Pascal's Friend Comments

Ambassador Nazareth’s riveting narrative, extending over eight decades and spanning five continents, presents the reader with a deeply insightful tour d’horizon of tumultuous events in the second half of the twentieth century. Exercising the craft of diplomacy in masterly fashion, he is a ‘man of all seasons’, at home and in the world.
Gita Dharampal-Frick
Professor Emeritus (Modern History), Heidelberg University, Germany

As skilled a story teller as a diplomat, Ambassador Nazareth has produced a page turner. History unfolds from quite literally day one at work – Jawaharlal Nehru being informed of the Dalai Lama’s arrival in India while meeting his batch of the IFS. Thereafter he takes his reader on a journey from Far East to Far West through coups, commerce & culture, and shares absolutely delightful anecdotes.
Ashok Malik
Former Press Secretary to President of India at New Delhi

Ambassador Alan Nazareth modestly calls his autobiographical masterpiece ‘A Ringside Seat to History’ but his narrative clearly indicates he was not merely a witness to history, but often its maker. He was very much the mover, a summiteer not a ‘sherpa’, as also a soft power warrior. His post retirement evangelism of Mahatma Gandhi is a continuation of his diplomacy, which stressed India’s heritage of non-violence and universal brotherhood.
T.P. Sreenivasan,
Former PR of India to UN and Governor for India at IAEA in Vienna.

Ambassador Nazareth has written a memoir of his IFS days, when individual initiative and creativity marked Indian diplomacy. The cultural sensitivity and commitment to integrity evident in this book reflect what he stood for. His work in retirement to spread Gandhiji’s ideals make for topical reading in our troubled days.

Shivshankar Menon
Former Foreign Secretary and National Security Adviser of India

Alan Nazareth's autobiography is a most welcome addition to autobiographical writing in India, much of which is a biography of oneself. Nazareth's is different. It is a finely crafted narrative of the personal and professional life of one of India's distinguished diplomats. It reveals an honest, self-critical, and intrepid person prepared to stand up for principles that define his moral identity. Nazareth has had achievements and frustrations, great joys, and intense sorrows, and has digested both into a coherent narrative.
Lord Bhikhu Parekh
Member of Parliament (UK); Emeritus Professor, Westminster & Hull Universities