well good morning to everybody it is really not only a great delight but also
really not only a great delight but also
really not only a great delight but also an honor to be here at kis I have a
an honor to be here at kis I have a
an honor to be here at kis I have a fairly special bond with this school and
fairly special bond with this school and
fairly special bond with this school and I never thought I would be here before
I never thought I would be here before
I never thought I would be here before not in stalking at a TEDx event because
not in stalking at a TEDx event because
not in stalking at a TEDx event because my daughter-in-law was an alumnus and I
my daughter-in-law was an alumnus and I
my daughter-in-law was an alumnus and I had heard from her many stories about
had heard from her many stories about
had heard from her many stories about the school with great pride and
the school with great pride and
the school with great pride and nostalgia so it is really a delight and
nostalgia so it is really a delight and
nostalgia so it is really a delight and special for me to be here today so why
special for me to be here today so why
special for me to be here today so why am I here today well I’m here because I
am I here today well I’m here because I
am I here today well I’m here because I represent microscopic statistic we’re
represent microscopic statistic we’re
represent microscopic statistic we’re all statistics but this is a microscopic
all statistics but this is a microscopic
all statistics but this is a microscopic statistic because about 40 years ago
statistic because about 40 years ago
statistic because about 40 years ago when it wasn’t considered very
when it wasn’t considered very
when it wasn’t considered very appropriate to do so I chose to be a
appropriate to do so I chose to be a
appropriate to do so I chose to be a diplomat and it was not considered
diplomat and it was not considered
diplomat and it was not considered appropriate to do so not only in India
appropriate to do so not only in India
appropriate to do so not only in India but anywhere in the world the numbers of
but anywhere in the world the numbers of
but anywhere in the world the numbers of Indian of it of women diplomats were
Indian of it of women diplomats were
Indian of it of women diplomats were almost microscopic anywhere I joined the
almost microscopic anywhere I joined the
almost microscopic anywhere I joined the Diplomatic Service and then as you just
Diplomatic Service and then as you just
Diplomatic Service and then as you just heard I went on to be ambassador in
heard I went on to be ambassador in
heard I went on to be ambassador in various capitals of the world
various capitals of the world
various capitals of the world Stockholm Riga Doha Tokyo and Maduro
Stockholm Riga Doha Tokyo and Maduro
Stockholm Riga Doha Tokyo and Maduro Maduro chequered Maduro it is a capital
Maduro chequered Maduro it is a capital
Maduro chequered Maduro it is a capital of the Marshall Islands a tiny country
of the Marshall Islands a tiny country
of the Marshall Islands a tiny country in the Pacific Ocean so how did all this
in the Pacific Ocean so how did all this
in the Pacific Ocean so how did all this happen
happen
happen but before that I must say that this
but before that I must say that this
but before that I must say that this audience perhaps doesn’t think it a big
audience perhaps doesn’t think it a big
audience perhaps doesn’t think it a big deal to choose a career that takes you
deal to choose a career that takes you
deal to choose a career that takes you across oceans and continents because
across oceans and continents because
across oceans and continents because you’ve come from different parts of the
you’ve come from different parts of the
you’ve come from different parts of the world but back then when I chose to be a
world but back then when I chose to be a
world but back then when I chose to be a diplomat I must tell you that it was a
diplomat I must tell you that it was a
diplomat I must tell you that it was a big deal
big deal
big deal and to think of it it still is a big
and to think of it it still is a big
and to think of it it still is a big deal you know to be the designated
deal you know to be the designated
deal you know to be the designated spokesperson for your country in another
spokesperson for your country in another
spokesperson for your country in another land and to be entrusted the
land and to be entrusted the
land and to be entrusted the responsibility to build bridges of
responsibility to build bridges of
responsibility to build bridges of political empathy cultural understanding
political empathy cultural understanding
political empathy cultural understanding and very importantly nowadays economic
and very importantly nowadays economic
and very importantly nowadays economic engagement with those countries
engagement with those countries
engagement with those countries or stand before the UN at UN conferences
or stand before the UN at UN conferences
or stand before the UN at UN conferences speak and negotiate on subjects that
speak and negotiate on subjects that
speak and negotiate on subjects that affect every one of us on this planet
affect every one of us on this planet
affect every one of us on this planet subjects such as global disarmament
