NEW YORK (TIP): Ambassador Riva Ganguly Das assumed charge as the new Consul General, March 7. She succeeds Ambassador Dnyaneshwar Mulay who was transferred last month to the ministry of external affairs in New Delhi.

Ambassador Das joined the Indian Foreign Service in 1986. She is a Post Graduate in Political Science from Delhi University. Prior to joining the Foreign Service, she was a Lecturer at Delhi University.

Ambassador Das had her first posting in Spain. Thereafter, she was at Headquarters dealing with External Publicity, Nepal and Passport/Visa work. She was Head of the Cultural Wing of the Indian High Commission in Dhaka. After her return from Dhaka, she took over as Director at the United Nations Economic and Social Affairs Division and participated in environmental negotiations, particularly climate change. She was the Deputy Chief of Mission in the Embassy of India, The Hague. She was also the Alternate Permanent Representative of India to the Organisation for Prohibition of Chemical Weapons at The Hague. She served as Consul General of India in Shanghai from 2008 to 2012. After her return from China, she headed the Public Diplomacy Division in the Ministry of External Affairs and she was in charge of the Latin America & Caribbean Division in the Ministry of External Affairs. Before joining as Consul General of India in New York, she was Ambassador of India to Romania, Albania & Moldova with residence in Bucharest.

It is learnt that she undertook a tour of various branches in the Consulate and interacted with the staff. She impressed upon the staff the importance of team work, reminding them that they represent a great country and together they have to produce the best results. She exhorted them to be professional and take pride in their country. Over the next few days, she plans to meet with representatives of service providers and leaders of the community.

Indian American community is hosting a reception to Ambassador Das on Sunday, March 13 at Royal Albert’s Palace in Edison, New Jersey. A reception is being given to her at the Consulate on Saturday, March 12.