THE GREAT INDIAN LOVE STORY

India is known the world over for its diversity – in dresses, religions, languages, regions, cultures and most importantly, people! Tourists from across the world are intrigued and attracted by this ‘land of mysterious diversity’. But can non-natives love it so much that they actually begin to study India ? Rajesh Sharma from Team Indusage discovered it in an interview with Patrick Suckling (Australian High Commissioner to India.) RS : Sir , you’re knowledge on India is so exceptional that I was completely bowled over! How come you know so much about India ? PS : Well, I’ve had a long association with India since childhood. Infact this fondness continued even during my University days . Very often, I would find myself as an independent traveller , trying to explore India. Infact, my interest in India grew so much that I actually submitted an Honors thesis in English literature wherein, I studied displaced Indian writers – V.S. Naipaul being one of them .I also did an Economics Honors thesis on India but the most significant of all was when I thought to myself – ‘If I have so much interest in this country, I should bother to learn the language!’That’s when I pursued a Post-Graduate Diploma in Hindi! After I joined the services, I worked on India in different ways like politics, foreign policy, social and human rights issues. RS : Do you see a significant political shift in Canberra post Narendra Modi’s vist ? PS : Prime Minister Modi has been the first Indian PM to visit Australia in 28 years. He is also the only Indian PM to address the Australian Parliament. I believe his visit has brought about a political intensification. Though our relationship has been strengthening for a long time, his visit is a solid demonstration of India’s interest in Australia. Mr. Abbott also sees India as a strong partner for us. RS :There is a vast potential in the Indo-Australian collaboration in various sectors but the trade ties still remain restricted.Has there been any interaction with the Indian govt to identify key areas of cooperation and business? PS : Yes, there have been intensive interactions with the current and also the previous governments in India. There are four core areas where Australia can contribute , namely Energy & Security, Education & Skills, Agriculture and lastly Infrastructure. As Modi very rightly put it while addressing our Parliament-Australia has for very long been at the periphery of India’s vision, it should now become the centre of India’s thoughts! India contributes significantly in employing Australians in the IT sector; manufacturing giants like Tata and Mahindra have invested in Australia. There is scope even in pharmaceuticals. An Indo-Australian FTA agreement by the end of this year will significantly contribute to an already strong investment and trading relationship. RS : In the backdrop of fifty thousand Indian students studying in Australia, is there any proposal for setting up an Australian University in India ? PS : Well, the current policy constraints are a reason for the lack of it. Though the Indian policy settings at the moment don’t allow us to set up in India, I do see the possibility of liberalisation under the Modi govt. However, out of forty Australian universities, twenty odd universities are already active with India in one way or the other. So , there is engagement. RS : Are there any concerns of the Tony Abbott govt. which New Delhi needs to take care of ? PS : Well, I believe that Australia and India are in a sweet spot. We have a lot of commonality and proximity in terms of a similar federal and legal system. Cricket also binds us together. So I think this shared DNA ensures there are no impediments to our relationship. RS : This year marks the hundredth anniversary of the Gallipoli incident. Thousands of Indians have died alongside Australians and this is a known fact now. Do you believe that both countries should embark on building relations in defence and other areas? PS : We are doing that and were cognise and commemorate the sacrifices made by the Indian people. Our Prime Minister in fact insisted on visiting the India Gate when he came to India. He specifically asked to commemorate and profile the extraordinary contributions of Indian military made in both wars. He laid a wreathe and that was a very significant event because for the first time we were told by Indian protocol that such commemoration service by a foreign leader had ever happened in India. When PM Modi came to Australia, he also brought with him a silver statue of a Sikh grenadier during his visit to the War Memorial in Canberra as a sign of his recognition of the links .During the Gallipoli war, there were many Indian sharp shooters who helped the Australian soldiers get off the boats.There is a lot of mention of the efforts that Indian soldiers made in Gallipoli along with our forces. There are books being written this year that are trying to give a much deeper sense of the links between our two militaries. There will also be some military exhibitions happening this year.We’ve invited a significant Indian contingent to Gallipoli to commemorate its hundredth anniversary. So , I think we’ve made a real effort this year which Mr.Modi has reciprocated.There is a sense in India that those soldiers made their sacrifices in the spirit of all great military service and that should be properly recognised. So, we havea history and also converging strategic interests which are driving much stronger defence cooperation. During my time in India, it was for the first time that an Indian defence minister came to Australia under the Congress govt.We agreed to do a never before navy-to-navy exercise regularly. Our shared interest in continued stability and prosperity of this region gives further impetus to our relationship. For us , working closely with India on stability and security issues including counter-terrorism is of priority. Mr. Modi’s strong condemnation of terrorism in the recent months helps us see more scope for engaging with India, for the benefit of the people of this region ,in general. RS :You said that all visas in Delhi are generally done in a very short time period in Delhi, which is a record .Infact, Anupam Sharma, the maker of the film ‘UNINDIAN’ has thanked you specially for facilitating easy visas! PS : Thank you very much! RS:You’re the first bureaucrat who knows India in-and-out and that completely bowls me over! PS : Well,they say it takes a lifetime to learn anything about India and I am not even a quarter of my lifetime in terms of twenty years of work experience and knowledge of India. India is a vastly complex but rich ,rewarding and amazing country.It is a privilege to serve as the High Commissioner to India!