subjects such as global disarmament
subjects such as global disarmament global warming human rights basic human
global warming human rights basic human
global warming human rights basic human rights so this is what diplomacy really
rights so this is what diplomacy really
rights so this is what diplomacy really means and I was happy that through a
means and I was happy that through a
means and I was happy that through a whole process which I will talk about I
whole process which I will talk about I
whole process which I will talk about I reached this place and I will talk to
reached this place and I will talk to
reached this place and I will talk to four main points about how I reached him
four main points about how I reached him
four main points about how I reached him first is daring to dream
first is daring to dream
first is daring to dream the second was making choices
the second was making choices
the second was making choices the third was knowing my own strengths
the third was knowing my own strengths
the third was knowing my own strengths and talents such as they were or were
and talents such as they were or were
and talents such as they were or were not and having belief in my own
not and having belief in my own
not and having belief in my own instincts the last which i think is
instincts the last which i think is
instincts the last which i think is about what the topic of today’s TED
about what the topic of today’s TED
about what the topic of today’s TED talks is really looking at challenge not
talks is really looking at challenge not
talks is really looking at challenge not as a challenge but as an opportunity
as a challenge but as an opportunity
as a challenge but as an opportunity that leads to empowerment and success so
that leads to empowerment and success so
that leads to empowerment and success so to go to the beginning the beginning the
to go to the beginning the beginning the
to go to the beginning the beginning the dreams the beginning was fairly ordinary
dreams the beginning was fairly ordinary
dreams the beginning was fairly ordinary and uneventful I went to good schools I
and uneventful I went to good schools I
and uneventful I went to good schools I had fairly supportive parents and I can
had fairly supportive parents and I can
had fairly supportive parents and I can tell you something that when I was young
tell you something that when I was young
tell you something that when I was young I think the first challenges I knew were
I think the first challenges I knew were
I think the first challenges I knew were not what I faced but what I threw at
not what I faced but what I threw at
not what I faced but what I threw at them because I just wanted to be
them because I just wanted to be
them because I just wanted to be different I didn’t want to do things
different I didn’t want to do things
different I didn’t want to do things that other girls did I wanted to have a
that other girls did I wanted to have a
that other girls did I wanted to have a great career I wanted to travel
great career I wanted to travel
great career I wanted to travel I wanted to transform the world but I
I wanted to transform the world but I
I wanted to transform the world but I can tell you I had absolutely no clue
can tell you I had absolutely no clue
can tell you I had absolutely no clue how I was going to go about it
how I was going to go about it
how I was going to go about it I was pretty clueless maybe I had too
I was pretty clueless maybe I had too
I was pretty clueless maybe I had too many clues because I kept changing my
many clues because I kept changing my
many clues because I kept changing my views and my dreams with each person I
views and my dreams with each person I
views and my dreams with each person I met who made an impact on me or each
met who made an impact on me or each
met who made an impact on me or each circumstance or situation that I or
circumstance or situation that I or
circumstance or situation that I or experience that I I had then this is a
experience that I I had then this is a
experience that I I had then this is a state of being I’m sure a lot of young
state of being I’m sure a lot of young
state of being I’m sure a lot of young people here in this room also go through
people here in this room also go through
people here in this room also go through that you want to do something at this
that you want to do something at this
that you want to do something at this point of time you really don’t know what
point of time you really don’t know what
point of time you really don’t know what you want to do but I think it’s a
you want to do but I think it’s a
you want to do but I think it’s a fantastic state of being because you
fantastic state of being because you
fantastic state of being because you know what it means it means that your
know what it means it means that your
know what it means it means that your mind is open
mind is open
mind is open you’re seeking and you’re receptive so
you’re seeking and you’re receptive so
you’re seeking and you’re receptive so what were the dreams the dreams in those
what were the dreams the dreams in those
what were the dreams the dreams in those days were also kind of limited so
days were also kind of limited so
days were also kind of limited so started off at Medicine scientist I
started off at Medicine scientist I
