During the time when he was serving as Indian Ambassador to Namibia, Mr Prashant Agrawal led The Cheetah Project, for reintroducing the Cheetah to India after a gap of more than seven decadesI like speaking to
people who are ardent readers and who love books – such people often have
interesting perspectives on not just books but also life in general. The
conversations that I have with such people, some of which I post here on this
website, often make for interesting reading.
Some time ago, I had an opportunity to catch up with His Excellency Mr Prashant Agrawal, Ambassador of India to Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Laos), who loves to read and has an eclectic taste in books. Currently based in Vientiane, the national capital of Laos, Mr Agrawal is a senior diplomat, who joined the Indian Foreign Service (IFS) in 1998. In addition to having served in various capacities in the Ministry of External Affairs in New Delhi, he has also served as Deputy Chief of Mission and India’s Deputy Permanent Representative to UNESCAP in Thailand, and India’s Consul General to Hong Kong SAR and Macau SAR. Before taking up his current assignment in Laos, Mr Agrawal was serving as India’s High Commissioner to Namibia, where he successfully initiated and led Project Cheetah, aimed at reintroducing the Cheetah in India.
Despite a packed schedule and a hectic pace of life, Mr Agrawal – who also has a degree in mechanical engineering from IIT Kanpur – retains his love for books and reading, which has been dear to his heart since his school and college days. I had an opportunity to ask him a few questions about his early days, his love for reading, the books he likes and the authors whose work he likes. Here are some excerpts from the conversation.
You have a degree in mechanical engineering from IIT Kanpur and you joined the Indian Foreign Service in 1998. Please tell us more about the early days and the choices you made. What was it that inspired you to join the IFS?
For our generation growing up in India of the ’80s and ’90s, career choices were rather limited. If one were studying sciences, the choices were largely to go for engineering or to become a doctor. The latter did not enamour me much, so the former was the logical, almost default, choice. I am enormously grateful though for having been able to pursue an engineering degree, that too at IIT Kanpur, because it imparted an analytical, problem-solving approach that stays with you for life. Afterwards, civil services were deeply appealing because one wanted to really contribute. I eventually opted for the Foreign Service to serve the people, as also for its unmatched offering – a vast range of learning experiences that broaden one’s horizons of thinking – a perfect combination.
Were books – and a love for reading – an important part of your growing up years?
Absolutely. I spent my early, formative years in a small town in Rajasthan, and we had a small library that kindled and sustained my passion for reading. That, and the Hindi edition of Reader’s Digest (called Sarvottam) were my window to the big, enticing world full of adventures, which nevertheless appeared far away in those times of no TV or Internet. I would read these from cover to cover, many times over, to practically memorise the entire magazine. We used to also get some Soviet books and magazines, and one particular collection of stories by Soviet writers, and The Blind Musician by Vladimir Korolenko, left a mark. I still have these books. Early on, I became interested in ornithology and wildlife, and Salim Ali’s The book of Indian Birds, a present from my family on my 13th birthday, got me started on this journey.
With the passage of time, have your reading preferences – your taste in books – changed significantly?
The core interests have remained the same, and so books in my personal library are more on heritage and culture, history, arts, architecture, nature, travelogues etc. In my profession, we do a lot of reading on topical issues all the time. I am also very passionate about our miniature painting traditions, since I believe these, especially the Pahari ones depicting Radha and Krishna, represent the apogee of refined aesthetics and beauty in Indian art. I have a modest but not insignificant collection of reference books on these. I have never been much into fiction except for the likes of Paulo Coelho or Amitav Ghosh.
What are your views on the decline of the reading habit amongst young people, which seems to have been exacerbated by the relentless rise of YouTube and social media? What do you think this might mean for society as a whole, especially in the context of the overall development of young minds?
The onslaught of digital screens has deeply disturbing ramifications, not just for young people but for adults too and as you say, on society as a whole. One of the effects is a continued decline in reading habits, given that attention spans have become very short. Online reading, to me, is no comparison to reading books in physical form, because it requires you to slow down and focus more and pay attention. While books will never go out of fashion or will be replaced completely, we need to recognise that we are fighting a serious challenge and must do something about it.
While book libraries seem to have declined in popularity, more people are shopping for books on Amazon and other websites, and using devices like the Kindle in order to read. Your thoughts?
There is no doubt that online shopping, like on Amazon, has made it easier and cheaper to get books. However, ebooks, to be read on expensive devices like the Kindle, and even those available through Amazon, are still out of reach for a large number of people. Libraries therefore have continued relevance. It is especially meaningful for us, because in India people still like to read. For me, one of the most heartening sights in India is books being sold on traffic-light stops, and on footpaths, and people lapping these up. Encouraging things like mobile libraries, or ones in schools that parents and family members, even the public, can also access, is worth our conscious and sustained effort. We will need to build again a culture for going to libraries and make it aspirational, like going to Starbucks for coffee, but not as expensive of course.
Have you ever tried reading books on the Kindle? What do you prefer – actual, physical books, or newer digital formats like eBooks?
