put the things in their right perspective. The book has been sponsored by British Ravidassia Heritage Foundation of the UK headed by Om Parkash Bagha under the agenda of BRHF to promote the mission and philosophy of the great Guru, Guru Ravidass. It was a well arranged solemn function. It was a matter of satisfaction that the vocal and professional media of Jalandhar was present in full strength which resulted in an informative and lively interaction which further resulted in a good and intensive media cover of the event. It helped in eliminating a negative notion that media is not responsive, at least from my somewhat pre-determined aptitude. It was nice to meet Baba Dharam Singh, Chief Sewadar of Bunga Nanaksar and Balbir Rattan, a leading politician of BJP and a dedicated community activist based in Jammu at the function. Meeting good people and be friend them is a bonus which one drives from such events. Thanks Chairman of BRHF, Om Parkash Bagha and author Roop Lal Roop for associating me with the release of the historical book. I am confident the book will be received well by the discerning readers.

Muslim or Islamic Brotherhood – The idea to understand and write about the much flaunted concept of Muslim Brotherhood cropped up during the recent conflict among Israel and USA on one side and Ira on the other. No Muslim country came forward in support of Iran; not even the OIC, an organization of Islamic countries. The global

Muslim population is estimated to be around 2.0 billion, representing approximately 26% of the world's total population, according to Wikipedia. This makes Islam the world's second-largest and fastest-growing major religious grouping.  There are 48 Islamic countries in the world. The OIC has 57 member countries. It is a strange situation because otherwise Muslims all over the globe invoke the concept of Muslim or Islamic brotherhood to fortify and defend their Muslim identity. Sometimes, they tend to take shelter in the umbrella of the concept of International brotherhood to match the Hindu concept of ‘Vasudaiva Kutumbkam’ – The World is one family.

A bit of Google research has thrown some light on the concept of Islamic Brotherhood.  It is explained like this. The brotherhood of faith was described by the Prophet Muhammad, as a single body, when one member of the body is sick, the whole body feels the pain. If this concept is really practiced in the life and life of Muslim society, then of courses this, situation will lead to a pleasant state of peace. Islam emphasizes the concept of "Ukhuwah" (brotherhood) among Muslims, viewing them as one family. This concept promotes unity, mutual support, and shared responsibility among all Muslims, regardless of social or economic status. The concept is rooted in Islamic teachings, including the Quran, which emphasizes the brotherhood of believers. The idea of brotherhood aims to foster a sense of unity and solidarity among Muslims worldwide, creating a unified Muslim community (Ummah). 

The ground realities of today’s world are different. The said ‘Islamic or Muslim brotherhood has no meaning. Iran surrounded by Muslim countries like Pakistan, Afghanistan, Bangladesh and all countries of the Middle East could not find any support in pursuance of the so called ‘Islamic Brotherhood’. Islamic world is divided among Sunnis, Shias, Ahmediyas and other denominations. It has aso been observed that throughout the world Muslims are fighting with Muslims in the sam country and or in other countries. The concept of Islamic brotherhood, I think, requires an in-depth study “The brotherhood of Islam is not the universal brotherhood of man. It is a brotherhood of Muslims for Muslims only”, said Babasaheb Ambedkar long back in his book ‘Thoughts on Pakistan and Partition of India’. The right wing Hindus often quote Ambedkar to downsize the Muslim community as and when needed. But we are to live together in Bharat. I conclude this with a couplet (Rubai) of Akbar Allahabadi -

Ye baat Galat ki Daar-ul-islaam hai Hind

Ye jhuuT ki Mulk-e-'Lachhman'-o-'Raam' hai Hind