A chance meeting with an Indian Foreign Service officer in 2009 in college planted the seed of a diplomatic career in Ms. Seema Pujani’s mind. The year was 2009 and she was studying in one of the top law colleges of India, the National Law School of India University (NLSIU), Bangalore. Two college seniors, who were bureaucrats, visited the campus. One of them was Ms. Aparna Ray, IFS. After interacting with her, Ms. Pujani got drawn towards the Indian Foreign Service as she felt that the life and job of a diplomat were fascinating. She also saw the diplomatic career as an honour to represent and serve the country abroad.
And so began her journey towards the Indian Foreign Service that ended in her second successful attempt at Civil Services Examination (CSE) in 2014, when she secured AIR 37 and was allotted her first choice, IFS. We present the UPSC journey of this diplomat, today, who is currently posted as First Secretary, Permanent Mission of India to UN, Geneva.
WANTED TO JOIN ONLY IFS
Ms. Pujani had cracked CSE once before also. That time, she had secured AIR 599 and was allotted Indian Trade Service and had even started training at the India Institute of Foreign Trade in New Delhi. But her heart was with Indian Foreign Service, and she attempted CSE again, and the second time, she succeeded in bettering her rank and could finally get her dream service, IFS.
Both times, she had given her first choice as IFS. In an interview to a media organisation, she introduces herself as “a simple person who with some determination finally made diplomacy her calling. A lawyer by education and training but not at heart.”
LAW SCHOOL TRAINING HELPED
According to Ms. Pujani, her stint at the multicultural environment of NLSIU Bangalore sharpened her sensibilities and increased her strength and endurance. Taking part in event management activities, book discussions and other vibrant activities moulded her for her future role as a diplomat. It also helped her to hone her critical thinking and analysis skills. She says, “If you survived law school, you would survive anywhere!”
EARLY LIFE
Ms. Pujani’s father was a civil servant, too. He retired from the Haryana Civil Services. And like her, he had also studied law before joining civil services. He is a legal consultant in Gurgaon now.
She did most of her schooling in Faridabad and had chosen the science stream after Class 10.
“However, I soon realised that my interests lay in the social sciences and languages that helped me make sense of the world around me. Words also held a peculiar appeal. Thereafter, the decision to appear for law entrance exam was made in Class 12.”
GOT ADMISSION IN BUCERIUS LAW SCHOOL, GERMANY
After graduating from the National Law School of India University, Bangalore, in 2011, Ms. Pujani applied in the Masters of Law and Business programme at the Bucerius Law School, Germany, and got selected to the course.
“However, three months before joining, I took the decision to defer studies in order to appear for the Civil Services prelims examination. It was a painful and difficult decision that haunted me for a long time to come.”
WHY INDIAN FOREIGN SERVICE ONLY?
In her first attempt at CSE, Ms. Pujani was allotted Indian Trade Service and she even started training for it. But she attempted CSE again to enter IFS and succeeded. This time she secured the high rank of 37 and could have easily asked to be allotted IAS, the most preferred service of the top rankers.
“The only motivation for me to put my life at a standstill, reject all opportunities that came my way and put in hard work was the dream of entering into India’s diplomatic corps. Therefore, no other service but the IFS appealed to me.”
WHAT’S THE JOB OF A DIPLOMAT LIKE?
Ms. Pujani says that the most inspiring and, also, the most onerous of a diplomat’s duties is to be a representative of the country and its people abroad.
“One needs to be mindful of her actions, words, and behaviour. We are the spokespersons for the government and its people on any matter of foreign policy. In a globalised world with significant Indian footprint abroad, any matter that involves the country’s interests is our concern. We also report back on developments of political, economic, and strategic significance in the host country.”
ADVICE TO ASPIRANTS
Ms. Pujani believes that it is not the number of hours one puts in, but the quality of output that matters, when it comes to CSE preparation.
“I believe one does not plan for work, aiming at a particular rank. The idea is to figure out where one is making mistakes, to correct those, and give one’s best. A well-informed strategy, reading list, and persistence help.”
At the same time, she says that neither success nor failure in this exam is the end of the world and one can contribute immensely to society in multifarious ways. “Each person is unique. Know yourself well and play to your strengths.”