I must confess that I have not liked Kindle-like devices, though in my family some use it regularly. I have read only one book on my laptop, which is John Bolton’s memoir of his White House days – The Room Where It Happened – because it was not available where I was when it came out. For me, nothing can ever come close to the sheer joy of holding a book and I plan to keep it that way.
You are also an expert, pro-level photographer and your work has been exhibited in New Delhi to much acclaim. What is it that inspires your love for photography?
As still an amateur, photography to me is a means to capture the beauty and the aesthetics and the memory of a fleeting moment, for time immemorial. A single photo has the power to move people and spark a whole movement. The exhibition in question was ‘Maestros,’ where I had exhibited my photos of India’s classical music artists that represent our rich, composite, diverse classical music traditions.
In these times, it is heartening to see an explosion in good photography, especially among youngsters, given that the gear has become much more accessible, and mobile phones extremely adept. Amit Pasricha has done wonderful photos of our monuments and architecture. Works of Raghu Rai are timeless, and Patrick Demarchelier and Muran Osmann are quite good too.
You love wildlife and, during your tenure as High Commissioner of India to the Republic of Namibia, you led Project Cheetah, aimed at reintroducing the Cheetah to India. Do you also happen to like reading books on wildlife?
We all grew up enthralled by Jim Corbett and Kenneth Anderson and also Gerald Durrell. It was a blessing and a privilege to be able to photograph the people, the landscape and the wildlife of Namibia, all stunning beyond words, while I served as Ambassador there. The Cheetah Project, the world’s first ever intercontinental translocation of a major carnivore, for reintroduction into India’s wilds after its disappearance more than 70 years ago, was a special, once-in-a-lifetime project, that I had the privilege of executing from beginning till end, overcoming challenges that were no less special. It also made me go through a lot of literature on the species. Among other books on wildlife I’ve read recently, Lawrence Anthony’s The Last Rhinos is quite gripping, with an appeal for conservation.
What book(s) are you currently reading? Any particularly memorable books, which you may have read in the last 1-2 years, which you would like to name here? Are there any books that are on your must-reads list for 2023-24?
I am currently reading Shirley Glubok’s Discovering Tut-Ankh-Amen’s Tomb, a fascinating account of the discovery of Boy King Tut-Ankh-Amen’s tomb (100 years of the tomb’s discovery was marked last year) by renowned archaeologist Howard Carter. In our house, Sapiens by Yuval Noah Harari is a mandatory read. I strongly recommend A Short Guide to a Long Life by Dr David Augus, a transformational approach to good health. I am currently locating a copy of Ancient Luang Prabang, a well-researched reference on my favourite place, by Denise Heywood.
Note: Mr Prashant Agrawal and I are cousins and we are about the same age. I have fond memories of our childhood when we used to meet either in Jaipur or in Lucknow, and spend a lot of time reading books, magazines and comics.
Some time ago, I had an opportunity to catch up with His Excellency Mr Prashant Agrawal, Ambassador of India to Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Laos), who loves to read and has an eclectic taste in books. Currently based in Vientiane, the national capital of Laos, Mr Agrawal is a senior diplomat, who joined the Indian Foreign Service (IFS) in 1998. In addition to having served in various capacities in the Ministry of External Affairs in New Delhi, he has also served as Deputy Chief of Mission and India’s Deputy Permanent Representative to UNESCAP in Thailand, and India’s Consul General to Hong Kong SAR and Macau SAR. Before taking up his current assignment in Laos, Mr Agrawal was serving as India’s High Commissioner to Namibia, where he successfully initiated and led Project Cheetah, aimed at reintroducing the Cheetah in India.
Despite a packed schedule and a hectic pace of life, Mr Agrawal – who also has a degree in mechanical engineering from IIT Kanpur – retains his love for books and reading, which has been dear to his heart since his school and college days. I had an opportunity to ask him a few questions about his early days, his love for reading, the books he likes and the authors whose work he likes. Here are some excerpts from the conversation.
You have a degree in mechanical engineering from IIT Kanpur and you joined the Indian Foreign Service in 1998. Please tell us more about the early days and the choices you made. What was it that inspired you to join the IFS?
For our generation growing up in India of the ’80s and ’90s, career choices were rather limited. If one were studying sciences, the choices were largely to go for engineering or to become a doctor. The latter did not enamour me much, so the former was the logical, almost default, choice. I am enormously grateful though for having been able to pursue an engineering degree, that too at IIT Kanpur, because it imparted an analytical, problem-solving approach that stays with you for life. Afterwards, civil services were deeply appealing because one wanted to really contribute. I eventually opted for the Foreign Service to serve the people, as also for its unmatched offering – a vast range of learning experiences that broaden one’s horizons of thinking – a perfect combination.
Were books – and a love for reading – an important part of your growing up years?
Absolutely. I spent my early, formative years in a small town in Rajasthan, and we had a small library that kindled and sustained my passion for reading. That, and the Hindi edition of Reader’s Digest (called Sarvottam) were my window to the big, enticing world full of adventures, which nevertheless appeared far away in those times of no TV or Internet. I would read these from cover to cover, many times over, to practically memorise the entire magazine. We used to also get some Soviet books and magazines, and one particular collection of stories by Soviet writers, and The Blind Musician by Vladimir Korolenko, left a mark. I still have these books. Early on, I became interested in ornithology and wildlife, and Salim Ali’s The book of Indian Birds, a present from my family on my 13th birthday, got me started on this journey.
