Perfecting the art of diplomacy in the world of politics

His Excellency E. Ahamed
India’s Minister of State for External Affairs

Diplomacy is more than saying or doing the right things at the right time, it is avoiding saying or doing the wrong things at any time.” Perhaps this dictum has made diplomacy an art of convergence of various streams of thought flowing in one direction. Diplomacy at its best has saved the world from many catastrophes and war through dialogues and negotiations; at its worst it has also brought disaster and trouble for mankind.

Many successful diplomats have made good politicians like Mani Shankar Aiyar and Meira Kumar who has served as a minister and is now the Lok Sabha Speaker. K.R. Narayanan who rose to become the President of India and the current Vice President of India M. Hamid Ansari are also career diplomats who made a name in the realm of politics.

However, there is one amazing name of E. Ahamed who despite having a strikingly long successful political career has emerged as a big name in the world of diplomacy; the way he perfected this art of convergence and the respect and attention he attracts both as a minister and a diplomat.

E. Ahamed’s tryst with the world of diplomacy began in 2004 when Prime Minister Manmohan Singh inducted him as Minister of State for External Affairs in the UPA1. He soon announced his entry into this world, initiating dialogues with several Gulf nations, encouraging bilateral talks, addressing key problem areas and overall improving India’s growing ties with nations in the Gulf region. During his tenure as Minister of State for External Affairs, several heads of states paid historic visits to India, including in June 2006 by H.H. the Amir of Kuwait.

The Amir’s visit led to further strengthening of ties between the two great nations and continues to grow thanks to the effort of the Minister. His increasing importance in the world of diplomacy can be gauged by the fact that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh re-inducted him to the same ministry after a brief gap of ten months, when he was sworn in as Minister of State for Railways in 2009.

Since then E. Ahamed has continued to hold the portfolio in the Indian Foreign ministry and ably guides its policies and emerging dimensions. Recently on a trip to Kuwait to attend the Syria Donors Conference, E. Ahamed spoke glowingly about the traditional and warm ties that India and Kuwait share in a brief tete-tete with The Times.

“India and Kuwait have always shared warm, traditional and deep ties, which have been growing and strengthening over the years. In fact, during a recent meeting between delegations of the two countries, the situation in Syria was discussed, and we had a good dialogue on the way forward on the issue,” Ahmed said.

On the sidelines of the Donor Conference, the Minister revealed that the governments of the two countries were engaged in high-level exchanges, some of which had been going on for decades encroaching new contours.

When asked how he saw relations between the two countries in the immediate future, Ahmed said he was confident of better and brighter ties, and added that there were a couple of matters in the pipeline. “India and Kuwait have shared a historical relationship for centuries, the foundation is strong and we have measures to take it further ahead.”

Speaking eloquently about the centuries- old relations between India and Kuwait, the minister of state stated that the two countries share very close political, economic, trade and cultural relations and people-to-people contact. “For many Indians, Kuwait is a home away from home while many Kuwaitis retain and cherish their links to India even today,” he said.

The minister said there have been regular exchanges between the two countries. Both countries also have a history of high-level visits like that of HH Amir’s visit to India in June 2006. Subsequently, India’s Vice-president visited Kuwait in April 2009 and External Affairs Minister in 2010 and 2011, he recalled. “Kuwait’s progress since its independence has been spectacular. Today, it is a modern and developed state with an enviable social security system. It is a vibrant and open society with democratic traditions,” he stated. The minister was full of praise for the faith and trusts the Kuwait authorities and people reposed in Indian community which is the largest expatriate community in the country. He said that the more than 640,000-strong Indian community in Kuwait, which has a reputation for being capable, industrious and law-abiding, plays a pivotal role in promoting bilateral relations.

Known for his personal close links with Kuwait, E. Ahamed enjoys good relationship with the Kuwaiti leadership including HH the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmed. During the invasion of Kuwait by Iraq, E. Ahamed presented the case for Kuwait at the Indian Parliament.

As a Minister, E. Ahamed has brought diplomacy closer to the people. His specialty is his easily accessibility to even a layman. You can call him on his mobile phone anytime and he will personally answer it. This is a quality that you can’t find in any leader, especially a person who is holding a central ministership. At times I wonder how he is able to do it despite his pressing engagements.

Talking to Minister E. Ahamed, one thing that emerged from his persona and a lesson for many diplomats is that success in diplomacy is to open all doors, give easy accessibility and not by closing the iron-gate and then living within, blocking out all streams of thought.

An additional portfolio (MoS HRD) for E. Ahamed, minister of state for external affairs, is a reward for the Congress’s key ally, the Muslim League, in Kerala. E. Ahamed is a six-term MP from Ponnani (Kerala) and enjoys a good rapport with the Congress Central leadership. He also enjoys good relations with heads of state of many Gulf countries.

