India will share with Ugandans - Dr. Chandra

 

Somehow, turns out these occasional errands, in markets that are always chockablock on all sorts of activity, are one of the fun things the diplomat has done in Uganda so far, having been around for five months now.
 

 

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“See, I love markets; they have a sort of subtle correlation with how healthy and well-fed a community and nation is. But that’s not really why I love them. In a market, I get to be in touch with the typical publics of that community, and somehow share in their different little worlds – their happiness (or lack of), their aspirations, the gossip of the day, name it. That is why regardless of how much house help is available to me, I will always find some time for the market. Same is the case at the barber’s,” says Chandra during an interview at his plush office on Plot 11, Kyadondo Road in Nakasero.

 

Thanks to this down-to-earth persona, placing an appointment to see him wasn’t anything remotely related to hard. And despite a slew of meetings he had to prep for, he didn’t rush the interview. In fact, he even took time midway to engage in a bit of banter.

 

Sure, he loves to talk. But don’t count on him to misuse a word, or throw around those sweeping political statements that could dent bilateral relations. Not one bit. His is a friendly and careful dispensation of words; so much so you will think he counts his words.

 

Clearly, he is a diplomat through and through, and has made sure to echo the Indian Association’s corporate social responsibility initiatives in Uganda, with every speech he has made.

 

At some point during the interview, one of his aides brings in his CV to beef up our story. Receiving it, Chandra goes like: “Thank you Margaret. That is a beautiful African dress you have on. I should find a market for those so I pick up one for my wife.”   

 

Turns out his wife, Kathyayini, whom he has been married to for 24 years now, features a lot in his talk. Same as his two daughters, 19 year-old Mandy, who is pursuing a degree in sustainable development at the McGill University in Canada, and 23-year-old Kamya, who has just finished her masters on a scholarship at the London School of Economics.

So, away from the diplomatic nuance, Chandra remains a proud family man; little wonder he got married at 25 years of age. That was about the time he joined the Indian Foreign Service, just before setting off for his first diplomatic mission in Moscow in 1990, the winding year of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR).
 

 

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Here, Dr. Chandra chats with Ugandan foreign affairs state minister Okello Oryem as their wives exachange flowers. PHOTO/Denis Dibele

 
  So, while millions have only heard of the immensely famous (or infamous) USSR, Chandra actually worked under the union, based in its capital Moscow as Third Secretary (Language Trainee) at the Embassy of India, although the union ceased being in August 1991.

 

This, for Chandra, was the beginning of what is now responsible for his 13 diplomatic placements so far, having worked as a diplomat in countries like Uzbekistan, India, Russia, the U.S, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Turkey. Uganda is his first in Africa.

 

A dairy technologist with a master’s degree in veterinary science from Andhra Pradesh Agricultural University in Hyderabad, India, Chandra has 25 years of diplomatic service under his belt.

 

You could blame his knowing what to say on this long experience trading in relationships between his country and others.

 

So what are his impressions of Uganda so far? Chandra responds to this with a story. Apparently, when going for his just-ended mission in Ankara, Turkey, which he speaks fondly of, he packed 2000kgs of Indian food. Yet, when reporting for duty in Uganda, he and his wife showed with just their clothing and other personal effects. No foodstuff. After all, he says, Uganda is full of Indian vegetables and fruits among other foods, and that Ugandan food is just as yummy, especially matooke, cassava, and groundnut sauce.

 

“So, back to the question, I have found Uganda warm. We enjoy extremely cordial relations with Uganda. A part from the food, the people are friendly, the weather so beautiful. It’s also refreshing to know I can communicate easily. In Turkey it’s not a given that your maid or your chauffeur will speak English – it’s Turkish everywhere; in my office, in my car, in my house, in the shopping mall, name it. I had to move around with an interpreter all the time.

"Here, all my aides speak English, same as the people in most places I go. It’s only been five months, but I have a feeling I am going to love Uganda. After Amin expelled Asians in 1972, I wasn’t sure what to expect now. And I have been pleasantly surprised," says Chandra.

He is also concurrently accredited as Ambassador of India to Burundi, and High Commissioner of India to Rwanda (he recently handed his credentials over to Rwandan President Paul Kagame).  
 

 

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Dr. Chandra shortly after handing over his credentials to President Paul Kagame. PHOTO/Rwandan Presidential Press Unit

 
 

Over his stay so far, Chandra has already hit the ground running, according to State Minister for Foreign Affairs Henry Okello Oryem.

 

“He has met different government officials and discussed deals intended to lead to better bilateral relations,” says Oryem.

 

Chandra’s dream is to see solid benefits accruing to Ugandans especially in the employment sector as a result of expanded relations with India.

 

“Our relations should go beyond merely buyer-seller relations. We need to give people jobs, improve their health, send them to school,” he says. 

 

With this goal in mind, Chandra recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the agriculture ministry to establish a food processing business incubation centre at the National Agricultural Research Organisation (NARO) in Kawanda. The centre, whose establishment is in the works with a financial grant from India, will help Ugandan food processors with value addition for their products, as well as help with job creation and wealth generation. 

 

“India will provide all the equipment for setting up this institute, as well as train the NARO officials and other trainers on how to use it,” says Chandra, adding: “We are also looking at how India can help out with vocational training for Ugandan youth.”

 

Already, at least 52 Ugandan officers have reached India over the last five months on vocational training and other under graduate, post-graduate, and PhD courses, courtesy of Chandra’s office. Then, 22 Ugandan youth proceeding to India for professional education were recently flagged off by the First Lady, Janet Museveni.

Also, about 40 Uganda Police Force officials have received training in India courtesy of Chandra’s office, to sharpen their skills in cybercrime, advanced finger printing, and using ICT in policing.
 

 

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A toast to new beginnings! PHOTO/Denis Dibele

 

Chandra has also been to Karamoja gifting boreholes, and supported the just-ended cancer run aimed at raising money to complete the construction of the cancer ward at Nsambya Hospital.

 

On the whole, he has been involved in a lot more, and it’s only the beginning of his three-year diplomatic mission in Uganda.

 

If his pace so far is anything to go by, several Ugandans stand to benefit from his tenure, in which he promised to double last year’s $1.6b worth of trade between Uganda and India.

 

Born in Hyderabad on November 22, 1964, Chandra, a second-born of three boys, was 13 when he lost his father, A.K Somayajulu. As a result, he says, there was a compelling need to excel in school in order not to strain their mother, Kamala Devi, who raised them under a strict education code.

 

Today, she must be proud of her work, as Chandra’s elder brother Siva Kumar is a university professor, while his younger brother Suresh is a mechanical engineer with the Indian government.

 

Growing up, Chandra had a very hectic lifestyle as a sportsman. He was the captain of his university basketball team, played for them football, did high and long jump, javelin, pole vault, shot put, and sprinting.

 

As an ace horse rider, he also represented his Andhra Pradesh state in the show-jumping slot of the national horse riding competitions in New Delhi in 1986 and 1987. University essay writing and debate competitions were also his forte. Little wonder that he won all six of the university gold medal award categories. 

 

Also a gym enthusiast and golfer, Chandra clearly has so much energy. And he hopes to use it in achieving all the projects he has set his sights on over his three-year stay in Uganda.

 

“It’s just as well that President Yoweri Museveni has ensured peace and stability over here, as that will enable us achieve economic and social harmony and progress. I have congratulated the President for securing this. Having served in Afghanistan and Pakistan, I cannot take that for granted. When you live in constant fear with bullets flying around, you realize how important it is to have safe borders.”