From the Edge of Diplomatic Arena The art of diplomacy is hard to learn and even more difficult to practise with finesse. It requires a lot of patience, tact, self-restraint and above all ,sentitive understanding of norms, values, and legitimate interests of other partners in the cooperative game. In other words , an accomplished diplomat would purvey the best of his/her country without itching the eyes of his/her hosts, and in turn appreciate their concerns with sensitivity While promoting national interests,he/she assumes the role of an honest broker between the two countries. Only such a nuanced approach would enable him/her to contribute to enduring mutual understanding and cooperation. The understatements and measured responses are the hall mark of a sophisticated diplomat. However, such behavioural traits are a common place in London. Most of the career diplomats , recruited at an early age, with rigorous formal training and varied experience, are able to master the art well.. They constitute the backbone of diplomatic activity. However,a few outstanding individuals ,often retired in other fields, are put in key diplomatic positions abroad, sometime without due diligence. Some of them settle in new positions like fish in water and do extremely well, and others might not do so well and create embarrassment for their country and hosts alike. They are often highly educated individuals but the problem might arise when they tend to forget, being base away from home turf, they need to stick to norms of the host country. The simple reason for their crossing the lakshman rekha sometime might be due to their inability to subsume a prominent Indian trait of talking too much, often out of place as well as turn, aptly described by eminent economist Amrtya Sen, in his book, Talkative Indians. For example. I noted with dismay that one such person, otherwise quite well meaning, at a national day function told the host countrys top elite present, including PM and Leader of the Opposition , that Indians were quite advanced in all fields when they were virtually living in caves In the same breath, he started praising the host country by focusing on the attributes of a host country public man,known for his provocative, highly controversial stances on sensitive issues. A senior Indian journalist colleague, quite charitably remarked that the (diplomat) gentleman was inclined to read too much indiscriminately to stay confined to prescribed diplomatic grooves. Another person in the same genre, would often unnecessarily rake up sensitive , domestic issues in public meetings, and impute misplaced , unsubstantiated motives obliquely to the host country. I got the feeling that his earlier socialisation and previous diplomatic stints did not help him much to subdue his melodramatic , talkative disposition and acquire the finesse , expected of a mature, well chiseled diplomat. Both the gentlemen seemed to carry their hearts in their palms, a good attribute but not necessarily of a diplomat. But they were lucky to have deputies, who were accomplished career diplomats.
Posted on: Sun, 21 Dec 2014 12:07:54 +0000
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