started off at Medicine scientist I wanted to be a social worker
wanted to be a social worker
wanted to be a social worker when I saw poverty which was quite
when I saw poverty which was quite
when I saw poverty which was quite endemic in my country in those days I
endemic in my country in those days I
endemic in my country in those days I wanted to be an air hostess when I was a
wanted to be an air hostess when I was a
wanted to be an air hostess when I was a teenager and terribly glamor stricken as
teenager and terribly glamor stricken as
teenager and terribly glamor stricken as often happens and I also wanted to be a
often happens and I also wanted to be a
often happens and I also wanted to be a diplomat remember that love for travel I
diplomat remember that love for travel I
diplomat remember that love for travel I had so I also wanted to be a diplomat
had so I also wanted to be a diplomat
had so I also wanted to be a diplomat said those were the dreams and then we
said those were the dreams and then we
said those were the dreams and then we come to the choices now this is far more
come to the choices now this is far more
come to the choices now this is far more difficult I think today than it was in
difficult I think today than it was in
difficult I think today than it was in my time as I said the choices were also
my time as I said the choices were also
my time as I said the choices were also fairly limited so started off with
fairly limited so started off with
fairly limited so started off with wanting to do medicine but the first
wanting to do medicine but the first
wanting to do medicine but the first time I had to pin down and dissect this
time I had to pin down and dissect this
time I had to pin down and dissect this large renata greener in the biology lab
large renata greener in the biology lab
large renata greener in the biology lab and I fainted I discovered that this was
and I fainted I discovered that this was
and I fainted I discovered that this was not for me so I changed and I decided
not for me so I changed and I decided
not for me so I changed and I decided yes science it was going to be but let
yes science it was going to be but let
yes science it was going to be but let me try chemistry so I did my first
me try chemistry so I did my first
me try chemistry so I did my first degree in chemistry between this first
degree in chemistry between this first
degree in chemistry between this first degree in chemistry meant long odds at
degree in chemistry meant long odds at
degree in chemistry meant long odds at the lab and again I realized this really
the lab and again I realized this really
the lab and again I realized this really wasn’t what I wanted to do but I must
wasn’t what I wanted to do but I must
wasn’t what I wanted to do but I must say that it is really research is a
say that it is really research is a
say that it is really research is a fantastic career and if you want to
fantastic career and if you want to
fantastic career and if you want to transform the world I can’t think of
transform the world I can’t think of
transform the world I can’t think of another area where you can really impact
another area where you can really impact
another area where you can really impact the lives of millions of people by your
the lives of millions of people by your
the lives of millions of people by your discoveries and what you can do in
discoveries and what you can do in
discoveries and what you can do in research but you know it was really not
research but you know it was really not
research but you know it was really not for me so I completely change all over
for me so I completely change all over
for me so I completely change all over again and I go into the liberal arts and
again and I go into the liberal arts and
again and I go into the liberal arts and then I do English literature now what’s
then I do English literature now what’s
then I do English literature now what’s my point of saying this is that it’s
my point of saying this is that it’s
my point of saying this is that it’s perfectly fine to change horses
perfectly fine to change horses
perfectly fine to change horses midstream if that ride is not
midstream if that ride is not
midstream if that ride is not comfortable for you and that is really
comfortable for you and that is really
comfortable for you and that is really what I went on to do and this brings me
what I went on to do and this brings me
what I went on to do and this brings me to the next point which is to know your
to the next point which is to know your
to the next point which is to know your strengths and you know to be able to
strengths and you know to be able to
strengths and you know to be able to know what your innate challenges and
know what your innate challenges and
know what your innate challenges and when I sit when I say its strengths I
when I sit when I say its strengths I
when I sit when I say its strengths I really don’t mean
really don’t mean
really don’t mean grades you’re not looking at grades when
grades you’re not looking at grades when
grades you’re not looking at grades when you’re in the stage in school what
you’re in the stage in school what
you’re in the stage in school what you’re looking at it your strengths your
you’re looking at it your strengths your
you’re looking at it your strengths your your talents what is it you really like
