Title: Always a Foreigner
Author: Ashwini Devare
Genre: Travel/ Memoir
Publisher: Rupa Publications
As an aspirant, I have always brooded over the lack of diplomatic memoirs by officers in the IFS. The few that exist are also too academic in nature while I crave human stories. One book I found to satisfy my hunger was Ambassador’s Club. The other is this brilliant book by Ashwini Devare. Published abroad as “Lost at 15, Found at 50”, it provides a ringside view of the life of a diplomat and his family. And I am glad to say that the author, in this fast paced, easy going memoir, has done a better job than most diplomats of the IFS have.
While life in the Foreign Service looks glossy and glamorous (and it is so quite a few times), that is not all. In her book, Devare talks about all the momentous experiences that marked the turning point of India ranging from former PM Lal Bahadur Shastri’s sudden death in erstwhile USSR to the tiff between US and India regarding the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty- an issue that holds significant relevance for both the countries even to this day. Through snippets of the author’s father, one gets a glimpse into the minds of our proud IFS officers who, despite travelling the world, are truly Indians at heart.
Diplomats are a perfect balance of patriotism and global citizenship. Historical moments like the stepping of the first man on the moon are documented with vivid details in this memoir and takes one back to those exciting times.
A contribution often ignored is the contribution of wives of diplomats in the Foreign Service. In fact, till a few years back, in the ACR of a diplomat, there used to be a separate column for remarks on these diplo-brides. The affect of travel and frequent dislocation on the family, especially the children, are also immense and the author talks of how she faced racism in Switzerland n one hand and almost missed out on education in Burma on the other.
Beyond the glow of the chandeliers and champagne lies tons of hard work to maintain India’s image abroad- something that people outside the diplomatic corps are rarely aware of. With her memoir, Devare opens up the doors of this exclusive service to the world.
That Hungry Reader 