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VOL. 03, NO. 03, July 01, 2009 (Ashadh 17 2066)
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On Personal Diary
Former Indian bureaucrats and politician, K. Natwar Singh’s book discusses his own experiences working at India’s foreign office in different position
By KESHAB POUDEL
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My China Diary
1956-88
K. Natwar Singh
Price: Rs.632
Published by Rupa.Co 7/16 Ansari Road, Daryaganj
Distributor in Kathmandu: Mandala Book Point, Kantipath
New Delhi, 110002 |
Once an Indian civil servant, security personel or such person retires, what they first do is to write a book on their own experiences enriching nation’s literature as well as polls of materials relate to state affairs.
Despite close border and several other links, it is very unfortunate to say that this practice is very rare in Nepal. Only a few former bureaucrats or politicians have shown courage to write the book on their past experiences.
Singh’s book highlighted many things about India’s foreing office and his appointments at various mission abroad. There are also passing refrences about Nepal’s political development. For instances, when Singh was stationed in China in 1950s, Nepalese prime minister Tanka Prasad Acharya was visiting China. In his diary on 1956, 26 September, he mentioned the visit of Nepalese prime minister Acharya.
The worst is yet to be. Drove to the airport to receive the Nepali pirme minister Tanka Prasad Ahcarya. The Chinese gave him a welcome, which I would call, an organized spontaneous one. The right number of girls, the right number to give bouquets to the right people. Diplomats were allowed on the tarmac, no confusion about photographers, no noise, band played lively music, goose step by the gaurd of honour. Chou En-lai handosome chariming and fresh as ever. The Nepali national dress is a sartorial monstrosity, Even the smartest of them looks as if he is either got out of bed or is just about to do so. Some even resemble coat hangers.
Highlights Of the Book
28 September
Banquet in the evening for the Nepali prime minister – a total fiasco. The Nepali PM gave the impression of being in a state of continuous confusion. The guests went away most distrubtled,
1988 26 December
Meeting on Nepal in the PM’s room. He and I opted for tough line with the king. Heat to be put on, his not so Majestic Majesty, I asked if I could be execused attending the noon meeting. Rajiv Gandhi said I should be present. What a grind. -page 138.
Former Indian minister and diplomat, Singh spent a lot of time in various mission but his specialization is in China where he started his carrier when Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru as a prime minister.
My China Diary 1956-88 recounts the events which occurred when the author served as a diplomat in Beijing, and what transpired during Premier Chou En-lai’s ill-fated visit to Indian in April 1960. The book concludes with Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi’s path-breaking passage to China. It offers new insights about the complexities of India-China bilateral relations between 1956 and 1988.
“This book is divided into thee sections. The first covers the years 1956-58. The second deals with Prime Minister Chou En-lai’s visit to India in April 1960. The third describes Rajiv Gandhi’s path-breaking passage to China in December 1988. He succeeded where his grandfather Jawaharlal Nehru faltered and failed,” writes Singh in his preface.
The book describes various phases of India-China relations and the many ups and downs which occurred during the period. As an eye-witness of the events, former renowned diplomat Singh writes what he encountered during his various tenures.
He joined the Indian Foreign Service (IFS) in 1953 and Singh entered politics after his retirement and he became External Affairs Minister (2004-05). He has written many books in the past, and this book has its own interesting stories.
