Tuesday, November 17, 2015

Rockstar diplomat Syed Akbaruddin; Why this IFS is the most popular bureaucrat in India today

Akbaruddin with PM Modi on the last day as MEA spokesman
AS THE news of 1985 batch Indian Foreign Service officer Syed Akbaruddin’s appointment as India’s Permanent Representative to UN spread on Monday, Akbaruddin himself became the talking point in social media, as he was trending among the Top 10 Twitter trends in India. Also, this former spokesman of the ministry of external affairs (MEA) also opened a Twitter account where he said, “It is a privilege & honour to serve India @UN. Am humbled. Thank U for all the good wishes. Will strive to do my best”, and within a couple of hours thousands of people followed him. As this article is being…
written on Tuesday morning, this IFS officer has over 3000 followers in Twitter, and his fan following is only growing.
The best wishes for Akbaruddin poured in from various quarters. “Our favourite diplomat @AkbaruddinIndia is back on Twitter. Heading to the UN to represent India” says one. “Proud of you. A true son of India/Bharat” says another.
Former union minister and Congress leader Rajeev Shukla tweeted: “As India is pushing her case for permanent seat at UNSC, the role of Syed Akbaruddin will b very crucial. Best wishes to him” Another posted in Twitter: “Dear Akbar Saab, u will b remembered for being d best Spokesperson MEA ever had. May d force be with you sir. #JaiHind”.
Then one writer says Akbaruddin is her “favouritest” “Do you remember sitting across from me during Vibrant Gujarat 2015? No? Okay. :(“  Akbaruddin replied to her: “Sorry Maam. With age memory fades. :-)”
The officer initially tried to reply to everyone in Twitter individually, but after sometime he realized, it was getting impossible to keep pace with the responses. “Sometimes the speed of notifications is faster than my ability to respond”, he tweeted.
When many of his well wishers failed to get a reply from him, some of them reminded him as well: “You didn't reply to my wishes as well”, said one.
Finally, Akbaruddin, a veteran in social media, had to concede his defeat! “Overwhelmed by the responses. Alas, can't reply individually to all the good wishes. Thank you for the kind sentiments and awesome welcome”, he wrote.
The officer will take up his new role in New York in January 2016. 

3 comments:

  1. Hey, BoI Admin(s)
    I am an ardent and long-time follower of your site. I always look forward to read the quality contents of your site.

    But one thing is annoying. You allow anonymous comments to get published. Some people just create nuisance without identity (read --- account). Please, stop allowing anonymous comments.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Mr.X, You are anonymous as well. Haha. lol !!

    ReplyDelete
  3. ONE OF THE BEST SPOKESPERSON INDIA HAD DURING THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS.

    HIS ELEVATION AS INDIA'S PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE AT THE UN, IS WELL DESERVED.

    I AM HIS ARDENT FAN.

    A K SAXENA (A retd civil servant)

    ReplyDelete