Introduction: -
Petal Gahlot is an IFS officer of the 2015 batch who has a Master’s degree in Political Science and also in Translation and Interpretation. She has served at the Indian Embassy in Paris and is currently Under Secretary in MEA dealing with France, Germany and Monaco. She also has experience of serving as the Defence Minister’s interpreter twice. She recently accompanied him during his visit to France in Oct 2019 to receive the first Rafael for our country.
When I was pursuing my MA degree in Political Science from the Delhi University South Campus, I would drive by the Foreign Service Institute, now known as the Sushma Swaraj Institute of Foreign Service, and ask myself if I would ever get to be on the other side of that wall.
I was an avid follower of international relations and diplomacy, I spoke some French having studied it for many years, and I was generally interested in learning about and interacting with new cultures and people. It was always a dream for me to join the Indian Foreign Service, represent the country, travel the world and see new places.
When I didn’t clear the prelim exam in my first attempt, I was disheartened. I had never failed an exam and here I had failed to clear perhaps the most crucial of exams. But it was that dream that kept me going, that vision for my future that helped me stay focused on my goal. And finally, in 2015 I cracked the Civil Services Exam with an All India Rank of 96 and was allotted my first preference, the IFS.
Since then I have loved my experience in the service. People often ask me if I regret not having opted for the IAS or IPS. To that I say, not even for a second.
Petal Gahlot
Under Secretary
Europe West (France, Germany)
Ministry of External Affairs
Govt of India
She can be reached at her blog: - http://thescorpionsopinion.wordpress.com/
P.s: - This article has been exclusively shared for the readers of Study with Punch.
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