Syed Akbaruddin, India’s PermanentRepresentative to the United Nations in New York, demitted office on April 30on retirement from the Indian Foreign Service (IFS). In his thirty-five yearsof service, Akbar, as he is known in the IFS, contributed to the safe-guardingand promotion of India’s national interest in a number of onerous assignmentsat the Ministry of External Affairs and in Indian Missions abroad. Clear-headedand analytical, soft-spoken and persuasive, courageous in maintaining andarticulating his convictions, throughout his career Akbar displayed all thequalities that make an ideal diplomat.
Akbar did particularly well as India’sPermanent Representative. He conveyed India’s positions on international issuesto the UN with great skill and effectiveness. His affability enabled him tobuild a large network of contacts and friends, so necessary for a successfuldiplomat. This contributed to one of his enduring successes: India’s victoryover Britain in the election for a judgeship at the International Court ofJustice. Showing spine Akbar held on to the view that India did not have toreach an understanding with Britain, though it was initially backed by thePermanent members of the Security Council. Fully supported by the governmentworked for India prevailing over Britain. Seeing the writing on the wall theBritish finally withdrew their candidature.
Throughout his career Akbar maintained thetraditions of the IFS which will celebrate its seventy-fifth anniversary nextyear. The IFS was established in October 1946 through a decision of the thencabinet of led by Jawaharlal Nehru. Ten months later India became independentand the Ministry of External Affairs took over the responsibility for theconduct of all aspects of India’s foreign relations. It is noteworthy that theMinistry of External Affairs did not have an equivalent in British India; thePolitical Department of the Indian government during British rule had thenarrow focus of dealing with the Princely States and neighbouring countriessuch as Afghanistan and Nepal. It was not an entity of a sovereign governmentnor was the political service that manned it an instrument of a sovereigngovernment but of a colonial administration. Sovereignty lay in Britain.
The IFS was initially constituted from theIndian Civil Service and persons recruited from the professions and differentwalks of life through an interview process. Direct recruitment throughexaminations conducted by the Public Service Commissions also began in 1948.Nehru who held the Foreign Affairs portfolio all through till his death in 1964took a personal interest in the recruitment and briefly interviewed eachcandidate. As the years passed and the early recruited service members retiredthe IFS came to be manned only by those who qualified through examinations.Also, as the country became more egalitarian so did the IFS in the socialcomposition of its members. The service has in its membership reflected thedemocratisation of Indian society.
It is often overlooked that independentIndia’s leadership did not have any experience of dealing with theinternational state system when it came into office. Indian diplomats too didnot have any background or direct knowledge of the ruthless diplomatic powerplay game. Relatively quickly Indian leaders and diplomats learnt that thenorms of justice did not really have any role in international affairs;national interest was the only currency that mattered even if all countriestried to project their actions as based on noble considerations. But thediplomatic style all through the first three decades of independence emphasisedthe need for the international community to adhere to ideals of fairness andthe good of all. Certainly, this too was required for India to have aneffective voice in a world undergoing decolonisation. Indian diplomats playedan outstanding role especially in multilateral contexts to further thisprocess.
The end of the Cold War in 1991 and theliberalisation of the Indian economy brought in new realities for India,including in the external sphere. The world changed rapidly and became morecomplex and the promotion of Indian interests during the past three decadesbrought in new demands on the IFS. Also, during these decades India positionand status rose in global affairs. The IFS had to acquire greater nimblenessand expertise in the economic and commercial spheres as well as in helping thenation in the management of its security concerns.
No longer was India only part of developingcountries asking the advanced countries for their rightful share but it wasincreasingly part of the rule making group of countries. Its participationbecame essential to manage critical issues that are central to the wellbeing ofthe planet. The IFS acquired the expertise to assist the political leadershipin handling these difficult issues. Indeed, as the interaction of globalpolitical leaders is becoming more and more frequent the role of diplomats isbecoming somewhat masked. The fact is that diplomats’ role is inescapable forthey provide the professional inputs and options to political leaders andthereafter execute their decisions through the instruments of diplomacy. Allthis requires patiently building bilateral, regional and globalstructures for nations to find a coincidence of interests. That is the onlysure basis for ensuring global cooperation and preventing conflicts.
It is here that the UN stage is importantand it is here that a good diplomat can play a great role in securing thenational interest. Akbar did so magnificently and can now hang his boots withthe satisfaction that he made a real contribution to the nation.