This is probably applicable to most human endeavours, but perhaps especially to diplomacy in which tact plays a large part.
K Kesavapany, a former Singapore high commissioner to Malaysia, shows in his recently published memoirs that he is the kind to keep himself always conscious of the direction of the wind.
The book, “From Estate to Embassy: Memories of an Ambassador”, paints a vivid picture of the everyday duties of a diplomat and how he had to keep walking the fine line between satisfying the demands of foreign countries and protecting the interests and dignity of Singapore.
He has a long and colourful history of serving the republic’s diplomatic corps since its early years as an independent nation.
As the title of his book indicates, Kesavapany’s origins are indeed humble. Born in Kuala Lumpur in November 1936 to a palm oil estate field conductor, he had a simple, idyllic childhood which would come to an end once he began his school life.
His extensive education, which would see him eventually obtaining a master’s degree from London University’s School of Oriental and African Studies, would lay the foundation to his diplomatic career.
Entering the working world as an educator, he would later join the civil and foreign service and then, after his diplomatic career, return to education. After completing his service in Kuala Lumpur in 2002, he became the director of Singapore’s Institute of Southeast Asian Studies.
Kesavapany’s book is a must-read for those who are curious about what life as a diplomat is like.
He makes it no secret that it was not easy to keep uprooting himself and his family to move to distant countries where they had to start anew each time.
The events that Kesavapany witnessed or was even responsible for are recorded in great detail, and readers are given interesting insight into what would go on in the back rooms of embassies and houses of Parliament.
It is quite amusing to learn of the unconventional methods diplomats use to gain valuable contacts or concessions. He shares with readers stories of how he made friends with persons of interest through the appeal of golf.
In between descriptions of his diplomatic assignments, Kesavapany sprinkles details of little things that happened in his life with family and friends.
In a rather comical anecdote, he relates how the dog he adopted from a kennel in London earned its moniker of “million-dollar dog”.
When Kesavapany’s family returned to Singapore, Benji the Dog took less than kindly to living in the confines of an apartment and made a great escape across the busy East Coast Parkway.
Kesavapany’s traumatised wife urged that they relocate to a landed property, and he bought a home in the Holland Road neighbourhood.
Kesavapany also shares a secret about the late Lee Kuan Yew that he uncovered while stationed in Geneva.
The statesman apparently had a sweet tooth and would gorge on sweet stuff when his wife was not around.
While visiting Davos, Lee heard of a Lebanese reception being held nearby and was eager to attend.
Much to Kesavapany’s horror, he was there only for the Lebanese sweets and “he indulged in them with gusto like a schoolboy”.
Such little slice-of-life stories, interspersed with complex political dealings, are what make the book worthy of a spot on one’s bookshelf.