A sweet-n-sour farewell for the Indian HC

Islamabad
It was a warm farewell reception that Ms Kishwar Naheed, the renowned poetess, novelist and women rights’ activist, hosted to bid farewell to the outgoing high commissioner of India, T C A Raghawan, at her residence on Saturday evening.
The guests were distinguished, writers, poets, journalists, a couple of bureaucrats, and intellectuals. So well known and highly respected Ms Indo Mitha, the country’s best known ‘Kathak' dancer and teacher, and Dr Ashok Kumar, the ophthalmologist, were also present on the occasion.
The discussion seemed to be flowing in all directions at the same time. The terrorist attack in Paris, the IS (Islamic State) and its presence or influence in the region, Mr Modi’s hiccups and BJP’s defeat in Bihar, the cricketing relations between Pakistan and India and what not.
While the journalists were obviously focused on political and strategic issues concerning the two ‘rival neighbours’, in the other corner a group was deeply engrossed in a purely literary debate, discussing poetry, literature and drama. As grumbling over the lack of patronage by the government as they could have ever been!
While Indian High Commissioner Raghwan was candid and crisp in his response to various queries thrown at him, he was holding the fort well while playing the last innings of his diplomatic career, seeing hope for a better future and a light at the end of the tunnel while commenting on the future of the relations between Pakistan and India. As usual off loading most of the burden on Pakistan for creating brighter prospects aimed at improved relations with India.
But certainly there were many a ‘jokes’ which brought smiles or a laughter from him whenever it appeared as if the tension was mounting in wake of the critical and pointed questions or queries put by the ‘hawkish’ journalists.
The deputy high commissioner of India, J.P. Singh, an unusually ‘mute’ diplomat that we have seen in this position in Islamabad for a long time, spent most of his time sitting in one corner, absorbing the information flowing all round him.
Ms Ranjana Raghwan, the wife of the high commissioner, seemed to be enjoying the evening with the ladies present at the reception but she never hesitated for a second to make a measured contribution to the discussion going on between the high commissioner and the journalists. Always with a pleasant smile!
“I will be returning to Delhi towards the end of this December and there I am going to retire (from service),” said Mr Raghwan responding to a senior journalist.
“Retiring so young!” And a peel of laughter!
Mr Raghwan said that he had a pleasant and enjoyable stay in Islamabad while representing his country as the high commissioner.
“It was not as tough during my tenure as it was back in 2003 or 2004 when the relations between India and Pakistan were really rocky. We need to sort out our issues and for that we have to prepare the ground first,” High Commissioner Raghwan said when asked how he dealt with heightened tensions on the Working Boundary and the Line of Control where the hostilities have mounted since Mr Modi became the prime minister.
He said that he certainly enjoyed his stay in Islamabad, even more then when he was here as the deputy high commissioner of India.
Ms Ranjana Raghwan was all praise for the people who made her stay in Pakistan so memorable and pleasant. “I loved my stay here. It was really very pleasant. I made so many good friends here whom I am not going to forget,” Ms Ranjana Raghwan said.
The food, all but probably only one dish, the ‘fried fish’ were personally cooked by Kishwar Nahid, as is the ‘rule of her home’ and the guests were generous in their response, both in appreciating the food as well as consuming (or gobbling) it.