The Indian Foreign Service built the country’s reputation. Now, it seeks ‘awards’ for one leader

By seeking foreign awards, India’s diplomats are letting the ruler overshadow the republic

Nearly a decade ago, when the Indian Embassy in Stockholm still enjoyed cordial relations with me, a senior diplomat made an unusual request. An important Indian political leader was scheduled to visit Sweden, and the embassy wondered whether I could help arrange an honorary doctorate from my university. I politely but firmly declined. I also advised the diplomat not to approach any of my Swedish colleagues with the same request. Universities confer honorary degrees to recognise exceptional achievement, not because foreign embassies ask for them on behalf of visiting leader Lobbying for such honours would diminish India’s image.

A few weeks ago, another conversation reminded me of that episode. I asked a professor at the University of Ghana why the university in 2016 had removed MK Gandhi’s statue from its campus after installing it with much fanfare. She replied that many academics believed the statue had been placed on the campus under pressure from the Indian High Commission and that the university leadership had been left with little choice. Whether that perception was entirely accurate is almost beside the point.

Faculty members and students, upset that they had not been consulted and objecting...

Read more