Aussie’s discovery of India

KV Prasad

Constant international travel and country hopping could sound exciting for many, but for a career diplomat it means keeping oneself updated when moving to new lands.

Meet Chris Elstoft, the Deputy High Commissioner of Australia, who has taken to watching Indian movies as a wonderful window into the lives of ordinary people. “I enjoy watching movies that explore social issues in India. For example, Pink and Dangal look at different aspects of society’s attitude to women. And even though they explore serious themes, they were both very well made and enjoyable movies. I also like to watch regional cinema. Recently I’ve enjoyed Marathi film Sairat, Malayalam film Angamaly Diaries, and Kannada film Thithi.”

Now into his third year here, he also dips into the all-time favourite of itinerant members of his tribe — reading books. “Índia after Gandhi”’ by Ramachandra Guha made Elstoft realise how much of work went into building India after it achieved Independence. Currently, he is leafing through “Half a Lion”, a biography of PV Narasimha Rao.

It is said India and Australia share three Cs — cricket, curry and Commonwealth — and like any typical Aussie, the young diplomat is a cricket buff. During the last two years, he had a pavilion view rooting for the home teams — men and women — playing in India.

The picturesque Dharamsala stadium remains his favourite “It is unbeatable for its backdrop,” he gushes, while Mohali is the other ground of choice. Like most aficionados, he awaits the September-October One-Day India-Australia series. As for his own skills, after a few games for the High Commission team, the diplomat offers typical Aussie wit: “My place is probably in the stands rather than on the field these days.”

Outside of his work, Elstoft, his wife and two children have travelled from Kashmir (Ladakh to be specific) to Kanyakumari, while his children prefer to be on the beach in Goa. “Our family has enjoyed exploring India and learning about the culture, meeting people. We have developed some great friendships, which we hope to maintain for many years into the future.”

And after two years, the Deputy High Commissioner says while he has learnt so much and the experience is both unique and thrilling, “but as one gets to know India, it becomes clearer that the country is so vast and complex that there is always more to explore. I have another year of my posting to do this. But after that, I expect to be coming back to India over and over again”.

Bangabandu Mujib

The Indian Independence Day on August 15 also marks the National Day of Korea, Liechtenstein and Congo, while Bangladesh observes it as National Mourning Day in memory of its Father of the Nation, Sheikh Mujibur Rehman, who was assassinated on the day in 1975. The Bangladesh High Commission held a panel discussion to mark the day.