Indian Ambassador to Ethiopia and the African Union, Robert Shetkintong, arrived in Addis Ababa to take charge of his new posting at a precarious time. At a time when Ethiopia is witnessing one of the most tumultuous times in its history.
What began as a conflict between the Ethiopian Federal government and a local military, Tigray People’s Liberation Front, in late 2020, exploded into a civil war in 2021 that has forced two million people to flee their homes and left hundreds of thousands of people in famine-like conditions. The war is far from over and aid workers warn that the humanitarian crisis is deepening.
It is in such times when history is being written in more ways than one, often ruthlessly, that Ambassador Shetkintong is serving his time in the landlocked country, located in the Horn of Africa. Indian Masterminds brings to you the Ambassador’s take on India-Ethiopia ties, over the ages.
AFRICA HIS SECOND HOME
Ambassador Robert Shetkintong seems unfazed by all the tumult going on around him in Ethiopia. And not surprisingly, as he feels very much at home there. Conflicts, for that matter, are not new to most African nations. And Africa is second home to the Ambassador and his family. In a message to the people of Ethiopia on Ethiopian New Year last year, which falls on 11 September (Gregorian calendar), he said:
“I arrived in this beautiful country 14 months ago. In fact, our children have grown up in East Africa as I had served earlier in Tanzania as India’s Deputy High Commissioner for three and a half years between 2015 and 2018. Therefore, we were so comfortable with the region when we arrived in Ethiopia in October last year. For my family, East Africa is our second home.”
INDIA-ETHIOPIA HISTORICAL LINKAGES
In his 2022 New Year’s wish to the people of Ethiopia on January 1, the Ambassador mentions the historical linkages between India and Ethiopia,that go back thousands of years.
“People rightly say that Ethiopia is the ‘Land of Origins’ and India an ‘Ancient Civilisation’. Trade contacts brought about exchange of ideas between these two old civilisations. For example, Ethiopian and Indian spices are quite similar as also Ethiopian Injera and Indian Dosa. The rock hewn churches of Lalibela and the temples of South India also share engineering similarities.”
ETHIOPIANS IN INDIA
He also says how few hundred years ago, Ethiopians who travelled to India found far greater social mobility – some of them even rose along the social ladder to become nobles, rulers or merchants in their own capacities. He cites a few examples.
“Malik Ambar constructed a fort at Janjira in western India. At Janjira, the Ethiopians developed their own kingdom. Later, they went on to occupy another fort at Sachin in Gujarat. Ethiopians (Abyssinians) also established a kingdom in eastern India, even though it was for a short time. The famous FiruzMinar at Gaur (three storey victory tower) was constructed by them. Some anthropologists have also linked the Siddi community in southern India with the Ethiopians.”
INDIANS IN ETHIOPIA
Similarly, Indians have also made Ethiopia their home, he says.
“More than 100 years ago, it was estimated that there were about 150 Indian families in Dire Dawa and Addis Ababa. Today, we have about 50 families, mostly from Gujarat, that have lived in this beautiful country for the past 4-5 generations. Then during the imperial times, thousands of Indian school teachers, mostly from Kerala, joined them. They taught science and mathematics in schools, even in the remote parts. Some of them have settled down here.”
Talking about recent times, he informs that during the last 10 years, many Indian investors arrived in Ethiopia. Also, there are about 1,500 Indian professors and lecturers in various public universities in the country.
“Today, there are about 6,000-7,000 Indian nationals. For all purposes, Ethiopia is their home.”
75 YEARS OF DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS
He signs off by saying that India and Ethiopia have strong relations based on mutual understanding and respect, and sense of genuine partnership.
“I am very excited to be here as the two countries embark on celebrations to commemorate 75 years of our diplomatic relations.”
ABOUT ROBERT SHETKINTONG
Mr. Robert Shetkintong joined Indian Foreign Service in 2001. In 2003, he was posted to the Indian Mission in Tel Aviv as a language trainee (Hebrew). On completion of the language course, he was posted to the Indian Embassy in Rome and was there for almost 4 years. He then returned to New Delhi and served at the headquarters between 2009 and 2012. He subsequently served at the Indian Mission in Ljubljana (Slovenia) and Dar-es-Salaam (Tanzania).
He hails from Keithelmanbi Village, Chandel District, Manipur. He completed his matriculation from Don Bosco School,Chingmeirong, in 1990 and completed his 12th from St Joseph College, Bangalore. He completed BA Political Science from St Anthony’s College in Shillong and did his MA and M. Phil from Jawaharlal Nehru University, Delhi.
He is married to Tingjahat Hangshing and they have two children, Sarah and Raymond.
