The National spoke to the wives of ambassadors in Abu Dhabi. Among them, Sunita Mainee Ahmad, wife of India’s ambassador to UAE, Talmiz Ahmed:
“We have been here since August 2007, but this is not my first posting as an ambassador’s wife. My husband Talmiz has been ambassador in Oman and Saudi Arabia. I was brought up mainly in England where I practised as a maritime lawyer. I still work as a consultant here in Abu Dhabi for Clyde & Co. I have twin daughters who are both trainee lawyers in London.
My husband’s priority is to encourage investment into India, to develop trade, business and foreign relationships. I support him in all the promotional activities he does, but my role is also to promote India with the women here. So it is a two-pronged approach. I am not one of those women who play bridge and have endless lunches. I use my time to promote professional and cultural events such as a recent event showcasing dances and traditional costumes of India.
I am personally involved in all the events, from the lighting to the rehearsals. I get women involved from the Indian community and I encourage them all to voice an opinion. I am known as an “approachable” ambassador’s wife.
I do my own cooking for many of the events. In an Indian home you watch your mother and learn from her. When my husband and I got married he was posted to South Africa so I started experimenting there because I no longer worked full-time as a lawyer. Now, whenever I have diplomatic dinners of up to about 50 people, I cook. I plan the menus and start organising the shopping three days before. I might cook about 10 dishes for a dinner. I have loads of recipe books, but my favourite is still Delia Smith. More:
Similar Posts:
- Kabul envoy’s lobbying fund in US
- India’s new foreign secretary
- Aung San Suu Kyi, a leaking roof, and the brother who won’t let her fix it
- A passage to India — with Mom
- Indian spice girl
0 Responses to “Diplomatic community”
Leave a Reply