E. Ahamed graduated from Government Brennen College in Tellicherry, Kerala, and later obtained a Law Degree from the Government Law College in Thiruvanathapuram, Kerala. He was elected to the Kerala

Legislative Assembly in 1967, 1977, 1980, 1982 and 1987. From 1982 to 1987, he served as Cabinet Minister for Industries, Government of Kerala. From 1971 to 1977, Mr. Ahmed was the Founding Chairman of the Kerala State Rural Development Board. From 1979 to 1980 he was the Executive Chairman of the Kerala State Small Scale Industries Development Corporation.

From 1981 to 1983 he was the Chairman of the Municipal Council in Kannur, Kerala. There were many programs and events that E Ahamed has initiated within his home- state of Kerala in order to improve its focus.

E. Ahamed is also currently the National President of the Indian Union Muslim League. He was first elected as a member of the Lok Sabha in the 1991 elections from Ponnani and since then has continuously represented the constituency, and is one of the senior-most MPs from Kerala. During his tenure in the Parliament, he has been a member of several parliamentary committees, including External Affairs, Railways, Civil Aviation and Tourism, Public Undertakings, Science and Technology, Environment and Forests.

Mr. Ahamed was also the Chairman of the Government Assurance Committee. E. Ahamed is widely travelled and has represented India in the United Nations six times between 1991 and 2009. In 1984, he was sent to GCC countries as an emissary of the then Prime Minister late Mrs. Indira Gandhi. E. Ahamed has five times been a member of Government of India Haj Goodwill Delegation.

He has also authored three books in English and Malayalam. He was married to late Mrs. Zuhara Ahmed and is blessed with two sons and one daughter.

-Staff Report

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

name of E. Ahamed who despite having a strikingly long successful political career has emerged as a big name in the world of diplomacy; the way he perfected this art of convergence and the respect and attention he attracts both as a minister and a diplomat.

 

1. Ahamed’s tryst with the world of diplomacy began in 2004 when Prime Minister Manmohan Singh inducted him as Minister of State for External Affairs in the UPA1. He soon announced his entry into this world, initiating dialogues with several Gulf nations, encouraging bilateral talks, addressing key problem areas and

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

overall improving India’s growing ties with nations in the Gulf region.

During his tenure as Minister of State for External Affairs, several heads of states paid historic visits to India, including in June 2006 by

• the Amir of Kuwait. The Amir’s visit led to further strengthening of ties between the two great nations and continues to grow thanks to the effort of the Minister. His increasing importance in the world of diplomacy can be gauged by the fact that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh re-inducted him to the same ministry after a brief gap of ten months, when he was sworn in as Minister of State

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

for Railways in 2009. Since then E. Ahamed has continued to hold the portfolio in the Indian Foreign ministry and ably guides its policies and emerging dimensions.

Recently on a trip to Kuwait to attend the Syria Donors Conference, E. Ahamed spoke glowingly about the traditional and warm ties that India and Kuwait share in a brief tete-tete with The Times.

 

“India and Kuwait have always shared warm, traditional and deep ties, which have been growing and strengthening over the years. In fact, during a recent meeting between delegations of the two countries, the

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

situation in Syria was discussed, and we had a good dialogue on the way forward on the issue,” Ahmed said.

On the sidelines of the Donor Conference, the Minister revealed that the governments of the two countries were engaged in high -level exchanges, some of which had been going on for decades encroaching new contours.

 

When asked how he saw relations between the two countries in the immediate future, Ahmed said he was confident of better and brighter ties, and added that there were a couple of matters in the pipeline. “India and Kuwait have shared a historical relationship for centuries, the foundation is strong and we have measures to take it further ahead.”

 

Speaking eloquently about the centuries- old relations between India and Kuwait, the minister of state stated that the two countries share very close political, economic, trade and cultural relations and people-to-people contact. “For many Indians, Kuwait is a home away from home while many Kuwaitis retain and cherish their links to India even today,” he said.

 

The minister said there have been regular exchanges between the two countries. Both countries also have a history of high-level visits like that of

• Amir’s visit to India in June 2006. Subsequently, India’s Vice-president visited Kuwait in April 2009 and External Affairs Minister in 2010 and 2011, he recalled.

“Kuwait’s progress since its independence has been spectacular. Today, it is a modern and developed state with an enviable social security system. It is a vibrant and open society with democratic traditions,” he stated.

The minister was full of praise for the faith and trusts the Kuwait authorities and people reposed in Indian community which is the largest expatriate community in the

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

country. He said that the more than 640,000-strong Indian community in Kuwait, which has a reputation for being capable, industrious and law-abiding, plays a pivotal role in promoting bilateral relations.

