By Zile Singh

On October 26, 2020, the Chetna Association of Canada in association with Sri Guru Ravidass Sabha, Burnaby and Ambedkar International Association, Vancouver arranged a welcome dinner in honour of His Excellency Mr. Manish, the newly arrived Consul-General of India in Vancouver.  Mr. Manish took charge in the last week of August, 2020 from the outgoing Consul General Mrs. Abhilasha Joshi who has joined the Ministry as Joint Secretary.   The function was arranged at the Mehak Restaurant, 9470 Scott Road, Surrey.

Among others, Mr. Randeep  Sarai, Member Parliament,  Mr. Mandeep Nagra, Surrey City Councillor, Mr.  R. Paul Dhillon, Editor-in-Chief The Link Newspaper/DESIBUZZCanada and a Filmmaker (Director, Producer and Writer: three-in-one),  Mr. Sukhi Pangalia, founder -  AAJ Media and Professor  Samir Gandesha, Humanities Department,  Simon Fraser University, Ms. Jyotika Singh,  singer and a social activist  and Mr. Zile Singh, Ambassador(Retd.) who has served as Deputy Consul General  in Vancouver from 2004-07  was in presence.  The Covid-19 protocol was followed. 

Mrs. Manjit Bains, Women Empowerment Cell of Chetna in her welcome address highlighted the diplomatic career of the Consul General in his various capacities in the Ministry of External Affairs and his postings abroad in Moscow, Tashkent, Prague, Colombo and Jakarta.  She shed light on the working of the Consul General in the Americas, United Nations, South East Asia, Sushma Swaraj Foreign Service Institute and Overseas Indian Affairs Divisions of the Ministry of External Affairs, New Delhi. It is worth mentioning here that the late Mrs. Sushma Swaraj, the External Affairs Minister gave diplomacy a “personal human touch”. Consul General joined   the Indian Foreign Service in 1997.  In addition to Hindi and English, he knows Russian language. He holds BSc Physics (Honour) and Bachelor of Law degrees from Delhi University. He has an interest in traveling, sports and cuisine.

Mr. Randeep Sarai, MP, speaking on the occasion praised the services of the Consulate General in extending help in transporting the dead body of an Indian international student in Canada to Punjab.  Mr. Sukhi Pangalia presented a book written by him entitled, “Untold Stories” of the Indian settlers in Canada in the late 19th century, the majority of who were from undivided Punjab.  Mr. Paul Dhillon narrated his sweet experiences and cordial contacts with the Consulate as far his field of journalism is concerned. In his long innings in journalism, he has never held himself back to call a spade a spade.   Professor Gandesha touched upon his long association with the Consulate and the Chetna Association which is working for a long time to make people aware of Dalit issues, human rights and other discriminatory practices in India and abroad, oftentimes in Canada too. Councillor Nagra, Mr Harjit Shaupal, incumbent President and Mr. Bill Basra, former President of Sri Guru  Ravidass Sabha were called to welcome the Consul General. Mr. Surinder Ranga, President, Chetna Association also took his turn to welcome the honourable guest. 

Ambassador Zile Singh, welcoming the Consul General said, “In addition to his bright career, Mr. Manish is the youngest ever CG in Vancouver.” He mentioned that after retirement an officer is neither ‘in’ nor ‘out’ of bureaucracy.  One feels at ‘cross-roads’, once in a while reflecting on the sweet and sour memories of the service.    He felt privileged to have met the Honourable Consul General twice since his arrival two months before. During his courtesy call on the CG in the last week of September, he found him calm, composed and a clear- headed diplomat.  He was impressed with CG’s statement during his courtesy call as well as repeated by the Consul General on this occasion that he has started his job with a clean slate without any baggage of prejudice towards anybody.  Mr. Singh said that diplomacy is a complex subject.  It has different connotations. For example, “Diplomacy is the art of telling people to go to hell in such a way that they ask for direction.”- Winston Churchill.   Zhou Enlai said, “Every diplomacy is a continuation of war by other means.”  Ambassador Singh explained that before the Indo-China war in 1962, Zhou Enlai gave a diplomatic slogan “Hindi-Chini Bhai Bhai’.  Now, before creating a war-like situation on Indo-China border the present leadership of China swung diplomacy in Sabarmati with Indian Prime Minister.  Recognizing the presence of the Media representatives at the function Mr. Singh said that the relations between diplomats and the journalists and social activists remain somewhat ‘at odds’.  But most of the time, they are on the common ground also because both are interested in the truth.  Both are working to make the world a safe place to live.  He also remembered a piece of advice given to him by his boss of IFS- 1949 Batch in 1974, “We are trained not to believe what we hear.”

Hon’ble Consul General, who was accompanied by Mr. Venkat, his deputy addressed the limited audience and said that he felt happy that a meaningful welcome dinner was arranged for him by the Chetna Association.  He said that the doors of the Consulate are open for everyone.  In emergency cases, he offered his personal intervention.  He presented the Chetna Association a “Letter of Recognition” signed by His Excellency Ajay Bisaria, the new Indian High Commissioner to Canada.  Consul General assured that he would strive to strengthen the already existing traditional bonds between India and Canada in political, economic, commercial, cultural and at people to people levels. 

Mr. Jai Birdi, General Secretary, Chetna Association conducted the stage efficiently, Ms. Jyotika Singh entertained with a melodious and inspiring song Hum Honge Kamyab.  Pura hai vishwas.

Zile Singh is a well respected Columnist, Writer, a Vipassana Meditator and has a Post-Graduate Diploma in Human Rights.  He can be reached at zsnirwal@yahoo.ca