your talents what is it you really like
your talents what is it you really like and also to be able to recognize
and also to be able to recognize
and also to be able to recognize opportunities that come which really
opportunities that come which really
opportunities that come which really appeal to your innate disposition that
appeal to your innate disposition that
appeal to your innate disposition that is really very important for me all this
is really very important for me all this
is really very important for me all this came together in a very strange way in
came together in a very strange way in
came together in a very strange way in the form of a man my brother-in-law now
the form of a man my brother-in-law now
the form of a man my brother-in-law now he was a top cop somewhere but he
he was a top cop somewhere but he
he was a top cop somewhere but he thought it was a completely the wrong
thought it was a completely the wrong
thought it was a completely the wrong career option but he was already too far
career option but he was already too far
career option but he was already too far gone he couldn’t change it and he
gone he couldn’t change it and he
gone he couldn’t change it and he thought he had wanted always to be a
thought he had wanted always to be a
thought he had wanted always to be a diplomat and he wanted to live out this
diplomat and he wanted to live out this
diplomat and he wanted to live out this dream somehow vicariously or otherwise
dream somehow vicariously or otherwise
dream somehow vicariously or otherwise through me so he told me about the
through me so he told me about the
through me so he told me about the Indian civil services exam and he told
Indian civil services exam and he told
Indian civil services exam and he told me when I was filling in the form to
me when I was filling in the form to
me when I was filling in the form to tick that little box with said Indian
tick that little box with said Indian
tick that little box with said Indian Foreign Service and I could tell you my
Foreign Service and I could tell you my
Foreign Service and I could tell you my parents had no clue that that was what I
parents had no clue that that was what I
parents had no clue that that was what I was planning to do so I want to say that
was planning to do so I want to say that
was planning to do so I want to say that very often opportunities come in all
very often opportunities come in all
very often opportunities come in all kinds of forms it could also be human it
kinds of forms it could also be human it
kinds of forms it could also be human it could be parents it could be a wonderful
could be parents it could be a wonderful
could be parents it could be a wonderful teacher that you have or it could be
teacher that you have or it could be
teacher that you have or it could be just somebody completely unrelated and
just somebody completely unrelated and
just somebody completely unrelated and you are then well on your way now I now
you are then well on your way now I now
you are then well on your way now I now come to challenges I could tell you that
come to challenges I could tell you that
come to challenges I could tell you that Indian civil service exam is a humongous
Indian civil service exam is a humongous
Indian civil service exam is a humongous challenge there were 20 slots for the
challenge there were 20 slots for the
challenge there were 20 slots for the Indian Foreign Service and a hundred
Indian Foreign Service and a hundred
Indian Foreign Service and a hundred thousand aspirants perhaps a little more
thousand aspirants perhaps a little more
thousand aspirants perhaps a little more but that wasn’t the biggest one I got
but that wasn’t the biggest one I got
but that wasn’t the biggest one I got over that and then I walk into this
over that and then I walk into this
over that and then I walk into this interview room and very nervously and
interview room and very nervously and
interview room and very nervously and there in front is this sort of arrayed
there in front is this sort of arrayed
there in front is this sort of arrayed these distinguished looking men and that
these distinguished looking men and that
these distinguished looking men and that one token woman I walk into this room
one token woman I walk into this room
one token woman I walk into this room and I had this booming voice of the
and I had this booming voice of the
and I had this booming voice of the Chairman who says so you plan to marry a
Chairman who says so you plan to marry a
Chairman who says so you plan to marry a cook and you know I stopped for a moment
cook and you know I stopped for a moment
cook and you know I stopped for a moment and I thought how politically incorrect
and I thought how politically incorrect
and I thought how politically incorrect was that you can’t say those things any
was that you can’t say those things any
was that you can’t say those things any longer and I think good men and women
longer and I think good men and women
longer and I think good men and women have really fought to remove
have really fought to remove
have really fought to remove discrimination in the workplace from our
discrimination in the workplace from our
discrimination in the workplace from our statute books but have you removed them
statute books but have you removed them
