(Image source from: www.americanbazaaronline.com)
An Indian ambassador to the United States Navtej Sarna ended his illustrious 38-year-long career in the Indian Foreign Service on December 31 with a series of warm adieu receptions.
In honor to the outgoing ambassador, the Embassy of India in Washington hosted a reception on his last day as an Indian diplomat. He received galore praises from his colleagues and diplomats for promoting great bilateral relations with various countries where he represented India.
"From the India Team in U.S., Embassy of India and Consulate General of India - Atlanta, Consulate General of India - Chicago, Consulate General of India - Houston, Consulate General of India - New York, Consulate General of India - San Francisco we thank you Ambassador Navtej Sarna for your leadership and long and fruitful public service of about four decades and wish you all the best," a statement posted on the embassy website read.
2/2 for Amb @NavtejSarna leadership and long and fruitful public service of about 4 decades and wish you all the best. @MEAIndia @IndianDiplomacy pic.twitter.com/ccOJ07Dhpe
— India in USA (@IndianEmbassyUS) January 1, 2019
Sarna assumed office as the ambassador to the United States in November 2016, and he received a one-year extension in 2017.
A farewell reception hosted earlier this month by the U.S. Department of State at Blair House, just across the White House, was a remarkable and reverent move to draw attention to the strength of ties between India and the U.S.
A farewell reception was hosted by the U.S.-India Strategic Partnership Forum on December 11 in honor to the diplomat.
One of the highlights throughout Sarna's term of office in the U.S. remained the state visit of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Sarna is also praised for his active efforts to engage more than three-million-strong Indian-American community in the U.S. Sarna has been a great influence for those worked with him.
Sandeep Chakravorty, Consul General of India in New York, tweeted on New Years' day, along with a picture of the two of them outside the house where legendary writer PG Wodehouse spent his last years: "While Amb. Sarna makes a new beginning on New Year's day, I thank him for being a role model & inspiration to many in the Indian Foreign Service. I am fortunate to serve twice under his command & have benefited from his generosity & leadership."
While Amb. Sarna makes a new beginning on New Year's day, I thank him for being a role model & inspiration to many in the Indian Foreign Service. I am fortunate to serve twice under his command & have benefited from his generosity & leadership.
— Sandeep Chakravorty (@CHAKRAVIEW1971) January 1, 2019
(Here together on pilgrimage) pic.twitter.com/IB7Rh0Cssb
Sarna, an author, and man of great literary interest, has said he will now focus on his writing career.
His first novel, titled We Weren't Lovers Like That, was issued in 2003. He has also written a novel based on Duleep Singh, the last Maharaja of the Sikh empire, as well as passed time translating some of the works of his father Mohinder Singh Sarna, an author, from Punjabi to English.
Navtej Sarna's columns for The Hindu that appeared over a period of seven years have now been put together in a book, titled Second Thoughts on Books, Authors, and the Writerly Life.
According to reports, he will be pursuing his literary career post his career as a diplomat.
-Sowmya Sangam
