We have an interview with Mr Dnyaneshwar M Mulay, Secretary (Overseas Indian Affairs and CPV), Ministry of External Affairs. Mr Mulay was Consul General of India in New York for several years prior to joining the MEA in his current capacity and has served in Russia, Japan, Syria, Mauritius and Maldives (as Indian ambassador). He brings to his job a vast experience of having connected with Indian diaspora, among other things. He has also been a key figure in the Ministry of External Affairs in proactively pursuing diaspora engagement on a monthly basis since February 2016.

We have an outstanding overview of Indian diaspora policy from Mr Malay Mishra who was the first Joint Secretary of the NRI Division in the MEA back in 2003, and subsequently was the first Joint Secretary (Diaspora Services) in the erstwhile Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs. Among many countries, he served several years in both Mauritius and in Trinidad—in the latter as Indian High Commissioner. These are nations where Indian diaspora makes up for the majority of the population. We are also carrying an interview with another dedicated diaspora community leader, Mr Ashook Ramsaran, who, lately, has taken over as president of the India Diaspora Council. There is a segment on young Members of Parliament cutting across party lines, and an interview with H.E. Khurelsukh Ukhnaa, Deputy Prime Minister of Mongolia. There are several other stories that you will be able to navigate through in this issue.

Here’s wishing you a blessed 2017.

(sayantanc@gmail.com)