statute books but have you removed them from minds that really is going to take
from minds that really is going to take
from minds that really is going to take much longer and why was I asked whether
much longer and why was I asked whether
much longer and why was I asked whether I wanted to marry a cook because there I
I wanted to marry a cook because there I
I wanted to marry a cook because there I was
was
was I was going to join the Indian Foreign
I was going to join the Indian Foreign
I was going to join the Indian Foreign Service I was going to travel all over
Service I was going to travel all over
Service I was going to travel all over the world now who in the world would
the world now who in the world would
the world now who in the world would want to you know put aside their career
want to you know put aside their career
want to you know put aside their career and travel with me other than somebody
and travel with me other than somebody
and travel with me other than somebody who was willing to take care of my home
who was willing to take care of my home
who was willing to take care of my home and hearth and that also said that he
and hearth and that also said that he
and hearth and that also said that he expected women to be in the kitchen
expected women to be in the kitchen
expected women to be in the kitchen cooking so since I couldn’t cook there
cooking so since I couldn’t cook there
cooking so since I couldn’t cook there was a man who was going to cook I mean
was a man who was going to cook I mean
was a man who was going to cook I mean those words it is but I’m happy to say
those words it is but I’m happy to say
those words it is but I’m happy to say that you know that that has changed to
that you know that that has changed to
that you know that that has changed to some extent and so into this career and
some extent and so into this career and
some extent and so into this career and my first posting was in Hong Kong where
my first posting was in Hong Kong where
my first posting was in Hong Kong where I was sent to learn Mandarin now in our
I was sent to learn Mandarin now in our
I was sent to learn Mandarin now in our first postings in the Foreign Service
first postings in the Foreign Service
first postings in the Foreign Service you have to choose a language and choose
you have to choose a language and choose
you have to choose a language and choose a particular geographical area in which
a particular geographical area in which
a particular geographical area in which you specialize and it was it was
you specialize and it was it was
you specialize and it was it was Mandarin and China for me and I could
Mandarin and China for me and I could
Mandarin and China for me and I could tell you it was not easy you know
tell you it was not easy you know
tell you it was not easy you know Mandarin is a very very tough language
Mandarin is a very very tough language
Mandarin is a very very tough language but it was the most marvelous
but it was the most marvelous
but it was the most marvelous opportunity because can you imagine what
opportunity because can you imagine what
opportunity because can you imagine what it did for me it opened to me one sixth
it did for me it opened to me one sixth
it did for me it opened to me one sixth of humanity another one six because you
of humanity another one six because you
of humanity another one six because you have one six sitting here in India one
have one six sitting here in India one
have one six sitting here in India one six in China’s between them one third of
six in China’s between them one third of
six in China’s between them one third of humanity that I could not communicate
humanity that I could not communicate
humanity that I could not communicate with and I was living in this absolutely
with and I was living in this absolutely
with and I was living in this absolutely marvelous country I was seeing the
marvelous country I was seeing the
marvelous country I was seeing the transformation of the country and this
transformation of the country and this
transformation of the country and this is a country which is transformed in
is a country which is transformed in
is a country which is transformed in enormous lis in a period of 30 years
enormous lis in a period of 30 years
enormous lis in a period of 30 years like it never happened in the history of
like it never happened in the history of
like it never happened in the history of mankind and China is a very very
mankind and China is a very very
mankind and China is a very very important neighbor for India so all this
important neighbor for India so all this
important neighbor for India so all this came together when I was in China and
came together when I was in China and
came together when I was in China and that was a challenge actually turned to
that was a challenge actually turned to
that was a challenge actually turned to be an opportunity another in fact I
be an opportunity another in fact I
be an opportunity another in fact I think experience that I had that talked
think experience that I had that talked
think experience that I had that talked about challenges reminded me about
about challenges reminded me about
about challenges reminded me about challenges which could lie in really in
challenges which could lie in really in
challenges which could lie in really in the eye of the beholder was at UN
