India's
Off UNSC,
Farewall to
Hardeep Singh
Puri, Big
Democracy
&
Underdogs
By
Matthew
Russell Lee
UNITED
NATIONS,
February 25 –
With Indian
ambassador
Hardeep Singh
Puri set to
leave his
country's
foreign
service, after
39 years, at
the end of
February,
among his
farewells was
one for the UN
press corps on
Monday night
at the Indian
mission.
The Mission's
spokesman
asked Inner
City Press to
say a few
words;
Hardeep's
deputy Manjeev
Singh Puri
made the
introduction
as samosas
were passed
around.
On
the way to the
Indian mission
from the North
Lawn building
Inner City
Press ran into
two Permanent
Representatives
who had been
to farewells
for Hardeep.
Both sang his
praises.
There are many
farewell
receptions in
UN World, but
the sentiments
for Hardeep
are genuine.
Here
is "as
prepared" --
for "as
delivered,"
see video,
here
Ever
since Hardeep
Singh Puri
told me he was
retiring from
the Indian
Foreign
Service after
39 years
service, I've
been angling
for an exit
interview, or
to try to set
up a talk show
called “Deep
Analysis with
Hardeep.” It
hasn't
happened yet,
but when I was
asked by
Prakash
[Gupta] to put
together a few
lines for this
event, I got
to work on my
handy Aakash
Two.
Hardeep
served
in London, in
Sri Lanka in
1987, again
and again in
New Delhi, and
a time that
must have been
fun in Brazil.
He's a man of
the BRICS, and
of IBSA. So
what if his
predictions on
Security
Council reform
haven't
happened yet?
Hope springs
eternal.
Most
of us, I
think, got to
know Hardeep
during India's
two years on
the Security
Council,
especially
during his
presidencies
of the Council
in August 2011
and November
of last year.
During the
August
presidency
most of his
colleagues
were away on
holiday. Last
November saw
fast moves by
the M23 in
Eastern Congo,
where India
has a major
peacekeeping
presence.
Among
the biggest
troop
contributing
countries --
India,
Pakistan,
Bangladesh,
for example --
Hardeep stood
up to the
Secretariat,
on issues of
pay and
reimbursement,
and also of
peacekeeping
mission's
mandates. Now
with India off
the Council,
there's
approval for
“peace
enforcement”
battalions and
drones, and
who know what
next.
Even
coming from,
well, the
world's
largest
democracy,
Hardeep sides
with the
underdog. In
the spirit,
I'm seeing him
off not only
as Inner City
Press but also
for the new
Free UN
Coalition for
Access. Others
can do it
under their
own name.
India is a
land of many
religions and
beliefs.
And so
even after he
leaves, we'll
need some
straight talk
from Hardeep.
He served it
up, along with
this excellent
food, here in
the Mission.
He offered to
be even more
honest over
whiskey, and
my Aakash
research hints
at why: in
world trade
negotiations,
he was on a
panel about
alcoholic
beverages.
Diplomacy will
take you
everywhere,
they say. And
Hardeep, it's
been a
pleasure.
As
delivered,
Hardeep broke
in several
times, to say
he'd prefer a
stand up
comedy routine
to a talk show
called 'Deep
Analysis with
Hardeep. Inner
City Press did
not deliver
the line about
the Free UN
Coalition for
Access, not
wanting to
“brand” the
reception.
But
quickly
another
speaker said,
“on behalf of
UNCA” -- why?
Especially
given recent
events?
This was
followed by a
heartfelt
tribute from
an Indian
photograph
(who is a
FUNCA member),
another Indian
journalist,
and Amir
Dossal, who
offered praise
for support to
the UN's
Democracy Fund
and monument
to the memory
of the
Trans-Atlantic
Slave Trade.
Hardeep
said
he will be
staying in New
York, and that
he is advising
his successor
“Max” --
Ashoke
Makuherji --
to also
interact with
the press. But
will he do so
as well? Watch
this site.
, 
