“In the last few years, the resolution of various issues being faced by Indian Diaspora has speeded up. The connect between India and its people living abroad has become stronger. India is doing its branding in an aggressive manner due to which the country is gaining popularity, its culture is fast spreading in the globe. For the last 30 years, I have been working in Indian embassy in various capacities and experiencing this change with a proud feeling,” observed Indian Ambassador to Algeria Dr Swati Kulkarni. Dr Kulkarni is a Nagpurian doing an excellent job abroad. She shared her experiences with ‘The Hitavada’ during her recent visit to Nagpur. Dr Swati Vijay Kulkarni is a career diplomat, who, after doing MBBS from Nagpur’s Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH), joined the Indian Foreign Service in 1995.

 

Before taking charge as Ambassador of India to Algeria, she served as Consul General, Consulate General of India, Atlanta (USA). She served as Regional Passport Officer, Mumbai, Maharashtra, Consul General in CGI Cape Town, South Africa, Deputy Head of Mission in Muscat, Oman. She has also worked as First Secretary in High Commission of India, London. In London, Dr Kulkarni worked as a nodal officer during which she helped Indian medical graduates in avoiding discrimination due to the new UK Immigration rules. She also worked as First Secretary in the High Commission of India, Port Louis, Mauritius; and as a Third Secretary (Language Trainee) in Embassy of India, Spain. She is at the zenith of her career, but is like a woman next door. In the whole interview, even for a second, she did not have a condescending approach. It is not that the Indian Government has not given a thought to increase the space of resolving issues related to the Indians abroad. But there are several factors responsible with which Foreign Affairs Ministry works.

 

This is what Dr Swati Kulkarni feels. “The situation in India changed a lot after Modi Government came to power. Any single-party Government can provide stability and can implement policies aggressively. It happened in 2014. Indian Government has been organising various programmes abroad. But the regime under Prime Minister Narendra Modi gave it momentum,” she said, adding that during the last show of Modi in USA, it was something which was beyond imagination. “Over 50,000 people coming to the event and shouting slogans - the perspective of Indians changed completely. ‘Howdy Modi’ event brought 50,000 Indian-Americans to see the Prime Minister in Houston in September 2019. The consulate in Atlanta was responsible for outreach to elected officials and coordination among the dignitaries at the landmark event,’ she added. “We are doing a kind of branding. Others are looking with a different perspective at Indians. Now we are a growing country, promoting ourselves faster. When Article 370 was abrogated, we worked to explain why it was done. Now every single policy is pursued in an aggressive manner. In Oman, we resolved the issue of thousands of maids who came from Hyderabad, settled passport issues of some others,” pointed out Dr Kulkarni.

 

Dr Swati Kulkarni is not a sort of the officer having a very deadpan look which normally most officers wear. She is smiling, pouring her heart into whatever she does. Indians abroad many times need helping hand with assurance. She, with empathy, has been extending the help. During coronavirus pandemic, she was in Atlanta and supervised 200 calls daily, helped the people who needed. Many people, officers in Atlanta, impressed by Dr Swati Kulkarni’s (then Consul General) work who helped Mississippians stuck in India get back home during the pandemic. Whether it’s a passport crisis, somebody stranded at the airport, doesn’t matter. She gets things done. Her competence in articulating India’s position and promoting its business links with the US is her wont. Apart from working as brand ambassador, she proved herself as trade ambassador as well.

 

“Coronavirus pandemic was a rare situation. We never face such situations every now and then. It was my duty to help the people whosoever asked me,” Dr Kulkarni says with ease. “Every country has different culture. Oman has labour class, US is more affluent, Mauritius has some different quality. Algeria is totally different. Algeria President was very happy to receive me. President knows how India and Algeria worked together at the NAM platform. Algeria was not getting independence from France. It was India which helped it, and gave recognition. People of Algeria have a lot of respect for India. We are now at developmental path so they are happy in expressing their joyous feeling,” a reverberated Dr Swati Kulkarni narrated. Dr Kulkarni chose Indian Police Service after clearing civil services exam. She wanted to become Plastic Surgeon, but wasn’t interested in working as an IPS. Later, she got IFS. Her elder daughter Sharvari is a gynaecologist, the youngest one is pursuing PG in gynaecology. Despite mother’s stay abroad, both daughters preferred to stay in India. Dr Swati Kulkarni’s husband Vijay Kulkarni who was with Merchant Navy supported her fully. “This particular field taught me how to remain detached. I focus on my work. For me. work is worship whether it is Atlanta or Spain or Oman or Algeria. One thing I know I have to return to my own beautiful country India,” Dr Kulkarni stated clearly.