 

Known for his personal close links with Kuwait, E. Ahamed enjoys good relationship with the Kuwaiti leadership including HH the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmed. During the invasion of Kuwait by Iraq, E. Ahamed presented the case for Kuwait at the Indian Parliament.

 

As a Minister, E. Ahamed has brought diplomacy closer to the people. His specialty is his easily accessibility to even a layman. You can call him on his mobile phone anytime and he will personally answer it. This is a quality that you can’t find in any leader, especially a person who is holding a central ministership. At times I wonder how he is able to do it despite his pressing engagements.

 

Talking to Minister E. Ahamed, one thing that emerged from his persona and a lesson for many diplomats is that success in diplomacy is to open all doors, give easy accessibility and not by closing the iron-gate and then living within, blocking out all streams of thought.

 

An additional portfolio (MoS HRD) for E. Ahamed, minister of state for external affairs, is a reward for the Congress’s key ally, the Muslim League, in Kerala. E. Ahamed is a six-term MP from Ponnani (Kerala) and enjoys a good rapport with the Congress Central leadership. He also enjoys good relations with heads of state of many Gulf countries.

 

1. Ahamed graduated from Government Brennen College in Tellicherry, Kerala, and later obtained a Law Degree from the Government Law College in Thiruvanathapuram, Kerala. He was elected to the Kerala

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Legislative Assembly in 1967, 1977, 1980, 1982 and 1987. From 1982 to 1987, he served as Cabinet Minister for Industries, Government of Kerala. From 1971 to 1977, Mr. Ahmed was the Founding Chairman of the Kerala State Rural Development Board. From 1979 to 1980 he was the Executive Chairman of the Kerala State Small Scale Industries Development Corporation.

 

From 1981 to 1983 he was the Chairman of the Municipal Council in Kannur, Kerala. There were many programs and events that E Ahamed has initiated within his home- state of Kerala in order to improve its focus.

 

1. Ahamed is also currently the National President of the Indian Union Muslim League. He was first elected as a member of the Lok Sabha in the 1991 elections from Ponnani and since then has continuously represented the constituency, and

 

is one of the senior-most MPs from Kerala.

During his tenure in the Parliament, he has been a member of several parliamentary committees, including External Affairs, Railways, Civil Aviation and Tourism, Public Undertakings, Science and Technology, Environment and Forests. Mr. Ahamed was also

 

the Chairman of the Government Assurance Committee.

2009. Ahamed is widely travelled and has represented India in the United Nations six times between 1991 and 2009. In 1984, he was sent to GCC countries as an emissary of the then Prime Minister late Mrs. Indira Gandhi. E. Ahamed has five times been a member of Government of India Haj Goodwill Delegation.

 

He has also authored three books in English and Malayalam. He was married to late Mrs. Zuhara Ahmed and is blessed with two sons and one daughter.

ing the wrong things at any time.”

Perhaps this dictum has made diplomacy an art of convergence of various streams

 

of thought flowing in one direction. Diplomacy at its best has saved the world from many catastrophes and war through dialogues and negotiations; at its worst it has also brought disaster and trouble for mankind.

 

Many successful diplomats have made good politicians like Mani Shankar Aiyar and Meira Kumar who has served as a minister and is now the Lok Sabha Speaker. K.R. Narayanan who rose to become the President of India and the current Vice President of India M. Hamid Ansari are also career diplomats who made a name in the realm of politics.

 

However, there is one amazing

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

name of E. Ahamed who despite having a strikingly long successful political career has emerged as a big name in the world of diplomacy; the way he perfected this art of convergence and the respect and attention he attracts both as a minister and a diplomat.

 

1. Ahamed’s tryst with the world of diplomacy began in 2004 when Prime Minister Manmohan Singh inducted him as Minister of State for External Affairs in the UPA1. He soon announced his entry into this world, initiating dialogues with several Gulf nations, encouraging bilateral talks, addressing key problem areas and

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

overall improving India’s growing ties with nations in the Gulf region.

During his tenure as Minister of State for External Affairs, several heads of states paid historic visits to India, including in June 2006 by

• the Amir of Kuwait. The Amir’s visit led to further strengthening of ties between the two great nations and continues to grow thanks to the effort of the Minister. His increasing importance in the world of diplomacy can be gauged by the fact that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh re-inducted him to the same ministry after a brief gap of ten months, when he was sworn in as Minister of State

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

for Railways in 2009. Since then E. Ahamed has continued to hold the portfolio in the Indian Foreign ministry and ably guides its policies and emerging dimensions.

