Page 80 - EducationWorld Feb 2021 Low

Books

A diplomat’s through all the 14 chap-

story A RINGSIDE SEAT TO HISTORY: ters of the book. The
AN AUTOBIOGRAPHY
interesting titles given to
Pascal Alan Nazareth them like ‘Arrival on the
KONARK PUBLISHERS “Chess Board of History”’,
HAT EX- Rs.800 ‘Spiders, Tree Spirits
ACTLY does an Pages 256 and a Jewellery Crisis in
Wambassador or Golden Pagoda Land’, ‘An
a career diplomat do? Is Up-in-the-Sky Apart-
the job about enjoying a ment & a Sleek Jaguar for
comfortable life, mouthing Our James Bond in New
high sounding ideals and Against his father’s wish, This autobiography York’, ‘A Frozen Lake in
engaging in protocol and he went for the interview. gives the reader a Chicago and a Miracle in
immigration issues? How “I was greatly surprised fairly good idea of life New York’ and a ‘Virgin-
much scope is there for in- to learn that I had been se- in the foreign service ity Test Crisis in London’
dividual initiatives to play lected… and if I decided to and the difference display the author’s wit.
out? Reading through this accept the IFS and signed a conscientious IFS He narrates with élan
autobiography, one would its acceptance letter, be- officer can make how, for instance, the rich
get a fairly good idea of cause I and others who did and influential Dharma
life in the Indian Foreign so would be taken to meet Teja was apprehended
Service (IFS), and of the Shri Jawaharlal Nehru The less said the better; and brought to justice,
difference a conscientious “not as prime minister the best is to listen.” his witnessing a bloody
officer can make through but as foreign minister” While he was busy coup in Ghana from close
his efforts. at 5 p.m that evening. picking up the Japa- quarters, strengthening of
Pascal Alan Nazareth The prospect of meeting nese language at Tokyo, ties with Peru during his
comes from a distin- this much-loved, world- the tragedy of India’s tenure, and the like.
guished family and was renowned leader was so Air Chief Marshal Sub- Nazareth juxtaposes
selected to the IFS in 1959. exhilarating that I decided roto Mukherjee occurred. all these events in public
Like his peers, he served to sign the acceptance Mukherjee was received spaces with the highs and
across different continents letter despite my father’s by Japan’s Air Force Chief lows in his private life.
— in Indian missions in strong opposition to the and attended the custom- The sudden and untimely
Tokyo, Rangoon, Lima, IFS,” writes Nazareth. ary dinner hosted by the death of his younger
London, New York, as At that meeting foreign Indian ambassador in daughter, affliction by
Director General of the secretary Subimal Dutt, his honour. As Nazareth cancer of his only son and
Indian Council for Cultural informed Nehru, that subsequently learnt, Com- the accidental death of his
Relations (ICCR), and later HH the Dalai Lama had modore Ghosh, long-time younger brother had sad-
as High Commissioner to entered India that morn- friend of Mukherjee, took dened him no end. Yet, an
Ghana and Ambassador to ing. (Nazareth would be him out for a Japanese enlightened person deeply
Egypt and Mexico. meeting Dalai Lama a few dinner where sashimi rooted in the tenets of
Nazareth’s father was months later while under- (marinated raw fish) was Christianity, he remained
a judge who served in going district training at served. Mukherjee “put optimistic. His sincere in-
several locations in south Gaya!) As he admits, “… one of these sticky rice volvement with spreading
India and was keen that my ringside seat to history and tuna morsels into his the essential message of
his son made it into the began on my very first day mouth; he not relishing it Gandhiji — satya, ahimsa,
coveted Indian Adminis- in the IFS.” tried to gulp it down but it sarva dharma sama
trative Service. His ideas The whole book is en- got stuck in his throat and bhava and sarvodaya —
were shaped by the young livened by such episodes. he died before any medi- post-retirement, speaks
officers he used to meet in As Nehru advised young cal aid could reach him.” volumes of his commit-
the districts. When Naza- IFS recruits on their first Thus came the premature ment to public causes. His
reth secured high rank in day, “I want to assure you end of the father figure of open-minded and secular
the competitive examina- that India does not expect the Indian Air Force in a approach to life, flair for
tion, he was called for you to lie on its behalf. far-off land at the young writing and his sense of
interview at the ministry Never tell a lie but always age of 49. humour illuminate every
of external affairs in Delhi remember you have no ob- The author’s warmth page of the book.
for selection into the IFS. ligation to reveal the truth! and sensitivity exude This labour of love

80 EDUCATIONWORLD FEBRUARY 2021