In London — As Secretary-General, IPPF

Filling the position of chief executive officer of an organisation which had a worldwide network, with its headquarters in London, can be for anyone quite a challenge.

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Particularly to me, an Asian coming to head an international post for the first time, the transition was excruciatingly demanding. I never felt more alone than in those early days. Unlike an ambassador's job, there was not the support of an embassy staff of one's own nationality One could not take comfort in the knowledge that your ministry of foreign affairs was only a telephone call away.

Particularly in the international NGO world, you were completely alone. You either made it, gritting your teeth, or you caved in and pulled out. I decided I'd stick it out and enjoy the challenge until the five-year contract was done.

The position of Secretary-General of the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF)-a worldwide federation of 151 national family planning associations — was being filled for the first time by aman from a small third world country. The post had been held since its inception, 45 years earlier, by either Europeans or Americans. They had impressive qualifications and often the backing of powerful donor countries. My predecessor was a Swede. For the first time IPPF was to have a non-white as its chief executive.

Although the colour of skin was not important, and we were then at the last quarter of the 20th century, I could not help noticing that most of the others whom you needed to associate with were white; you were brown. I felt I could now empathise with S W R D Bandaranaike who in his Memories of Oxford! had said that ‘before you are their equal you must be their superior’, or words to that effect. There was always the danger of being marginalised unless one resolutely stood one's ground.

I decided that I would not be overwhelmed by the situation but would take up the challenges as they came. I had much to learn; nothing to lose. I had not sought the job. It had been offered to me after Lord Slim's telephone call some months ago.