By Usha Arvind, IANS,
Sydney : Peter Joseph Noozhumurry Varghese used to head Australia’s spy agency, the Office of National Assessments. The mild-mannered but very articulate man of Indian origin, who will be Canberra’s next envoy to New Delhi, however does not see himself as a James Bond. He prefers to be called a diplomat.
This August, Varghese will take over as Australian High Commissioner to India from John McCarthy. He will be the first ethnic Indian representing Australia’s interests in India at the highest possible level.
His stint could not have come at a more exciting though sensitive time. India-Australia relations have been on a rollercoaster. Booming trade, defence and research ties notwithstanding, the bad publicity in the wake of assaults on Indian students in Melbourne and Sydney, the ubiquitous uranium question and the Mohammed Haneef bungle have certainly put an enormous strain on the relationship in the recent past.
The recent series of assaults on Indian students in Australia have caused a furore in India. At the official level, India is still upset over Australia’s refusal to supply uranium. Last year, there was another furore over Haneef, who was incarcerated in Australia for three weeks after being charged with supporting a terrorist organisation by “recklessly” giving his mobile phone SIM card to people planning the botched London and Glasgow bomb attacks. He had to be released when it was clear to everyone that the investigators had made a mistake.
So is Varghese being sent on a damage control mission? The man whose parents shifted from Kerala to Kenya laughs off the suggestion.
“On the contrary, the decision was taken well before these unfortunate events unfolded,” Varghese told the popular Sydney-based newspaper Indian Link.
“But, yes, to set the record straight, one of my priority tasks would be to reinforce our bilateral equations that have been shaken up by the recent students issue,” he added.
The high commissioner-designate is hopeful that Prime Minister Kevin Rudd will visit India soon.
“Personally for me, it is an exciting professional posting and a natural career progression as the government is hoping to bring India into the front rank of diplomatic ties.
“Moreover, India never ceases to fascinate me and each time I travel there, I am amazed by its metamorphosis and its sheer volume,” Varghese said.
Besides the student issue of course, Varghese’s immediate agenda will include trade, security dialogue and the political equation, all of which are poised at an interesting phase.
“India is moving towards a prominent position internationally and so will impinge on everyone’s agenda. The emerging economy has all the makings of a global powerhouse, with a bigger and more exciting role to play and we will all see more of it.”
Varghese hopes to extend dialogue on a range of emerging pathways like global governance and regional security, particularly in the context of G20. Likewise strategic cooperation between the two countries in intelligence sharing, counter-terrorism and defence also feature prominently on his agenda.
Will uranium pose an issue? Not necessarily, believes Varghese, “because the Indian government understands the ramifications of our stand on Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). Australia has been very upbeat and positive about the India-US nuclear deal. We will continue to maintain a dialogue and work to a level of understanding.”
Diplomacy and international affairs have been Varghese’s passion since his university days.
“Perhaps, it has got to do with my migratory experience,” he explained.
Varghese hails from a family that moved from Kerala to Kenya to Australia in search of better career prospects. His parents were academics, originally from Mallapalli in Kerala, who wanted nothing but the best for their seven sons, each of whom has since carved a special niche in Australia.
With over three decades of experience in foreign affairs, Varghese has been international adviser to former prime minister John Howard, besides extended stints at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
India will certainly not be a cakewalk, he confesses. “While I will be exposed to different sorts of issues, the sheer scope and size of my agenda and the growth spurt Australia is expecting will make it a relentlessly busy experience,” he said.
His “Indian links” notwithstanding, the future envoy is quick to reinforce the fact that his loyalties are essentially Australian.
“No, there are certainly no divided loyalties, but my background will help me understand India and work closely with the locals in taking the Australian equation forward,” he holds.
Varghese has nothing but admiration for fellow Indian immigrants to Australia. He believes they are one of the big success stories in the island continent’s migration history. They are well educated, hard working, high earning and above all well integrated drivers of the economy, he pointed out.