As I was in Delhi, I decided to visit the Australian High Commission. I have mentioned in previous posts that I visited the High Commission in February 1985 as part of a trip I undertook with the Department of Foreign Affairs.
That trip included, Dhaka in Bangladesh, Bombay and Kathmandu as well as New Delhi. It was the third trip I had undertaken since joining the Department in September 1984. The previous two were to the then USSR, East and West Germany, and New Zealand. This was my first visit to the so called ‘hardship posts’.
In my previous post about Delhi I talked about the day my colleague and I arrived and our attendance at a wedding of one of the High Commission staff.
The Taj Hotel
After the wedding we settled into our hotel- the Taj which is located within the Diplomatic enclave of New Delhi. I had already learned one thing about travelling for Foreign Affairs, you got to stay in very nice hotels. This was to prove to be one of the best.
It is set in quiet large grounds with a large pool. I can recall that on the afternoon we arrived after the wedding, the pool was very crowded. The hotel was used by airlines. I recall that there were a lot of tall blonde women sunning themselves by the pool. Some turned out to be Lufthansa aircrew.
Over the weeks we in Delhi, it was very pleasant to return to the hotel are a ‘hard day’s work’ at the High Commission. It was a real oasis.
On this trip I decided to revisit the hotel. It is still impressive. The reception area is all marble and there are large marble staircase leading to the conference room and restaurants on the floors above and below.
The pool and grounds are still very impress by today’s standards.
The High Commission
The AHC was one of the first foreign missions to be built in the diplomatic enclave in the 1950’s. It is located opposite the British High Commission and the American Embassy is around the corner.
I wanted to revisit the HC for a couple of reasons. I wanted to see if had changed at all. The second reason was to take some photos on behalf of my London host. His father was posted to Delhi as an Australian diplomat with his family. When I was in London I was shown pictures of the compound as it was when they were there.
The day before I headed to the AHC I sent an e-mail, telling them that I wished to visit and why.
Security Presence
I caught the metro and then a Tuk Tuk to the HC. As I approached, I was immediately struck by the security. The wall around the compound is high. There are guards wandering the street and there are signs up staying photography is forbidden.
As I approached that entrance, I was greeted by a guard who asked what I wanted. He didn’t seem to understand what I was saying. Another guard arrived. He directed me to another guard box. By the time I arrived at the next guard box, there had clearly been some communication with the chancellery. I was asked to show my ID and sign that visitor’s book. I then had by backpack checked and I was given a Visitors Pass and directed the main entrance.
Walking Around the Compound
As I approached the Chancellery door, I was greeted by Indian gentleman, unfortunately I didn’t catch his name properly. He told me that he had been in the HC since 1983 and would be showing me around.
Even though I was being accompanied, there restrictions on where I could go. A feature of the compound is the garden in front of the Official Residence and a ‘billabong’. I was only allowed to take photos from the path.
Not much seemed to have changed since 1985, except that the Deputy High Commissioner’s house has be converted in offices.
I took a photo of the tennis court. If my colleague ever gets to read this post and looks at the photos, I am sure it will bring back memories of game play there and she will have a chuckle.
Remembering Friday Night
We passed the Club House. This is used as an informal entertainment area for the High Commission’s staff and guests. My guide made a particular point of noting that it is used for ‘Friday Night Prayers’ – after work drinks.
These were, and obviously still are, a feature of diplomatic life, particularly in the hardship posts. All the friendly Embassies and HC’s (i.e. British, NZ, Canada and the USA) have similar facilities. Staff from the different missions visits each other’s clubs.
When we were in Delhi I recall that the night started in the Australian Club House. We then moved to the British HC across that road. I have a vague recollection of ending up in the USA Marines Club House late at night.
Flickr Link
To be posted when the Internet permits.
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