With the passage of time, have your reading preferences – your taste in books – changed significantly?
The core interests have remained the same, and so books in my personal library are more on heritage and culture, history, arts, architecture, nature, travelogues etc. In my profession, we do a lot of reading on topical issues all the time. I am also very passionate about our miniature painting traditions, since I believe these, especially the Pahari ones depicting Radha and Krishna, represent the apogee of refined aesthetics and beauty in Indian art. I have a modest but not insignificant collection of reference books on these. I have never been much into fiction except for the likes of Paulo Coelho or Amitav Ghosh.
What are your views on the decline of the reading habit amongst young people, which seems to have been exacerbated by the relentless rise of YouTube and social media? What do you think this might mean for society as a whole, especially in the context of the overall development of young minds?
The onslaught of digital screens has deeply disturbing ramifications, not just for young people but for adults too and as you say, on society as a whole. One of the effects is a continued decline in reading habits, given that attention spans have become very short. Online reading, to me, is no comparison to reading books in physical form, because it requires you to slow down and focus more and pay attention. While books will never go out of fashion or will be replaced completely, we need to recognise that we are fighting a serious challenge and must do something about it.
While book libraries seem to have declined in popularity, more people are shopping for books on Amazon and other websites, and using devices like the Kindle in order to read. Your thoughts?
There is no doubt that online shopping, like on Amazon, has made it easier and cheaper to get books. However, ebooks, to be read on expensive devices like the Kindle, and even those available through Amazon, are still out of reach for a large number of people. Libraries therefore have continued relevance. It is especially meaningful for us, because in India people still like to read. For me, one of the most heartening sights in India is books being sold on traffic-light stops, and on footpaths, and people lapping these up. Encouraging things like mobile libraries, or ones in schools that parents and family members, even the public, can also access, is worth our conscious and sustained effort. We will need to build again a culture for going to libraries and make it aspirational, like going to Starbucks for coffee, but not as expensive of course.
Have you ever tried reading books on the Kindle? What do you prefer – actual, physical books, or newer digital formats like eBooks?
I must confess that I have not liked Kindle-like devices, though in my family some use it regularly. I have read only one book on my laptop, which is John Bolton’s memoir of his White House days – The Room Where It Happened – because it was not available where I was when it came out. For me, nothing can ever come close to the sheer joy of holding a book and I plan to keep it that way.
You are also an expert, pro-level photographer and your work has been exhibited in New Delhi to much acclaim. What is it that inspires your love for photography?
As still an amateur, photography to me is a means to capture the beauty and the aesthetics and the memory of a fleeting moment, for time immemorial. A single photo has the power to move people and spark a whole movement. The exhibition in question was ‘Maestros,’ where I had exhibited my photos of India’s classical music artists that represent our rich, composite, diverse classical music traditions.
In these times, it is heartening to see an explosion in good photography, especially among youngsters, given that the gear has become much more accessible, and mobile phones extremely adept. Amit Pasricha has done wonderful photos of our monuments and architecture. Works of Raghu Rai are timeless, and Patrick Demarchelier and Muran Osmann are quite good too.
You love wildlife and, during your tenure as High Commissioner of India to the Republic of Namibia, you led Project Cheetah, aimed at reintroducing the Cheetah to India. Do you also happen to like reading books on wildlife?
We all grew up enthralled by Jim Corbett and Kenneth Anderson and also Gerald Durrell. It was a blessing and a privilege to be able to photograph the people, the landscape and the wildlife of Namibia, all stunning beyond words, while I served as Ambassador there. The Cheetah Project, the world’s first ever intercontinental translocation of a major carnivore, for reintroduction into India’s wilds after its disappearance more than 70 years ago, was a special, once-in-a-lifetime project, that I had the privilege of executing from beginning till end, overcoming challenges that were no less special. It also made me go through a lot of literature on the species. Among other books on wildlife I’ve read recently, Lawrence Anthony’s The Last Rhinos is quite gripping, with an appeal for conservation.
What book(s) are you currently reading? Any particularly memorable books, which you may have read in the last 1-2 years, which you would like to name here? Are there any books that are on your must-reads list for 2023-24?
I am currently reading Shirley Glubok’s Discovering Tut-Ankh-Amen’s Tomb, a fascinating account of the discovery of Boy King Tut-Ankh-Amen’s tomb (100 years of the tomb’s discovery was marked last year) by renowned archaeologist Howard Carter. In our house, Sapiens by Yuval Noah Harari is a mandatory read. I strongly recommend A Short Guide to a Long Life by Dr David Augus, a transformational approach to good health. I am currently locating a copy of Ancient Luang Prabang, a well-researched reference on my favourite place, by Denise Heywood.
Note: Mr Prashant Agrawal and I are cousins and we are about the same age. I have fond memories of our childhood when we used to meet either in Jaipur or in Lucknow, and spend a lot of time reading books, magazines and comics.
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