Former Indian foreign secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla's diplomatic career explored in new biography

'Not An Accidental Rise: Harsh Vardhan Shringla', biography recounting the life and career of Chief Coordinator of India'sG20 Presidency, was launched on Thursday, April 6in Darjeeling, over 1500 km east of New Delhi. Authored by Dr Dipmala Roka, the book delves into the diplomatic career of India's former foreign secretary who hails from the region of Darjeeling and Sikkim.

Shringla sent a strong message regarding the potential of Darjeeling while addressing the gathering at the book launch, highlighting the enterprising youth of the region.

"Today the smart youth of Darjeeling can be seen in New York, can be seen in Dubai, can be seen in Singapore, and in cities across the country, Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai," said Shringla. He emphasized the success and capabilities of the youth in the region, stating, "We need to impart to the younger people in our hometown, in our district and in our area the ability to seek better opportunities and better lives. We need to create capacities that are in-house and provide skills."

Prem Bhandari, Chairman of Jaipur Foot USA, the world’s largest non-profit organisation for disabled, was present at the event and highlighted Shringla’s dynamic and efficient tenure as an Ambassador in the United States of America and elsewhere in the world. "He is not only the darling of North East, he is the darling of 4.6 million Indian Americans and 14 million NRIs throughout the world," said Bhandari, while referring to the region consisting of seven states located at the east of New Delhi, often categorically dubbed as India's northeast.

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He also complimented Shringla’s handling of the Ukraine crisis for thousands of students when he was the serving Foreign Secretary of India.

Dr Dipmala Roka, Assistant Professor at Sikkim University and a native of Darjeeling, condensed the bilateral and multilateral experiences of Shringla in her book. According to her, 'Not An Accidental Rise' narrates the tale of how a son of Darjeeling and Sikkim represented India on the world stage, eventually rising to the highest position in the Indian Foreign Service.

In the preface of the book, Roka reflects upon the sheer grit and hard work that went into chiselling a noteworthy diplomatic career. "It is not an accidental rise. It is the story of each promotion being built on the achievements of the last," she writes.

The book was launched in both English and Nepali, the most spoken language in the region, in a bid to make it accessible to a wider audience. The event was attended by an august gathering and marked a celebration of the accomplishments of Shringla and the potential of the youth in the region.

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