November 30, 2022
1 min read

Meet the Indian women diplomats marking their mark globally

In the nearly seven decades between Pandit and Kamboj, Indian women have held top diplomatic positions….reports Arul Louis

When Ruchira Kamboj takes the gavel on Thursday at the Security Council, she will be following in the footsteps of an illustrious Indian woman, Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit who assumed leadership of a major UN body 69 years ago.

In 1953, Pandit became the first woman President of the General Assembly and now Kamboj will become the first Indian woman to be the President of the Security Council.

“To the girls out there, we all can make it,” Kamboj tweeted when she took over as the first Indian woman Permanent Representative of India to the UN in August signalling how she is a role model.

In the nearly seven decades between Pandit and Kamboj, Indian women have held top diplomatic positions.

Indira Gandhi held the External Affairs portfolio, 1967 to 1969, and in 1984, and Sushma Swaraj, 2014 to 2019

There have also been three women foreign secretaries, Chokila Iyer, Nirupama Rao and Sujatha Singh.

At the Security Council, Kamboj is the chair of its high-profile Counter-Terrorism Committee and organised in India a rare special session outside the headquarters to bring home the dangers of international terrorism.

Before her UN assignment, she was the Ambassador to Bhutan, an important position because of its special relationship with India.

Her senior diplomatic assignments include Permanent Representative to the Unesco in Paris, high commissioner in South Africa and chief of protocol.

Outside the External Affairs Ministry, she did a stint as the deputy head of the Office of the Secretary-General at the Commonwealth Secretariat in London.

Kamboj joined the Indian Foreign Service in 1987, and from 2002 to 2005 was a Counsellor at the UN Mission.

Currently at the 15-member Security Council, four women serve with her — Lana Zaki Nuseibeh of the United Arab Emirates, Linda Thomas-Greenfield of the US, Barbara Woodward of the UK and Mona Juul of Norway.

ALSO READ: India’s UNSC presidency in the time of crisis

Previous Story

AMMA opens at Tara Theatre

Next Story

Vamos Vamos Argentina

Latest from -Top News

Russia Slams EU’s New Sanctions

Peskov emphasised that the Russian leadership will assess the latest package of European sanctions in order to minimise its impact….reports Asian Lite News Hours after the EU approved its 18th round of

UK, Germany sign friendship treaty

The treaty builds on a defence pact the UK and Germany, two of the biggest European supporters of Ukraine, signed last year committing to closer co-operation against the growing threat from Russia

Bid to protect younger workers in UK

Call for Evidence launched into unpaid internships as some employers fail to pay young workers despite ban…reports Asian Lite News The government has taken a significant step towards protecting younger workers from

UK Govt picks six areas for devolution

Cumbria, Cheshire and Warrington, Norfolk and Suffolk, Greater Essex, Sussex and Brighton, and Hampshire and the Solent joined the DPP in February…reports Asian Lite News The government has taken a major step

UK Govt unblocks fusion planning rules

The new plans will integrate fusion into the Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project (NSIP) regime, placing fusion energy projects on an equal footing with other clean energy technologies such as solar, onshore wind,
Go toTop

Don't Miss

ADNOC, Reliance sign pact for chemical project

The agreement capitalises on the growing demand for these critical

Budget 2023: A manifesto for industrial revolution 4.0

As India is looking up to rise in the global