the eye of the beholder was at UN
the eye of the beholder was at UN conferences you know there I was an
conferences you know there I was an
conferences you know there I was an Indian diplomat wound in these six yards
Indian diplomat wound in these six yards
Indian diplomat wound in these six yards of unstitch material big dot on my
of unstitch material big dot on my
of unstitch material big dot on my forehead diamond in my nose and there I
forehead diamond in my nose and there I
forehead diamond in my nose and there I was trying to talk about serious issues
was trying to talk about serious issues
was trying to talk about serious issues now I had to tell them you know go
now I had to tell them you know go
now I had to tell them you know go beyond my traditional attire listen
beyond my traditional attire listen
beyond my traditional attire listen listen to what I’m trying to say and you
listen to what I’m trying to say and you
listen to what I’m trying to say and you know that was really a hugely empowering
know that was really a hugely empowering
know that was really a hugely empowering experience because when they realize
experience because when they realize
experience because when they realize that you talked since you were
that you talked since you were
that you talked since you were articulating your country’s point of
articulating your country’s point of
articulating your country’s point of view and you could stand your ground and
view and you could stand your ground and
view and you could stand your ground and that acceptance that you got was very
that acceptance that you got was very
that acceptance that you got was very empowering but I must also tell you that
empowering but I must also tell you that
empowering but I must also tell you that some of the challenges are what to set
some of the challenges are what to set
some of the challenges are what to set yourself and I had set myself this
yourself and I had set myself this
yourself and I had set myself this challenge because I wanted every
challenge because I wanted every
challenge because I wanted every you know I wanted to be a good wife I
you know I wanted to be a good wife I
you know I wanted to be a good wife I wanted to be a good mother I wanted to
wanted to be a good mother I wanted to
wanted to be a good mother I wanted to be a good homemaker and I wanted to be
be a good homemaker and I wanted to be
be a good homemaker and I wanted to be accepted as an outstanding professional
accepted as an outstanding professional
accepted as an outstanding professional and I must tell you I found quite early
and I must tell you I found quite early
and I must tell you I found quite early in life that there was a secret weed
in life that there was a secret weed
in life that there was a secret weed there was there was a way to do that and
there was there was a way to do that and
there was there was a way to do that and that was just to work doubly as hard as
that was just to work doubly as hard as
that was just to work doubly as hard as my male colleagues to be accepted half
my male colleagues to be accepted half
my male colleagues to be accepted half as much as them so that is how I started
as much as them so that is how I started
as much as them so that is how I started my career it was a huge challenge at
my career it was a huge challenge at
my career it was a huge challenge at that point but I think you overcome it
that point but I think you overcome it
that point but I think you overcome it as you go on in life
as you go on in life
as you go on in life talking of empowerment you know I moved
talking of empowerment you know I moved
talking of empowerment you know I moved on as ambassador and one of my postings
on as ambassador and one of my postings
on as ambassador and one of my postings was to a country in the GCC as you know
was to a country in the GCC as you know
was to a country in the GCC as you know this one of the Arab countries and I was
this one of the Arab countries and I was
this one of the Arab countries and I was the first Indian woman ambassador ever
the first Indian woman ambassador ever
the first Indian woman ambassador ever to be sent to that part of the world my
to be sent to that part of the world my
to be sent to that part of the world my colleagues in the Foreign Service were
colleagues in the Foreign Service were
colleagues in the Foreign Service were not amuse my male colleagues they said
not amuse my male colleagues they said
not amuse my male colleagues they said it was a bad idea
it was a bad idea
it was a bad idea I would not be effective at all because
I would not be effective at all because
I would not be effective at all because very male-dominated society and what in
very male-dominated society and what in
very male-dominated society and what in the world was government thinking
the world was government thinking
the world was government thinking sending me there as has happened I must
sending me there as has happened I must
sending me there as has happened I must say that actually gender became an
say that actually gender became an
say that actually gender became an opportunity and the reason was well they
opportunity and the reason was well they
opportunity and the reason was well they were going to deal with any Indian
were going to deal with any Indian
