United Nations:

After an illustrious career spanning over 35 years, India’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ruchira Kamboj, has retired, the senior diplomat said on Saturday.

The first woman diplomat to occupy the prestigious position as the Ambassador of India at the UN, Ms Kamboj – who had joined the Indian Foreign Service in 1987 – took to social media to bid goodbye.

“Thank you, Bharat, for the extraordinary years and unforgettable experiences,” the 60-year-old senior diplomat signed off with this message on her X handle.

Thank you, Bharat , for the extraordinary years and unforgettable experiences. pic.twitter.com/VbkKlW6wOg

— Ruchira Kamboj (@ruchirakamboj) June 1, 2024

Ms Kamboj, who was the All India women’s topper of the 1987 Civil Services batch and the topper of the 1987 Foreign Service batch, formally assumed the position of Permanent Representative/ Ambassador of India to New York, on August 2, 2022.

A regular on social media X highlighting India’s achievements at the UN, Ms Kamboj’s post announcing her retirement was met with overwhelming response by people from all walks of life – former ambassadors to common citizens.

A typical example was from a social media user Rohit Bansal, who said, “37 years of service, Sheer grace & steel – Your impact shall endure.” Speaking three languages, Hindi, English and French, Ms Kamboj began her diplomatic journey in Paris as the Third Secretary in the Indian Embassy to France from 1989 to 1991.

After postings at various locations, Ms Kamboj first came here as Counsellor at India’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations in New York from 2002-2005, where she dealt with a wide range of political issues, including UN Peacekeeping, UN Security Council Reform, the Middle East crisis etc, according to the Indian Mission’s website.

She also had a stint as the Deputy Head of the Office of the Secretary-General at the Commonwealth Secretariat London and from 2011-2014, she was India’s Chief of Protocol, the first and only lady so far in Government to have held this position.

During her stellar three-year stint at UNESCO, Paris, with many firsts to her credit, in May 2014, the Ministry of External Affairs called her on special assignment to New Delhi to direct the swearing-in ceremony of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, which was marked by the presence of Heads of State and Government from the SAARC countries and Mauritius.

Married to businessman Diwakar Kamboj, they have one daughter. 

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Amid Israel’s military action in Gaza against Hamas, India has strongly condemned the civilian deaths in the ongoing conflict and said that the resulting humanitarian crisis in the region is “simply unacceptable.”

“The conflict in Gaza has been going on for over seven months, and the humanitarian crisis it has triggered has been increasing. There is also the potential for growing instability in the region and beyond. In this context, we view the UNSC’s adoption of resolution 2728 as a positive step,” India’s permanent representative to the UN, Ruchira Kamboj said at the 10th UNGA Emergency Special Session on Palestine.

ALSO READ | Indian UN Staff Member Killed In Gaza: Report

“India’s position on the conflict has been clearly articulated on more than one occasion by our leadership: One, the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas has led to a large-scale loss of civilian lives, especially women and children. The resulting humanitarian crisis is simply unacceptable. We have strongly condemned the deaths of civilians in the conflict. International law and international humanitarian law must be respected by everyone under all circumstances,” she added.

Highlighting the October 7 attack on Israel, Ms Kamboj also asserted that the Hamas attack on Israel also deserves equivocal condemnation of the forum and that there is no justification for terrorism and hostage-taking.

#IndiaAtUN

Statement by the Permanent Representative at the 10th Emergency Special Session of the UN General Assembly on Palestine today.

Statement: https://t.co/0eCQmiGdwWpic.twitter.com/h8WivNX7kv

— India at UN, NY (@IndiaUNNewYork) May 13, 2024

“The terror attacks in Israel on 7 October were shocking, and they deserve our unequivocal condemnation. There can be no justification for terrorism and hostage-taking. India has a longstanding and uncompromising position against terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, and we demand the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages,” she said.

“The humanitarian situation in Gaza is dire. Humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza must be scaled up immediately to avert a further deterioration in the situation. We urge all parties to come together in this endeavour. We welcome the efforts of the UN and the international community in this regard. India has provided humanitarian aid to the people of Palestine and will continue to do so. We note the recent facilitation of greater flow of humanitarian aid into Gaza by the Israeli authorities,” she added.

