A Forbidden Handshake

In 2004, India-Russia Summit level meetings were held between Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh and President Vladimir Putin in New Delhi. A Summit meeting at Head of State (HoS) level is a very serious affair for which the Ministry of External Affairs prepares meticulously and well in advance, sometimes a full year before the proposed Summit. Several rounds of consultations between senior functionaries of both countries are held to prepare the detailed agenda, including Draft Minutes and Press release for the Summit. The outcomes of the Summit are reported by media, and watchers and analysts of foreign affairs evaluate the success or otherwise of a Summit in light of the actual gains accruing to both countries.

MEA coordinates with other concerned ministries to prepare a shelf of Agreements: MoUs (Memorandum of Understanding) and MoAs (Memorandum of Agreement) to be signed by the two countries during the summit, with the signing ceremony in the presence of the HoS. There is a significant difference between MoU and MoA. Suffice it to say that an MoU outlines the shared perspective of the Organisations, Departments, or Governments toward a certain goal or project, whereas a MoA details the specific roles and tasks to be assumed by the parties in support of their shared objective. Someone has observed that since an MoU is not legally enforceable, it’s nothing more than a ‘formalized handshake’ to get things going between the signatories.

One of the shortlisted MoUs for the forthcoming summit was a tripartite Understanding to be signed among ECGC (Export Credit Guarantee Corporation) of India, Vnesheconombank, and Eximbank of Russia. Chairman & MD of ECGC was the signatory on behalf of India. Mr. Vladimir Dmitriev, Chairman of Vnesheconombank, and Mr. Nikolai Gavirlov, Chairman, Eximbank were the signatories from the Russian side.

Concerned Director, MEA convened a meeting of all signatories from the Indian side to brief them about the protocol of signing. The exact sequence of MoU signing by various Departments and Organizations, at what exact hour and minute a particular MoU would come up for signature and exchange of documents, where they would be seated, etc. were explained at length at the end of which the officials were given a printed copy of the Protocol for Signature of MoUs & MoAs reiterating the detailed oral brief by the Director. On top of the document was emblazoned ‘Secret & Confidential’ as is the norm for most MEA documents.

The Summit meeting was held the next day. HoS level meeting was held in the morning and was followed by a State Banquet Lunch hosted by the Prime Minister at Hyderabad House for the visiting dignitary. The signing of all agreements was scheduled to commence at 3.00 pm. MEA had briefed the signatories to report at 2.00 pm and be seated at the earmarked chair by 2.15 pm.

It was a big occasion for the lowly Joint Secretary (JS) who had never before signed an agreement in the presence of HoS. A GoI Agreement for a ministry is signed by the Minister or the Secretary. If it involved his segment of work in the ministry, the JS would be responsible for preparing the draft agreement, getting it vetted at all required levels and preparing the folder for the Minister or the Secretary, as the case may be. But under fortuitous circumstances, the JS had been given additional charge of CMD of ECGC when the previous incumbent had superannuated and the government had still not issued orders for the posting of a new Additional Secretary level officer. ECGC was a fully-owned government company under the administrative control of the Commerce ministry, but neither the Secretary nor the Minister could sign on behalf of the company especially since the counterparts on the Russian side were also Joint Secretary equivalent officers.

When the JS took out his best suit and favourite tie, his spouse could figure out that something big and important was coming up during the day. ‘Any important meeting today?’ she asked. ‘Signing an Agreement in the presence  of the Prime Minister. Mr. Putin would also be there,’ he replied trying to sound cool though he wasn’t. She quietly took the suit and tie and pressed it once again even though it had recently come back from dry cleaning and hadn’t been worn thereafter.

As directed, the JS reported at Hyderabad House punctually and took his seat at 2.15 pm. The Under Secretary requested the signatories to once again go through the written instructions given by MEA regarding Protocol and reminded them that no officer was to shake hands with either of the HoS, but only with the counterpart signing the document.

CMD, ECGC’s turn came at the scheduled slot and time, and he rose and approached the spot in front of the VVIPs where the exchange of the folders was to take place. The Agreement had been pre-signed, as agreed between both sides, in the interest of saving time. Only the exchange of documents, a handshake with the counterpart, and a brief pose for the official photographers were required. The drill was completed as per schedule.

At this point, the Russian counterparts briefly bowed to their President upon which Mr. Putin rose and shook hands with them, after which he extended his hand to the JS. MEA’s mandate of ‘No Handshake’ applied to the JS, but his counterparts and the President of Russia were obviously not bound by it. Had the JS abided by MEA’s direction and refused to shake hands with the VVIP, it might have caused a diplomatic flutter. Disregarding MEA’s briefing and stern instruction regarding protocol, he promptly shook hands with Mr. Putin. Dr. Manmohan Singh, having watched the scene with mild amusement (surely MEA had also briefed the PM that VVIPs were only required to watch and smile for the photograph), also got up and shook hands, first with the Russian counterparts and then with the JS.

The next day, the JS attended the marriage Reception for the Commerce Minister’s son. When he went up to the dais to congratulate the newly-wed couple and present them a bouquet, Mr. Kamal Nath introduced the JS to his son, ‘Meet my Joint Secretary. Yesterday, he shook hands with Vladimir Putin!’

MEA didn’t call for an explanation from the JS regarding the breach of protocol. Thoughtfully, PIB (Press & Information Bureau) sent him a copy of his photo shaking hands with Mr. Putin.  For his personal records!

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This story is from my book ‘Invisible Poet and Other Stories.’