Page 10 - Seniors Toady - September Issue 2020
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How have you coped with the effect
your challenges have had on your
spouse?
Krishan: I think if you have the support
of your spouse in life’s tough times, then
together the two can overcome anything.
That has been my experience. Kamal has
been my rock! We have been there for
each other through the ups and downs
of life. And that is what I have cherished
over the years.
How would you guide the younger
generation on values that that build a
life together? Kusum and Salman now
Kamal: The younger generation has to under Ebrahim Alkazi, have contributed
be inculcated with a good value system, to her large, multicultural world view.
personally I am conservative and was
particular about traditional teachings - What was life like in the Foreign
they are time tested. Service? How did you each engage in it?
I believe that’s how we have done well Salman: It was unknown and a challenge.
- with a good value system and hard I had no idea of what it was like to be
work. That’s what I have laid stress on. a diplomat. Diplomats were not born –
The challenges today are societal but if they were made through the process of
children are taught, even by example of training. The Foreign Service is a really
my generation, they will navigate through small service compared to the IAS. It’s
life and come out stronger. much smaller and we have a professional
pride in what we do. As a diplomat in
Compatibility and Opposites Attract - the Foreign Service, very early in life our
how differences complement social commitments became a pattern of
Salman Haidar is a former Indian existence which we got attuned to and
diplomat who served as the Foreign enjoyed.
Secretary of India and also as High Kusum: How we got together- just
Commissioner of India to the United happened - we met at a very young age
Kingdom. As a seasoned diplomat he and I married Salman who was in the
had the trust and favour of several Prime Foreign Service. I had led a very simple
Ministers of India. life, so after my marriage to him a whole
Kusum Haidar is a veteran theatre new world opened to me because the
actress, art director and Tai Chi exponent. Foreign Service meant travel and going
After her early education in India, her to different places and meeting very
stint in France, prolific years travelling interesting people - that made a difference
with her husband, and acting in the to me. A lot of women in the Foreign
Bhulabhai Desai Trust, Mumbai as well as Service said they felt like glorified
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