Social media went gaga over the appointment of Geetika Srivastava as the Indian Charge de affairs in Islamabad. She is the first woman IFS officer to be posted in Pakistan. , currently serving as joint secretary at the headquarters of the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), will be India’s new chargé d’affaires at its high commission in Islamabad. Ever since Pakistan down graded the diplomatic status with India, when we have abrogated article 370 in J&K, both the countries have only Charge De Affairs but not full-fledged Ambassadors.
Is Geetika following Muthamma?
But how many of us recall the first woman Ambassador of India. Hear of Chonira Belliappa Muthamma? Not many! CM Muthamma was the first woman in the country who cleared the Indian Civil Services (ICS) examination in 1948. She was the first woman ICS officer who joined the Foreign Service in 1949. She worked as an Ambassador and also High Commissioner to several countries. In late 1940s when she cleared the ICS and joined the Foreign Service, she was asked to sign an agreement that she would quit the service when she gets married.
Born on Jan 24, 1924 in Virajpet in Coorg district, Muthamma completed her schooling in St Joseph’s Girls School in Madikeri. She later graduated from the then Madras Christian College with a triple gold medal! She took her Masters in English Literature from the prestigious Presidency College, the then Madras.
Meanwhile, Geetika Srivastava, Indian Foreign Service officer of 2005 Batch, is currently serving as a joint secretary in the Indo-Pacific division of Ministry of External Affairs Department.
For Geetika it will be a challenging task to head the Charge de affairs in Islamabad when the ties between India and Pakistan are at the lowest ebb. To make matters much difficult, Pakistan is also going through a turbulent times and their democracy is almost collapsed. But it will also an opportunity for this young officer to prove her mettle. Let us all wish Geetika all the very best.