Between the earthquake in Chile and the intractable health care summit in Washington this week, the diplomatic negotiations between archrivals India and Pakistan received little coverage..
This is unfortunate. India, the home of the largest democracy in the world with more than 1.1 billion people, deserves far more attention in the Western media. Even in the 21st century, where the world has been pronounced 'flat' due to the presence of hypercommunication (i.e. Twitter, Facebook etc.) and a global economy based on international capital flows and the mass migration of both production and labor, Central and South Asia are still widely perceived by the West as 'over there'. As India and Pakistan both have nuclear capability and emerging markets, it is only a matter of time before these countries figure into the daily politics of Europe and the United States as China now does today.
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In the high level talks between India and Pakistan concluded a few days ago, a new face on the international stage represented India. Nirupama Rao, who became India's second female Foreign Secretary last August, cast a hopeful image for a nation still divided over the role of women in society.
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While several similarities exist between Ms. Rao and her American counterpart, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton (i.e. Both are female. Both are baby boomers.), one notable difference exists in their educational background.
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To succeed in American politics, Clinton (then Hillary Rodham) took the usual path to the corridors of power. At Wellesley College, an elite private institution for young women, Hillary majored in political science in preparation for law school. After excelling in her studies, she earned admission to Yale Law School. At Yale, her studies were complemented by an indefatigable commitment to extracurricular legal research and activism on behalf of women and minorities. In 1971, she met Bill Clinton on campus, and the two would become one of the most defining political couples of the later 20th century.
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As the Indian education system and the halls of power have a dissimilar relationship to the American one, Nirupama Rao was able to chart a far different educational course. Rather than majoring in history, political science or getting on a 'pre-law' track, she studied English. In India, students taking the 'All India Civil Service Exam', a pathway to governmental posts, receive equal consideration regardless of major. As long as candidates for governmental positions have a strong liberal-arts background and a high degree of potential, they can be competitive for civil service positions.
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Ms. Rao was not just competitive. In 1973, she received the highest score on the Exam -and she did it with an honors degree and a MA in English literature. From there, she went on to an impressive career in the Indian diplomatic service that included stints in Vienna, Washington, Moscow, Lima, La Paz and Beijing.
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Six months ago, Ms. Rao became Foreign Secretary and began preparations for talks with Pakistan over a range of outstanding issues. While little headway was made, it was at least a hopeful prelude to another round of more substantive talks in the future.
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How will an English major fare in a world of cutthroat politics? According to former President John F. Kennedy, she will do as well as any trained lawyer or better. In remarks made at Harvard University in 1956, a young Kennedy stated, 'If more politicians knew poetry, and more poets knew politics, I am convinced the world would be a better place in which to live.'
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Despite her devotion to a career in the foreign service, Ms. Rao has neither allowed her educational roots nor her passion for literature to fade over time. In past years, she published a book of poetry entitled 'Rain Rising', which has been translated into Russian and Chinese.
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Hopefully, an English version is on the way soon. While waiting, Kleostoday would like to applaud the poetically-minded Rao for her efforts at achieving peace around the world.
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(Photo: Nirupama Rao)
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J Roquen