Through a Diplomat's Lens: Capturing Momentous Times

Through a Diplomat’s Lens: Capturing Momentous Times offers an intimate, sharply observed journey of world affairs, as experienced by Sudhir T. Devare. From the tense theatres of the Cold War to the dawn of new republics in the post-Soviet era, Devare chronicles historic turning points he personally witnessed: the fall of authoritarian regimes in Sikkim, South Korea, and Indonesia; the dramatic reunification of Germany; and India’s early engagement with newly independent Ukraine, Armenia, and Georgia.

Through vivid reportage and reflective insight, the memoir reveals how India, as a non-aligned and developing nation, navigated turbulent global shifts while shaping its own foreign policy priorities. More than a diplomatic record, this is a story of human aspiration—the universal pursuit of freedom, democracy, and stability in uncertain times.

Sudhir T. Devare is a veteran Indian Foreign Service officer who played a key role in shaping India’s diplomacy across Asia and Europe.