Q.1 Excellency, first of all, I congratulate you on the behalf of our readers that you have agreed to be guest of our newspaper and take part in its interview. I have heard just a few days ago there was a national traditional day of India. What was that day? If one has observed, it seems that India has a number of national traditional days of celebrations. Would you please elaborate on this?
Ans. Thank you very much for inviting me for interview with your paper. It is a rare privilege. I convey my sincere gratitude to the newspaper. In fact we have only three National Days in India. These are : (i) Independence Day - which is marked on 15 August every year, when India became independent from the colonial power Britain; (ii) 2 October - which is Mahatma Gandhi’s birthday and now marked as the ‘International Day of Non-violence’. This is the day we marked in Ulaanbaatar by paying homage to the principles of Mahatma Gandhi, who led our freedom struggle against British colonial rule in the 20th century. India’s freedom struggle was principled and based on non-violence. Recognising Mahatma Gandhi’s contribution, UN marks it as the ‘International Day of Non-violence’. Mongolia’s capital Ulaanbaatar is one of the few capitals which host Mahatma Gandhi’s statue at Mahatma Gandhi street. Mongolian civil society, including some of the Monks, persons of Indian origin and Embassy officials participated in this event at Mahatma Gandhi’s statue; and (iii) Republic Day of India - which is marked on 26 January, when India became a republic. It is one of the important days as the fundamental rights of Indian citizens are enshrined in the Indian Constitution and these cannot be altered by any executive authority.
Q.2 Many Mongolians have observed that Ambassador of India to Mongolia is quite young person. If it is fine for you, would you please introduce to us yourself as well as your family?
Ans. I am also part of modern trend of nucleus families. I am married and have only one daughter who intermittently resides with me and is studying abroad.
Q.3 How the opportunity of working in Mongolia has fallen on to you? Was it your choice? Or was it an official requirement?
Ans. We have a very informal consultation process between individual Indian Foreign Service Officers, which I am, joining the Indian Foreign Service in 1985 and the Ministry of External Affairs which makes initial recommendation for appointment of Ambassador to a particular country for acceptance by the Hon’ble President. In this process I was also given an opportunity to have my say. I must mention that there were other countries, but I opted for Mongolia and it was lucky for me that my choice was concurred by the Ministry of External Affairs and accepted by the Hon’ble President of India. Here I am before you representing the Hon’ble President of India and people of India in this wonderful land of blue skies.
Q.4 Usually, foreigners are afraid of Mongolian winter. It might be especially the case for a person like you who have came out of a warm country? How well have you adapted to Mongolia?
Ans. I had the privilege of working in countries with minus temperatures throughout my diplomatic career so far. However, I must mention that I have adapted well to the coldest capital of the world. What has really helped me is less humidity in the air and despite significantly lower minus temperatures it is a very sunny country.
Q.5 Surely, you have had a great deal of information before you come to Mongolia. Concerning of our country, what were/ are good and what were/are not good to you?
Ans. I was only searching information on Mongolia, which was of particular interest to me as Ambassador-designate of India. I must say that I came across only good information and nothing adverse. It was heartening for me to delve into a relationship which is more than 2000 years in manifestation in various forms. When I visit your Monasteries and go to the countryside, the cultural attributes are very similar. I feel at home in a foreign country.
Q.6 Do you study Mongolian? Do you like Mongolian food?
Ans. I do enjoy variety of Mongolian cuisine, some of the best Mongolian food I have shared in Mongolian homes and Gers, whether it be horse-naming ceremony, horse stamping ceremony or Tsaagan Tsar. It has been a delightful journey. With my family we have been enjoying Mongolian grill which are located in Ulaanbaatar and some of your other cities.
Q.7 It is said that our two countries have the ancient relations, and similar to each the other culture. Would you please tell us the interesting points regarding India-Mongolian historical relations?
Ans. India-Mongolia relations have an antiquity. Initial contacts between the two countries were made by brave Mongolians and Indians in pursuit of their intellectual thirst. Mongolian scholars and preachers visited India to explore the new frontiers of intellectual horizon. Similarly, Indian Pundits and academics explored this part of the world for discussions and discourse. Today’s geographical countries do not convey correctly the ancient trade routes between India and Mongolia. Archaeologists have provided us an evidence of Buddhist Monasteries dotting from Buriyat to Nalanda. If you locate them on modern day maps, our brave ancestors had a direct connection between India and Mongolia. Scholars say that there had been various phases of interaction between India and Mongolia. Historically it is recorded that Indian scholars were present in the Mongolian courts during Chinggis Khan. You have to just look back to the beginning of 20th century where Mongolia had innumerable Monasteries spread over the whole territory. We should remember that the word “Dalai Lama” to the spiritual head of Tibetan Buddhism, which is part of Indian Buddhist Mahayana stream, was given by Mongolia’s Great Khan in sixteenth century. India was one of the first non-communist and non-socialist country to have recognized Mongolia’s independence in December 1955 and worked towards Mongolia’s full membership of the United Nations as a sovereign, independent country in the world. This event we are marking this year with the 50th Anniversary of Mongolia’s Membership of the United Nations.
Q.8 Students who have studied in your country return with willingness to go to India again. How do you proud of your country?
Ans. We provide 50 scholarships of 3-5 year courses to Mongolian students. We also provide around 200 short-term scholarships for various courses in India for Mongolian nationals. But the number of Mongolian students in various faculties in India is much higher. They go directly by paying requisite fee to gain the knowledge in their chosen fields. Indian education is contemporary and internationally competitive. This is also economically cost effective. Mongolians, without any Government support or prodding, have found Indian education system meeting their needs and are fully utilizing it. As an Embassy our contribution is minimal, by facilitating issuance of their long-term visas without much hassle or difficulties. We believe that Indian alumni is the best representative of Indian education and Indian culture amidst the Mongolian people. We appreciate them for their decision to study in India and salute them for their continued contribution to the India-Mongolia relations. I have come across few instances where Indian alumni prefer to send their children for studies in India. This is one generation trusting Indian education system for their younger generation of Mongolians.
