The Chinese Whisper item “A skit in time” (August 1) evokes amusement at an officer’s talents being spotted through a skit enacted by him and landing him in a post normally reserved for Indian Information Service officers. But it also says a thing or two about how Indian authorities plan the career path of our diplomats, who are stated to be in short supply. No doubt diplomats should have a variety of experience, but they should not end up holding posts that do not strictly fall under their diplomatic field. I mention this because a former diplomat turned columnist writing in your newspaper revealed in one of his columns that some of our foreign secretaries had not worked in two major continents. So much for the career planning for our diplomats.
S Subramanyan Navi Mumbai
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