(In fond memory of Sh Jitendra Rawat by the 2011 batch of Indian Foreign Service)
5 days ago, India lost one of its young, bright and committed civil servants; the Indian Foreign Service (IFS), a promising and progressive diplomat; the 2011 batch of the IFS, an affable and dear batchmate. Sh. Jitendra Rawat chose a career in the civil services after having pursued engineering from NIT Calicut and an MBA from IIT Delhi.
In 2011 when he became a part of the IFS fraternity, we knew that diplomacy would come to him effortlessly, courtesy his strong academic foundation and balanced demeanour. And in a stellar career spanning a little over 13 years in Delhi at the Ministry of External Affairs and in Indian Missions abroad, he contributed to India’s foreign policy goals with deft and represented India with poise.
Always eager to analyze and philosophize about India’s standing in the world, furthering India’s national interests was always on his mind. He delivered on important assignments entrusted to him during his stints at Delhi, Tokyo, Yangon and Brussels.
In his first posting in Tokyo, with his child-like curiousity he developed a deep interest and appreciation towards Japanese language and culture, culminating in his proficiency in Japanese. He always went the extra mile to do his bit to strengthen India-Japan bilateral relations.
On the Europe West desk at MEA and in Brussels, despite the novelty and complexity of issues that came his way, he was a quick learner and contributed to policy decisions on India-West Europe relations. His versatility enabled him to navigate with elan the profundity and delicacy of India-Myanmar relations, which also extended to crucial desks at the Ministry such as counter-terrorism and Overseas Employment and Protector General of Emigrants. Notably, during his tenure as First Secretary (Development Cooperation) from 2020 to 2023 at EOI Yangon, Jitendra played a pivotal role in the oversight and implementation of bilateral development cooperation projects in Myanmar, cumulatively valued at over USD 1.5 billion. He contributed significantly to the advancement of numerous initiatives spanning the critical spheres of infrastructure development, cultural heritage restoration, and connectivity enhancement during rather difficult times ridden with challenges of Covid pandemic and Post military takeover civil unrest in Myanmar. He displayed exemplary diplomatic dexterity in navigating projects towards fruition, including the notable inauguration of the Sittwe Port in Rakhine State—an integral component of India’s visionary Kaladan Multimodal Transit Transport Corridor. Furthermore, a landmark agreement was concluded with Myanmar for the construction of an Integrated Check Post at Tamu in 2022, underscoring the deepening of bilateral cooperation in matters of strategic and economic significance.
Jitendra served his country devotedly, even while he was struggling with his health issues. We cherish him for his courage, resilience, and the joy he brought to our lives. His empathy was unmatched, and so were his peoples’ skills. He had this uncanny knack of putting people at ease, both senior and junior colleagues. His work was valued by his seniors, and his subordinates found in him the perfect boss who won hearts with his efficient and empathetic ways.
He will always be remembered for his sense of balance, empathy, a warm smile that was given to everyone freely, his subtle humour and a keen sense to make that little difference at the work place each day, that spoke of the deep love he had for his country. His everyday conversation as a young fellow diplomat were always centred around what could be done to make India better.
We would want his parents, wife and children to know that they were as much of a priority for Jitendra as his professional responsibilities. We hope his children know that he was truly a cherished friend and a fine diplomat of India. It is with a sense of profound loss that we bid him goodbye.
(In fond memory of Sh Jitendra Rawat by the 2011 batch of Indian Foreign Service)