were going to deal with any Indian ambassador because India is politically
ambassador because India is politically
ambassador because India is politically and economically important to that part
and economically important to that part
and economically important to that part of the world but in addition there was
of the world but in addition there was
of the world but in addition there was the fact that you know the Indian
the fact that you know the Indian
the fact that you know the Indian population outnumbered the locals to is
population outnumbered the locals to is
population outnumbered the locals to is 2:1 so they had to deal with Indian
2:1 so they had to deal with Indian
2:1 so they had to deal with Indian ambassador there were so many issues the
ambassador there were so many issues the
ambassador there were so many issues the other thing was and this is my secret
other thing was and this is my secret
other thing was and this is my secret weapon that behind the wheel
weapon that behind the wheel
weapon that behind the wheel what is powerful women and this was an
what is powerful women and this was an
what is powerful women and this was an area that men normally contacts s I had
area that men normally contacts s I had
area that men normally contacts s I had access to that world and they opened
access to that world and they opened
access to that world and they opened doors to me like nothing ever did so
doors to me like nothing ever did so
doors to me like nothing ever did so that is when a gender challenge really
that is when a gender challenge really
that is when a gender challenge really became an opportunity in the part of the
became an opportunity in the part of the
became an opportunity in the part of the world and nobody really would imagine
world and nobody really would imagine
world and nobody really would imagine that could have happened the other thing
that could have happened the other thing
that could have happened the other thing that I think that posting taught me of
that I think that posting taught me of
that I think that posting taught me of empowerment was that empowerment’s a
empowerment was that empowerment’s a
empowerment was that empowerment’s a very very heavy word it comes with a lot
very very heavy word it comes with a lot
very very heavy word it comes with a lot of responsibility because I was just
of responsibility because I was just
of responsibility because I was just telling you that large number of Indians
telling you that large number of Indians
telling you that large number of Indians that were there of citizens of India
that were there of citizens of India
that were there of citizens of India that were them now
that were them now
that were them now to them had set out to improve their
to them had set out to improve their
to them had set out to improve their lives and I’m happy to say that most of
lives and I’m happy to say that most of
lives and I’m happy to say that most of them had been able to achieve their
them had been able to achieve their
them had been able to achieve their dreams but but they were a small
dreams but but they were a small
dreams but but they were a small minority and these were really pitiful
minority and these were really pitiful
minority and these were really pitiful victims of circumstance and you know
victims of circumstance and you know
victims of circumstance and you know they looked to you as the only hope they
they looked to you as the only hope they
they looked to you as the only hope they only hope in their life to dignity and
only hope in their life to dignity and
only hope in their life to dignity and freedom and to get away from the
freedom and to get away from the
freedom and to get away from the situation that they had come to and
situation that they had come to and
situation that they had come to and that’s when I realized that yes I could
that’s when I realized that yes I could
that’s when I realized that yes I could help them I could reach out but you know
help them I could reach out but you know
help them I could reach out but you know I needed a lot of empathy and more than
I needed a lot of empathy and more than
I needed a lot of empathy and more than that I needed to realize that this was a
that I needed to realize that this was a
that I needed to realize that this was a huge responsibility there were lives of
huge responsibility there were lives of
huge responsibility there were lives of people and they would create
people and they would create
people and they would create expectations in my hands the Diplomatic
expectations in my hands the Diplomatic
expectations in my hands the Diplomatic Service brings a lot of experiences but
Service brings a lot of experiences but
Service brings a lot of experiences but one thing it makes you that you’ve got
one thing it makes you that you’ve got
one thing it makes you that you’ve got to be really really good at adjusting to
to be really really good at adjusting to
to be really really good at adjusting to change and I could tell you that so you
change and I could tell you that so you
change and I could tell you that so you know the only constant rarely in our
know the only constant rarely in our
know the only constant rarely in our lives is change so you move around you
lives is change so you move around you
lives is change so you move around you approve yourself and you move from
