Arriving in Dehradun, Uttarakhand on 01 February 2002 was as cold as landing in the night on 26 February 2025 in Riga, Latvia, when I arrived to take charge of my “firsts” in both places. The chill in February 2002 was within the ecosystem of the state government machinery of Uttarakhand (then called Uttaranchal), for whom an officer seconded from the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) of the Union Government was difficult to comprehend. The chill in Riga was brought by the winter winds from the WSW at 15 to 30 km/h, when the temperature felt like -4°C or -5°C. The chill in Riga at that point in time also matched the common perception of Baltic people as “cold and distant.”
But the initial chill soon turned into lifelong warm memories of valuable work experiences in both places.
Uttarakhand was a pioneering journey of breaking new ground for the MEA in Centre–State collaboration. In Uttarakhand, I had the privilege of becoming the first officer from the MEA to be seconded to the State Government. This unique opportunity enabled me to initiate an innovative approach to lateral movement between the MEA and State governments. The initiative not only paved the way for many other MEA officers to experience working in State Governments, but it also fostered a much deeper understanding of the functioning of our States. Those who initially frowned soon happily opened doors, and we became a team that delivered many firsts in the State.
Trained in anthropology, and a social scientist to the core with a passion for social impact, I spent over five years in Uttarakhand. As the Additional Secretary in the Rural Development Department, followed by my role in the Education Department, my teams and I created several foundational technology-driven social development models.
Originally from Maharashtra, I brought my Foreign Service experience to Uttarakhand—now my home state. Under the Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s grand vision of linking foreign policy with the nation’s domestic policy, in 2014 our Ministry established the States’ Division for collaboration with and greater outreach to the State Governments. Witnessing the outcome of the precedent set in 2002 taking shape in 2014 brought immense satisfaction. It was also a testament to the leadership of a Prime Minister whose vision, innovative approach, and unwavering commitment to Jan Seva continue to inspire the entire nation and its people.
Riga, Latvia—my current place of work—offered me another unique opportunity in the capacity of the first resident lady Ambassador of India to Latvia. I landed in Riga with a deep passion to connect with the Government and people of Latvia, as well as the members of the Indian diaspora in the country; to understand them, and together work towards furthering and strengthening the ties between our two nations. The general misconception about the Baltic people being cold and distant was instantly dispelled, revealing that while some people and cultures open up quickly and others more slowly, every culture has warmth and the ability to embrace others.
India’s foreign policy under Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji’s vision—based on the principles of VasudhaivaKutumbakam and the teachings of ancient Indian texts on kutniti—is a constant source of inspiration. It keeps me, as the first resident lady Ambassador of India to Latvia, and my modest team at the Embassy energised. This inspiration has helped us establish and operationalise our Mission in Riga within a record span of just one year. We are now ready to work together to take our bilateral relations to the next level.
Both the “firsts” in my career—the groundbreaking opportunity in Uttarakhand during the early phase of my professional journey, and the current assignment in Riga, Latvia—have reaffirmed a vital belief: when one approaches work with unwavering honesty and integrity, striving for the genuine welfare and advancement of the nation and its people, one should never hesitate to set new precedents, even if those new paths diverge from traditional norms or established practices of the day.
Forging new directions, even in challenging or unfamiliar environments, can lead to meaningful and lasting impact. When driven by the right intentions, such efforts will eventually take good shape and bear fruit one day.
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