Beyond the Veil: Unpacking the Realities of an IFS Career and India’s Diplomacy
An insightful conversation with veteran diplomat Manju Seth, who served the nation in the Indian Foreign Service (IFS) for 31 years, cuts through the romanticized image of diplomatic life to reveal its core truths. In an interview on The Honest Hour with Shashank, she details the service’s low visibility, the genuine nature of its challenges, the technicalities of diplomatic work, and offers a grounded perspective on India’s complex positioning on the global stage.
The Invisible Service: Decoding the IFS
Manju Seth begins by addressing a fundamental issue: the IFS is relatively invisible compared to its domestic counterparts, the IAS and IPS. For many common people, interaction with the IFS is primarily limited to passport services.
She recounts her instrumental role in a critical overhaul: the decision to outsource the processing of passports. This move, she explains, was driven by a need to make the process more efficient and less time-consuming due to personnel shortages, effectively minimizing bureaucratic “interface.” Crucially, this was a step away from what she terms the “babu culture,” where officials often seek prominence to signify their existence. “We don’t need to show our importance,” she states. “We are here for a service”.
While the IFS operates on the same scales and equivalence as the IAS and IPS, its designations differ significantly outside the headquarters: Location Designation Examples Headquarters Under Secretary, Deputy Secretary, Joint Secretary, etc. (Similar to IAS) Abroad Third/Second/First Secretary, Counselor, Minister, Deputy Chief of Mission, Ambassador Ultimately, while the foreign service provides inputs and policy recommendations based on negotiations and ground realities, the final policy decision is always at the political level. Diplomatic Life: Beyond the Glamour The article delves into the common misconception that an IFS career is a life of perpetual luxury and travel. Manju Seth makes it clear that the most significant advantage is the chance to serve your country and make a difference, prioritizing the motto “Service before self”.
- Challenging Postings: Not all postings are to the US or Europe. Many are in African countries or regions undergoing civil strife or difficult conditions, forcing officers to constantly risk their lives.
- The 24/7 Reality: The life of a diplomat is far from leisurely. The job is demanding, requiring long hours—often until 8:00 PM—and extending to 24/7 availability during crises or intense negotiations. The concept that diplomats are here to “travel the world” is a misconception, as there is often “very little time” for personal sightseeing.
- Cocktail Parties as Tools: The fabled glamour of cocktail parties is simply one aspect of the job, a necessary tool for building contacts and bridges. As she quotes, you need to have friends before you need them to secure your nation’s interests.
- Personal Struggles: Early in her career, she faced challenges like inadequate education and medical facilities for her children, demonstrating that the lifestyle is not always “hunky dory”.
The interview highlights the readiness of diplomats to spring into action for citizen welfare, such as working in the middle of the night to issue a passport during an emergency or coordinating rescue and relief operations during a natural disaster or war, as seen in the Ukraine crisis.
Embassies, Consulates, and Diplomatic Immunity
To clarify the diplomatic framework, Manju Seth explains the difference between the primary overseas offices: - An Embassy is the primary country’s representative office, headed by the Ambassador, located in the capital.
- A Consulate is a smaller, branch office in another major city, established based on factors like commercial relationships, diaspora concentration, or security interests.
She also discusses the different types of passports: - Diplomatic Passport: Issued to diplomats, granting immunities and facilities under the Vienna Convention.
- Official Passport: Issued to government staff posted abroad on official work, ensuring they are not harassed by local authorities and have certain immunities.
On the issue of misuse of diplomatic immunity, she is pragmatic, noting that while there are instances, it’s typically the action of “one or two rogue people” and not a general trend.
India on the World Stage: Strategy and Identity
Manju Seth shares her perspective on India’s current geopolitical strategy, contrasting it with the approaches of other major powers. - Relationship with the US: The India-US relationship is defined as complex, largely because both nations prioritize their national interests. She criticizes the US’s tendency to dictate terms with an “either with us or against us” approach, which she believes is not the right way to conduct diplomacy.
- India’s Unique Path: India’s foreign policy should continue to follow a different path—one of “development partnership” and aiming to take people along, a philosophy rooted in the value system of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam (the world is one family).
- Russia and Strategic Autonomy: She stresses that Russia has been a “time-tested, long-long-term friend” that stood by India in every crisis. India’s approach to the Russia-Ukraine conflict—which involves calling for peace and dialogue rather than condemning one side—is seen as part of its strategic autonomy. She contends that Western pressure on India to stop oil purchases is “unreasonable” and a way of “cornering India”.
- Global Respect and Resentment: When asked about India’s global respect, she suggests the reality is a mix of respect and resentment. While India’s growing economy and the success of the diaspora command respect, there is a growing resentment in many countries where locals feel Indians are taking away their jobs or are seen as “too smart”.
On India’s status, she is definitive: “We are not a superpower at all yet”, but are widely recognized as a rising power and one of the world’s fastest-growing economies.
Wisdom for Aspirants
Reflecting on her journey, which was initially sparked by the leadership of Indira Gandhi, Manju Seth offers heartfelt advice to young aspirants, particularly girls who face societal stereotypes and barriers:
“It’s important that you don’t give up on your dreams”. She advises having a passion for what you do and not being fixated on only one thing. She concludes by emphasizing the need for high self-esteem and finding solutions to navigate barriers, stressing that society’s patriarchal mindsets are changing, albeit slowly.
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