approve yourself and you move from
approve yourself and you move from different geographies you know you we
different geographies you know you we
different geographies you know you we just heard about Amrita going from
just heard about Amrita going from
just heard about Amrita going from Tunisia to Mongolia and so there you go
Tunisia to Mongolia and so there you go
Tunisia to Mongolia and so there you go two completely different cultures and
two completely different cultures and
two completely different cultures and cuisines and civilizations economic
cuisines and civilizations economic
cuisines and civilizations economic situations different people and as the
situations different people and as the
situations different people and as the ambassador before you’ve put your foot
ambassador before you’ve put your foot
ambassador before you’ve put your foot there you’re supposed to be an instant
there you’re supposed to be an instant
there you’re supposed to be an instant expert but again immerse yourself in
expert but again immerse yourself in
expert but again immerse yourself in this and look at this as an opportunity
this and look at this as an opportunity
this and look at this as an opportunity is really what changes everything and
is really what changes everything and
is really what changes everything and that was really fortunate to be in Japan
that was really fortunate to be in Japan
that was really fortunate to be in Japan as ambassador and this is such a unique
as ambassador and this is such a unique
as ambassador and this is such a unique and marvelous country you know it’s an
and marvelous country you know it’s an
and marvelous country you know it’s an evolved civilization it’s been a world
evolved civilization it’s been a world
evolved civilization it’s been a world economic power it’s a very very special
economic power it’s a very very special
economic power it’s a very very special place and I it was in a way the end of
place and I it was in a way the end of
place and I it was in a way the end of my career but it was a great dream
my career but it was a great dream
my career but it was a great dream fulfilled to be there and to be able to
fulfilled to be there and to be able to
fulfilled to be there and to be able to contribute the relations between India
contribute the relations between India
contribute the relations between India and Japan at a very very good point of
and Japan at a very very good point of
and Japan at a very very good point of our bilateral relations so that really
our bilateral relations so that really
our bilateral relations so that really brings me to the conclusion of what I
brings me to the conclusion of what I
brings me to the conclusion of what I have to say one is that each one of us
have to say one is that each one of us
have to say one is that each one of us is very unique I hope I’m sure
is very unique I hope I’m sure
is very unique I hope I’m sure you hear the squishy all the time and
you hear the squishy all the time and
you hear the squishy all the time and each one of us has a hand of
each one of us has a hand of
each one of us has a hand of circumstance dealt to us also challenges
circumstance dealt to us also challenges
circumstance dealt to us also challenges as we just heard are ubiquitous it’s
as we just heard are ubiquitous it’s
as we just heard are ubiquitous it’s like the air we breathe I mean their
like the air we breathe I mean their
like the air we breathe I mean their challenges everywhere but if you were
challenges everywhere but if you were
challenges everywhere but if you were listening to me
listening to me
listening to me I don’t know if you caught that there
I don’t know if you caught that there
I don’t know if you caught that there was a thread in my entire narrative and
was a thread in my entire narrative and
was a thread in my entire narrative and that was perseverance perseverance and
that was perseverance perseverance and
that was perseverance perseverance and really attitude I think these are very
really attitude I think these are very
really attitude I think these are very important and I think these are two
important and I think these are two
important and I think these are two things that help you to really change
things that help you to really change
things that help you to really change challenges to opportunities and also I
challenges to opportunities and also I
challenges to opportunities and also I think at the end of it what do we want
think at the end of it what do we want
think at the end of it what do we want to do we want to leave the world a
to do we want to leave the world a
to do we want to leave the world a better place than we found it and as we
better place than we found it and as we
better place than we found it and as we do so we also want to have some fun so I
do so we also want to have some fun so I
do so we also want to have some fun so I hope each one of you the young people
hope each one of you the young people
hope each one of you the young people here can do that in life change the
here can do that in life change the
here can do that in life change the world have fun as you do it good luck
world have fun as you do it good luck
world have fun as you do it good luck and thank you very much
”
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