"Part of diplomacy is to open different definitions of self-interest." - Hillary Clinton

This is about experience of an outstanding journey of diplomacy, foreign-affair, politics, education with Hon. Minister Dr. S Jaishankar in a three-hour interactive event at Washington, DC on 25th September, 2022.

It’s day before my travel to Washington, DC to meet with Hon. Foreign Affairs Minister Dr. S Jaishankar at a special event with Indian Diaspora; I was visualizing my past so clearly that I could feel it. More precisely I travelled back on time, and I was living on those moments. Around eighteen years back, a small-town girl with middleclass-background was seating in US-Education center (USIEF), wearing blue-salwar with crazy hair. The girl was possessed with lots of dream in her eyes, which cannot be hidden even through her big glasses. A little hesitancy was noticed in her act, but she was mainly powered with energy, enthusiasm and most importantly courage. She didn’t hesitate to ask her question to visa-officer, present in that special event to guide students for higher education in United States. She noticed a wave of laughter in the hall. She ignored and kept continuing. Later she came to know that her accent, struggle to synopsize her question fueled laughter in the room to very certain percentage of students. But she was only following her dreams what she would love to pursue. She denied the myth that studying in Bengali Medium (state board ) school can be an obstruction for her dream. Though it was undeniable fact that there was a nervousness that if she can understand all questions on Visa interview day. Yes, there were lots of “sorry”, “pardoned please” in the visa interview date. But at end of the conversation, she was told “all the best for your new journey in United States of America”.

Current day, 25th Sep 2022 at Washington, DC ; the event room was full of young-bright students, from various universities, including Princeton, Harvard. I was having many interesting discussions with them on various topics like Education, economy, opportunities. Though their presence reminded me my younger self, but I can see distinctive differences, not with me but with my generation. These youths are very confident, spirited with very pragmatic yet broad perspective of current international affairs. I can see “New-India” through them. I got also opportunity to interact with many other members of the Indian diaspora from various parts of the U.S.

There was an excitement at the time of his arriving. His immense knowledge in the field of diplomacy along with being a great orator, made him so successful and popular in his current position. His enthusiasm, energy in the event was highly appreciable even after his one-week journey at the 77th UNGA. The interactive session was very interesting and candid, just like the audience present there. It was an unique experience to hear from him on topics like India’s standpoint on Ukraine war, US’s deal on $450 million to upgrade Pakistan’s F16 and USA newspaper’s biasness in his own style which is combination of intelligence & boldness. He mentioned to audience, especially student community that it’s time for us to decide what and how we will portray about our culture, heritage and live with it. He had also mentioned that diplomacy should not be that much abstract. It is appreciable that how he can connect to people in India and Indian community outside India to make foreign-policy understandable for all. I personally believe this is new dimension of Indian diplomacy and politics. A seventy-five years old democratic country like India with that much internal versatility, complex geopolitical situation, disturbing bordering condition needs foreign -minister like him as it is saying that diplomacy is bread & butter for a country. Navigating own country during this challenging era of the world is not easy which he has mentioned in his book. I belive he was given for this responsibility – “not because it is easy, but because it is hard” – John F Kennedy. His explained very thoroughly with transparency that how his journey as diplomat was different in past in regards to successfully defend his country compared to present days, while answering a question from audience.

Getting his signature on his book “The India Way” and a picture with him is a memory for lifetime. I would like to thank to the organizer – “FIIDS” & “USIFC”. This experience was overwhelmingly for me as I was comparing myself listening to US-visa officer at US-Education center-Kolkata and listening to Dr. Jaishankar at an in Washington, DC. I felt that one cycle of my life is complete. Though most important part was the emotions, happiness because it was all about my root, the land I was born. It was about my India, my Bharat.

Pic Courtesy

FIIDS

(https://www.fiids-usa.org/)

USIFC (https://www.usifc.org/)