Republic of India
How did you start your career as a diplomat?
In India, government service officials are traditionally selected through a rigorous examination process and trained. The initial training is done together and then further training is done separately for those going into Civil Services and those going into Foreign Service. I’ve been in government service for 36 years now. I was appointed to my first foreign diplomatic mission in 2015, and I started here in Saudi Arabia. Before this, I served as the Mumbai police commissioner.
How did you feel when you were assigned to Saudi Arabia?
I was really looking forward to it. I knew it would be a very challenging task because unlike other embassies, the Indian mission to Saudi Arabia handles an expatriate population of more than 3 million. I am grateful to have been prepared for the challenge. As police commissioner of Mumbai, hosting a population of more than 20 million, I had gotten used to high-pressure diplomatic work. Tell us about your experiences of being an Ambassador in Saudi Arabia.
What are the most challenging and the most rewarding parts of this job?
It’s been an excellent experience really. I enjoy travelling a lot and I’ve enjoyed seeing Saudi Arabia. It’s a surprisingly diverse region with beaches, mountains, and deserts. As I mentioned earlier, we have the largest expatriate community so there are so many community issues that keep us busy. We also handle hajj mission. This year we look forward to over 170,000 Indians joining the hajj. There are also 10 Indian schools across kingdom under this embassy which really keeps up occupied. In addition, there are always urgent humanitarian situations that require our attention. Despite the challenge, this job has been as rewarding as it has been challenging. The Indian community is observant of both Saudi law and Indian law, and it’s really been a wonderful experience working for them. The most rewarding aspect of all is how grateful the community is for our service. Their well-wishes and prayers have been the cornerstone of our motivation. It’s an amazing feeling to know that you have done what you are supposed to do.
What is your day usually like?
My schedule is usually full from 9:00 AM to 5:30 PM and sometimes, we even stay longer. I have internal meetings each day and then we work on urgent community matters that arise. For the past 4 months, we’ve been focused on the current amnesty by the Saudi government that allows illegal expats to return to their home countries. We also have Hajj coming up and that’s been an important focus for us. We also always have various diplomacy assignments or work with our trade and commerce. As you may know, Saudi Arabia is the biggest supplier of oil to India and India supplies many necessities to Saudi Arabia.
What do you like the most about living in the DQ?
The layout and greenery is just splendid. This is also a unique environment. In Riyadh, most of the diplomatic missions are placed in the same area and so it’s really nice to meet our fellow ambassadors when we are out and about. My wife loves to walk, and sometimes we also enjoy tennis with the other diplomats. We do this from October to February, when the weather is nicer. The DQ has such positive vibes; it really is a place where you feel a sense of belonging.
Since our upcoming issue is about food, we’d like to ask you about your favorite restaurants or dishes in Riyadh. Any recommendations?
Riyadh is a great place for variety! I don’t usually choose Indian cuisine when we eat out because my wife’s cooking is really not something to compete with. We have so many options here that choosing your meal is actually a tough task. I love Lebanese and Mediterranean cuisine. I really enjoy the tradition of the Arabic gahwa. I find it such a hospitable culture that the server waits with the coffee to refill your cup and the flavor is just so exotic.
Indian Embassy
B-1 Diplomatic Quarter,
P.O. Box 94387, Riyadh 11693,
Saudi Arabia
Working Hours: 9:00 AM to 5:30 PM
Contact Nos.: +966-11-4884144 / 488-4691 / 488-4692 / 488-4252
Website: http://www.indianembassy.org.sa