ALSO READ | In US Shocker, Senator Suggests Israel Should Be Allowed To Nuke Gaza

Reiterating India’s stand on the two-state solution of the matter, she also urged the conflicting parties to engage as soon as possible for direct peace negotiations.

“My leadership has repeatedly emphasized that only a Two-State solution, achieved through direct and meaningful negotiations between both sides on final status issues, will deliver an enduring peace,” she said.

“India is committed to supporting a Two-State solution where the Palestinian people can live freely in an independent country within secure borders, with due regard to the security needs of Israel. To arrive at a lasting solution, we urge all parties to foster conditions conducive to resuming direct peace negotiations at an early date,” she added.

Additionally, India also reaffirmed its support for the Palestinian bid for full membership at the United Nations and hoped that the respective application of Palestine would be reconsidered by the forum.

“In keeping with our longstanding position, we support the membership of Palestine at the UN and therefore, we have voted in favour of this Resolution. We hope that Palestine’s application will be reconsidered by the Security Council in due course and that Palestine’s endeavour to become a member of the UN will get endorsed,” she said.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

India’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations Ruchira Kamboj on October 10 (local time) said that the G20 Summit held in New Delhi showcased the country’s commitment to “fostering a sense of global togetherness.”

Editorial |India’s moment: on the G-20 Summit outcomes 

She highlighted various instances when India practised ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’, which means the world is a family. In her opening remarks at the ‘International Conference on ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ held at United Nations Headquarters in New York, Ms. Kamboj said, “The recent G20 summit is an event that showcased India’s commitment to fostering a sense of global togetherness. Our leadership, marked by inclusivity and collaboration, saw the participation of 20 member states, nine invitee nations, and 14 international organisations. What is more, it witnessed the historic inclusion of the African Union as a permanent member, amplifying the voices of nations often left unheard,” she added.

Notably, the theme for India’s G20 Presidency was ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ or ‘One Earth One Family One Future’. The G20 Leaders Summit hosted in Delhi from September 9-10 drew the highest-ever contingent of world leaders and dignitaries in the event’s history, including U.S. President Joe Biden and the Prime Minister of the U.K. Rishi Sunak.

Ms. Kamboj recalled PM Modi emphasising the significance of women-led development at the G20 Summit. She stressed that ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ finds expression in the empowerment of women. She also recalled PM Modi’s remarks regarding India’s model of financial inclusion in leveraging technology.”

At the G20 Summit, Prime Minister Narendra Modi emphasised the significance of women-led development, highlighting that nearly 45% of STEM graduates in India are women. And indeed, ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ finds expression in the empowerment of women, who now play pivotal roles in India’s space programme, business landscape, and various fields,” she said.

“Again, the Indian Prime Minister also highlighted India’s model of financial inclusion in leveraging technology to make development increasingly equitable. Using this model, India has transferred 360 billion dollars directly to the bank accounts of those in need over the past decade. As the World Bank has acknowledged, this model has successfully achieved a financial inclusion rate in six years which would have taken 47 years to achieve,” she added.

Citing industry estimates, Ms. Kamboj said the costs incurred by banks for onboarding customers in India due to the use of its digital public infrastructure decreased from $23 to $0.1. Emphasising that yoga embodies the concept of unity, Ms. Kamboj stated that the International Day of Yoga, celebrated annually at the UN Headquarters, “brings people from diverse nationalities together in a harmonious union of body and mind, emphasising our shared humanity.”

“This year yoga day held a special significance as we were led by Prime Minister Modi himself, achieving a remarkable feat by setting a Guinness World Record for the largest number of nationalities participating in a single yoga session,” she said. Ms. Kamboj stressed that India consistently extended a helping hand in the face of global challenges, adding that the country’s abiding commitment to ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ was evident even during the COVID-19 pandemic as New Delhi provided vaccines and medicines to more than 100 countries through the ‘Vaccine Maitri’ initiative.

Highlighting India’s assistance to the international community during natural calamities, Ruchira Kamboj said, “’Operation Dost’ saw India extending life-saving humanitarian medical assistance to countries such as Turkey and Syria, reinforcing the belief that the world is indeed one family, and in times of need, we stand united.”

