Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Diplomatist Magazine - August 2015

In this issue

On July 27, 2015, the former President of India Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam died of cardiac arrest while delivering a lecture on “Creating a Livable Planet Earth” at Indian Institute of Management (IIM), Shillong. Th e Diplomatist team is deeply pained at the lost of one of the finest presidents of India. As a mark of respect to the departed soul, the magazine carries a
tribute article penned by someone who’s worked very closely with the late statesman.

Arguably the most anticipated international events of the year, the BRICS and SCO summits concluded back-to-back on July 8-10 in the Russian city of Ufa under the Russian presidency. Th is being the pretext, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi went on a whirlwind fi ve-nation Central Asian tour – all members of the SCO except Turkmenistan – drawing his itinerary perfectly to seamlessly move from one pit-stop to another, kicking up
the dust in his neighbourhood diplomacy, and at the end of the journey emerging a clear winner with India being made a full member of the Eurasian bloc. Globetrotting, therefore, traces PM Modi’s journey and highlights his tour deforce (bilateral agreements) during his Central Asia sojourn.