Q.9 Since your appointment as the Ambassador, what positive developments have achieved between our two nations? What fields of cooperation have been noted with greater achievements?
President Elbegdorj paid a State visit to India in September 2009. His first State Visit abroad, after becoming President of Mongolia, was to India. We highly appreciate the gesture of Mongolian leadership and have reciprocated in full measure with the State Visit of President of India to Mongolia in July 2011. During my stay of slightly over a year we have moved concretely in upgrading our cooperation in Defence and security fields, education and culture and economic areas.
Q.10 The good news is that numbers of students going to study in India are on the rise from year to year.What opportunities do you provide for those who are willing to go to India for studies?
Ans. As I mentioned above, Mongolians have found Indian education system suitable for their genius and requirement. There is really no scope for us to say or guide them as the basis information on Indian education system is digitally available and very well known to the Mongolians. Our contribution relates to facilitating their long-term multi-entry visa. We treat the visiting students very important people whose needs and requirements should be met and they should be guided properly. Having Mongolian students for us is very important as we view them as significant contributors to the future of India-Mongolia relations.
Q.11 A greater cooperation is seen between our two Ministries of Defence. Would you please outline the cooperation works that are now on and that are as planned to go on?
Ans. This year your Ministry of Defence marked its centenary celebrations. We have participated in full measure at the highest possible level. We have a Working Group on Defence Cooperation between the two countries meeting annually. This Working Group reviews the implementation of decisions taken and provides way forward for further cooperation. We had Chief of Army Staff , who commands a force of more than one million soldiers at home, representing India at the centenary celebrations of Ministry of Defence. We have annual joint military exercise titled “Nomadic Elephant”. This year it was held in Mongolia with the participation of Indian contingent. We would continue this tradition by receiving Mongolian contingent in India next year. There had been regular exchange of visits at the level of leadership in the Armed Forces of the two countries and their channel is working well. We also have cooperation between the Border Security Force and Border Guards of Mongolia, though not strictly coming under the Ministries of Defence, but are related functionally.
Q.12 Last summer, President of India has paid a state visit to Mongolia. We have understood that the leaderships of our two countries have solved issues that were waiting their solutions and determined the directions of our cooperation and relations between our two countries. Regarding the latter, would you please provide us with more information?Besides, people were more interested with the news of direct flight between India and Mongolia.
Ans. When the Heads of State of India and Mongolia met in Ulaanbaatar, they had a very detailed and fulfilling agenda. In the first instance, both the Presidents reviewed implementation of the decisions taken by them during President Elbegdorj’s State Visit to India in September 2009. What was agreed to during this visit to a large extent was fulfilled. Both the Presidents have taken various decisions to provide content and substance to our “comprehensive partnership”. It was agreed to that India will provide soft loan credit facilities of US $ 20 million to Mongolia for setting up India-Mongolia Joint Information Technology, Education and Outsourcing Centre at Ulaanbaatar. This is being processed by the two sides. Mongolia also became the country receiving 150 short-term scholarships under Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) Programme and 50 bilateral scholarships for longer duration (3-5 years) studies. We are in the process of upgrading Rajiv Gandhi School for Art and Production, a unique entity for vocational training in various trade and crafts, and Atal Behari Vajpayee Centre for Excellence in Information and Communication Technology, which has emerged as the central hub of video conferencing connecting Ulaanbaatar to all the Aimag centers and very extensively used by Members of Parliament in consulting their electorates. Indian President was accompanied by 35-member business delegation. It is heartening to know that some of the Indian companies have set up their offices in Ulaanbaatar and some are exploring the possibility of trade. As far as direct flight between India and Mongolia is concerned, this was discussed between the two leaders. We are waiting for the MIAT leadership to move forward in this area.
Q.13 Now a talk starts that Mongolia attracts the attention of the largest world investors. Of course, it is more concerned with the field of mining in Mongolia. What ideas do you have with respect to Mongolia’s start of exploitation of the strategic mines and deposits?
Ans. Our mining companies are already active in Mongolia at a modest scale. Some of them have mining and exploration licenses. Some others have opened up their offices in Ulaanbaatar to have possibilities of their presence here. I am hopeful that Indian private sector companies will find their presence in this country as Mongolia becomes the fastest growing economy of the world.
Q.14 Would please share with us your opinions/ideas and suggestions on good opportunities that are present for Mongolians? Looking from side, what opportunities are there but we cannot see them and cannot use them for our own benefit?
Ans. I have limited knowledge of Mongolia’s economic and social scene. However, for any society to be progressive and vibrant, it has to have informed and involved citizens in the governance of the country. The basis of our economic growth is the focus on excellence in education. This education system should create entrepreneurs and managers to create jobs and opportunities and not job seekers. In this direction, small scale industry, which is nebulous in Mongolia, has huge potential. Some of the consumer goods needs are met by import which can be easily and economically locally produced if Mongolians have favourable entrepreneurial climate. Here I am talking of specific modules of training in Universities for entrepreneurship development, technical support and financial incentives for local production in Mongolia. I am confident that Mongolian youths instead of seeking jobs will become the creaters of jobs. And it is possible. We have to trust the young generation and facilitate and guide them.
Q.15 Any words you would like to say to Mongolians through our newspaper? We would be very happy to deliver them to them.
Ans. Through your newspaper I would like to invite the readers of Montsame to visit India to see for themselves what we have to offer. This may be for pleasure, education, tourism or pilgrimage. You will find India welcoming our Mongolian guests.
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