She stated that PM Modi’s launch of ‘Mission LiFE’ emphasises the importance of mindful and deliberate utilisation of resources to protect the environment, demonstrating India’s dedication to a sustainable global family. In her opening remarks at the ‘International Conference on Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam,’ Ms. Kamboj spoke about India’s friendship with nations of the Global South, saying that New Delhi has offered training to 2,00,000 individuals from more than 160 countries, considering the unique needs of its partners.

“India’s friendship with the nations of the Global South is no less exceptional and inspiring. Our development partnerships have extended to encompass 78 nations across diverse regions. Within these collaborative efforts, we have initiated 600 projects, illustrating our goodwill and capacity,” Ms. Kamboj said.

“At the heart of our approach is the belief that progress should be inclusive and borderless. We have also offered training to 2,00,000 individuals from more than 160 countries, always considering the unique needs of our partners. Our journey has been guided by the Kampala principles enunciated by Prime Minister Modi in 2018, which serve as the compass steering us towards our partners’ needs,” she added.

She called for educating young about diverse cultures, promoting cross-cultural dialogues, and celebrating shared humanity. She said, “Let us focus on our shared dreams and values, rather than the differences that divide us.” In her remarks, Ms. Kamboj also quoted Mahatma Gandhi, saying, “The greatness of humanity is not in being human but in being humane.”

She added that ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ is a call for action and recognising the shared destiny to come together in the face of adversity. “I would like to emphasise that “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam” is more than a lofty ideal. It is a call to action, urging us to recognise our shared destiny, to come together in the face of adversity, and to build a world where every individual, no matter where they come from, is treated as part of this grand, global family,” Ms. Kamboj said.

She said the phrase — ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ — has travelled through millennia, reminding people that beneath the apparent divisions of nationality, religion and culture everyone shares the same human essence. ”Our fates are intertwined, our dreams interlinked, and our challenges interconnected,” she added.

New York:

India’s engagement with the Global South is ingrained in the “very fabric” of New Delhi’s culture and philosophy, Ruchira Kamboj, India’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations said on Saturday (local time). 

While addressing the India-UN for Global South: Delivering for Development event in New York, Ms Kamboj said, “…As far as India is concerned, our engagement with the Global South is not just a matter of policy, it is ingrained in the very fabric of our culture and philosophy. Earlier this month, the G20 New Delhi leaders’ declaration reinforced our commitment to the comprehensive development of fellow developing nations.”

Ms Kamboj recalled that India during the COVID-19 pandemic extended a helping hand by providing made-in-India vaccines to nearly 100 countries and supplying medicines to 150 nations. 

“Many of you would recall that throughout the COVID pandemic, India had extended a helping hand by providing made-in-India vaccines to nearly 100 countries and supplying medicines to 150 nations, earning us the moniker ‘The Pharmacy of the World,'” Ruchira Kamboj said. 

Ms Kamboj said that India’s development partnerships have expanded significantly. She said that the India-UN Development Partnership Fund at the United Nations has successfully developed a portfolio of 75 projects across 56 developing nations in six years. 

“Meantime, our development partnerships have also expanded significantly, reaching 78 nations across diverse regions and we have, over the past decade, initiated 600 projects that stand as a testament to our goodwill for our friends,” Ms Kamboj said. 

“Capacity building is also at the core of our development philosophy, and we have offered training to 200,000 individuals from over 160 countries, prioritizing the needs of our partners. At the UN, the India-UN Development Partnership Fund, a single country South-South initiative, has successfully developed a portfolio of 75 projects across 56 developing countries in just 6 years,” she added. 

Earlier, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar along with United Nations General Assembly President Dennis Francis and foreign ministers of other nations arrived to attend the India-UN for Global South: Delivering for Development event. The leaders posed for the pictures before the start of the event. 

Notably, EAM Jaishankar is in New York to lead the Indian delegation for the UNGA session where he will address the United Nations General Assembly on September 26, according to an official statement by the Ministry of External Affairs. After concluding his visit to New York, he will travel to Washington, DC.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)