Recently on a trip to Kuwait to attend the Syria Donors Conference, E. Ahamed spoke glowingly about the traditional and warm ties that India and Kuwait share in a brief tete-tete with The Times.

 

“India and Kuwait have always shared warm, traditional and deep ties, which have been growing and strengthening over the years. In fact, during a recent meeting between delegations of the two countries, the

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

situation in Syria was discussed, and we had a good dialogue on the way forward on the issue,” Ahmed said.

On the sidelines of the Donor Conference, the Minister revealed that the governments of the two countries were engaged in high -level exchanges, some of which had been going on for decades encroaching new contours.

 

When asked how he saw relations between the two countries in the immediate future, Ahmed said he was confident of better and brighter ties, and added that there were a couple of matters in the pipeline. “India and Kuwait have shared a historical relationship for centuries, the foundation is strong and we have measures to take it further ahead.”

 

Speaking eloquently about the centuries- old relations between India and Kuwait, the minister of state stated that the two countries share very close political, economic, trade and cultural relations and people-to-people contact. “For many Indians, Kuwait is a home away from home while many Kuwaitis retain and cherish their links to India even today,” he said.

 

The minister said there have been regular exchanges between the two countries. Both countries also have a history of high-level visits like that of

• Amir’s visit to India in June 2006. Subsequently, India’s Vice-president visited Kuwait in April 2009 and External Affairs Minister in 2010 and 2011, he recalled.

“Kuwait’s progress since its independence has been spectacular. Today, it is a modern and developed state with an enviable social security system. It is a vibrant and open society with democratic traditions,” he stated.

The minister was full of praise for the faith and trusts the Kuwait authorities and people reposed in Indian community which is the largest expatriate community in the

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

country. He said that the more than 640,000-strong Indian community in Kuwait, which has a reputation for being capable, industrious and law-abiding, plays a pivotal role in promoting bilateral relations.

 

Known for his personal close links with Kuwait, E. Ahamed enjoys good relationship with the Kuwaiti leadership including HH the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmed. During the invasion of Kuwait by Iraq, E. Ahamed presented the case for Kuwait at the Indian Parliament.

 

As a Minister, E. Ahamed has brought diplomacy closer to the people. His specialty is his easily accessibility to even a layman. You can call him on his mobile phone anytime and he will personally answer it. This is a quality that you can’t find in any leader, especially a person who is holding a central ministership. At times I wonder how he is able to do it despite his pressing engagements.

 

Talking to Minister E. Ahamed, one thing that emerged from his persona and a lesson for many diplomats is that success in diplomacy is to open all doors, give easy accessibility and not by closing the iron-gate and then living within, blocking out all streams of thought.

 

An additional portfolio (MoS HRD) for E. Ahamed, minister of state for external affairs, is a reward for the Congress’s key ally, the Muslim League, in Kerala. E. Ahamed is a six-term MP from Ponnani (Kerala) and enjoys a good rapport with the Congress Central leadership. He also enjoys good relations with heads of state of many Gulf countries.

 

1. Ahamed graduated from Government Brennen College in Tellicherry, Kerala, and later obtained a Law Degree from the Government Law College in Thiruvanathapuram, Kerala. He was elected to the Kerala

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Legislative Assembly in 1967, 1977, 1980, 1982 and 1987. From 1982 to 1987, he served as Cabinet Minister for Industries, Government of Kerala. From 1971 to 1977, Mr. Ahmed was the Founding Chairman of the Kerala State Rural Development Board. From 1979 to 1980 he was the Executive Chairman of the Kerala State Small Scale Industries Development Corporation.

 

From 1981 to 1983 he was the Chairman of the Municipal Council in Kannur, Kerala. There were many programs and events that E Ahamed has initiated within his home- state of Kerala in order to improve its focus.

 

1. Ahamed is also currently the National President of the Indian Union Muslim League. He was first elected as a member of the Lok Sabha in the 1991 elections from Ponnani and since then has continuously represented the constituency, and

 

is one of the senior-most MPs from Kerala.

During his tenure in the Parliament, he has been a member of several parliamentary committees, including External Affairs, Railways, Civil Aviation and Tourism, Public Undertakings, Science and Technology, Environment and Forests. Mr. Ahamed was also

 

the Chairman of the Government Assurance Committee.

2009. Ahamed is widely travelled and has represented India in the United Nations six times between 1991 and 2009. In 1984, he was sent to GCC countries as an emissary of the then Prime Minister late Mrs. Indira Gandhi. E. Ahamed has five times been a member of Government of India Haj Goodwill Delegation.

 

He has also authored three books in English and Malayalam. He was married to late Mrs. Zuhara Ahmed and is blessed with two sons and one daughter.