Retiring Indian Ambassador Navtej Sarna given warm send-off

Sarna, an author and man of great literary interest, has said he will now focus on his writing career.

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Ambassador Navtej Sarna, who retired as India’s top diplomat in the United States on December 31, received a series of warm farewell receptions last month as he ended his illustrious 38-year-long career in the Indian Foreign Service.

On his last day as an Indian diplomat, the Embassy of India in Washington hosted a reception honoring the outgoing ambassador. His colleagues and diplomats praised him for promoting great bilateral relations with various countries where he represented India.

“From the India Team in US, 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 took over as the ambassador to the United States in November 2016, and he received a one-year extension in 2017.

A farewell reception hosted by the US Department of State at Blair House, just across the White House last month, was an extraordinary and respectful move to emphasize the strength of ties between India and the United States.

On December 11, the US-India Strategic Partnership Forum hosted a farewell reception honoring the diplomat.

While Sarna’s career was marked by many achievements, one of the highlights during his tenure in the US remained the state visit of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Sarna is also praised for his active efforts to engage the more than three-million-strong Indian American community in the United States.

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: “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.
(Here together on pilgrimage) pic.twitter.com/IB7Rh0Cssb

— Sandeep Chakravorty (@sandiplomat) January 1, 2019

Chakravorty posted a picture of the two of them outside the house where legendary writer PG Wodehouse spent his last years, in the town of Remsenburg in the Hamptons in Long Island.

Sarna, an author and man of great literary interest, has said he will now focus on his writing career.

His first novel, We Weren’t Lovers Like That, was published in 2003. He has also written a novel based on Duleep Singh, the last maharaja of the Sikh empire, as  well as spent time translating some of the works of his father Mohinder Singh Sarna, a novelist, 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.

Those who have been following his literary works look forward to more of Sarna’s thoughts in the coming years. It’s likely that he will be pursuing his literary career post his very illustrious career as a diplomat.