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Walking with Lions: Tales from a Diplomatic Past
The story goes, apocryphal perhaps, that one day the Ugandan dictator, Idi Amin, told his foreign minister that the country's name must be changed to Idi, and he should inform the UN and all other international bodies. A week passed. President Amin then summoned the minister and asked, 'Did you carry out my orders?' He replied saying that there was a problem. 'What problem?' the president inquired. 'Your Excellency, there is a country called Cyprus.
The people are called Cypriots. If Uganda were to be called Idi, we would be called Idiots.' There are few leaders that K. Natwar Singh, in a diplomatic career spanning more than three decades, has not known -and fewer still about whom he has no story to tell. In Walking with Lions: Tales from a Diplomatic Past, Singh puts together fifty episodes that entertain, inform and illuminate.
Featured here is Indira Gandhi as a statesman and friend, alongside other renowned figures such as Fidel Castro, Haile Selassie and Zia-ul-Haq. Singh analyses some personalities with disarming candour, among them Morarji Desai and Lord Mountbatten; at other times, his admiration for leaders like C. Rajagopalalchari and Nelson Mandela shines through. In these pages you will also find a rare, fascinating glimpse of Godman Chandraswami and his cohort Mamaji, and their interaction with a surprisingly submissive Iron Lady Margaret Thatcher. Besides, there are short tributes to artists, writers, cricketers and film stars, like M.F. Husain, Nadine Gordimer, Don Bradman and Dev Anand. Recounted with empathy and humour, this collection of stories from contemporary history is a warm, unaffected and reassuring reminder that the great too can be as fallible as the rest of us.
The people are called Cypriots. If Uganda were to be called Idi, we would be called Idiots.' There are few leaders that K. Natwar Singh, in a diplomatic career spanning more than three decades, has not known -and fewer still about whom he has no story to tell. In Walking with Lions: Tales from a Diplomatic Past, Singh puts together fifty episodes that entertain, inform and illuminate.
Featured here is Indira Gandhi as a statesman and friend, alongside other renowned figures such as Fidel Castro, Haile Selassie and Zia-ul-Haq. Singh analyses some personalities with disarming candour, among them Morarji Desai and Lord Mountbatten; at other times, his admiration for leaders like C. Rajagopalalchari and Nelson Mandela shines through. In these pages you will also find a rare, fascinating glimpse of Godman Chandraswami and his cohort Mamaji, and their interaction with a surprisingly submissive Iron Lady Margaret Thatcher. Besides, there are short tributes to artists, writers, cricketers and film stars, like M.F. Husain, Nadine Gordimer, Don Bradman and Dev Anand. Recounted with empathy and humour, this collection of stories from contemporary history is a warm, unaffected and reassuring reminder that the great too can be as fallible as the rest of us.
213 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2012
19 people are currently reading
269 people want to read
About the author
K. Natwar Singh
19 books21 followersK. Natwar Singh is an Indian politician and former cabinet minister. He was born on 16 May, 1931, and educated at Mayo College, Ajmer; Scindia School, Gwalior; St. Stephen’s College, Delhi; and Corpus Christie College, Cambridge. He joined the Indian Foreign Service in 1953 and has served in Beijing, New York, Warsaw, London and Lusaka. He received the Padma Bhushan in 1984. He is married to Heminder Kumari of Patiala, and their son, Jagat Singh, following in the footsteps of his father, has also entered politics.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
April 19, 2021
indicates everything that is wrong with the congress party. Natwar singh likes the pomp and the grandeur of the positions he held no doubt and his veneration of for the G family is nauseating.
Very interestingly while talking of Chandraswami he is close minded and seems to rap up his conduct. In the very next chapters, however , he abandons this scientific temperament and talks of "mediums " and "spirit -guides" who helped him and his wife.
What a talented man. haha. an example of the aristocratic "doon school" of governance that dominated indian bureaucracy.
Very interestingly while talking of Chandraswami he is close minded and seems to rap up his conduct. In the very next chapters, however , he abandons this scientific temperament and talks of "mediums " and "spirit -guides" who helped him and his wife.
What a talented man. haha. an example of the aristocratic "doon school" of governance that dominated indian bureaucracy.
November 9, 2015
To be honest, I really bought this book to hate on this guy because he is a minister in the you-know-who party. But. I've decided to change my mind.
This was such a light read, full of hilarious stuff that kept me entertained.
Yes, he does seem to be a super fan of Mrs. Indira Gandhi but so am I. All forgiven I guess.
Totally recommend it but at 400 bucks on Google books this is a costly buy, so get your library to procure it for you.
4 stars for someone senior sharing their experience.
This was such a light read, full of hilarious stuff that kept me entertained.
Yes, he does seem to be a super fan of Mrs. Indira Gandhi but so am I. All forgiven I guess.
Totally recommend it but at 400 bucks on Google books this is a costly buy, so get your library to procure it for you.
4 stars for someone senior sharing their experience.
May 31, 2013
Just a handful of encounters are truly engaging. You get the feeling that some stories have been put in just to highlight how diverse some of his encounters have been. And, of course, there is an excessive veneration of Mrs. I.
July 18, 2015
Nothing spectacular. .one misses the chronology which doesn't necessarily set or disrupt the tempo of the book but could've helped in connecting world events better..overall pretty average..
February 15, 2014
Full 'chamchagiri' of the Nehru - Gandhi Family by Singh. The thing which further deteriorate the book is self glorification. The author on various account project himself as a superhero, fighting for justice, keeping the name of the nation high... blah.. blah.. due to which the reader feel irritated, but then too one can read it because of various situation involved in the book.
May 31, 2013
Decent. A collection of short stories - not exactly very gripping. There are better narratives out there. The ideological prism that K Natwar Singh sees the world through is largely a disagreeable one.
November 12, 2023
Walking with Lions: Tales from a Diplomatic Past (Paperback) by K. Natwar Singh- The author ‘s family is connected to ex-royals of Bharatpur, Rajasthan. After 1qualifiying in Indian Foreign Service, he served at various posts in India and abroad. He was posted in Foreign Ministry. Therefore, he came in contact with Nehru and Indira Gandhi and other prominent Indian leaders and famous freedom fighters. During the period of Emergency, he was posted in Prime Minister’s Office. He had been posted in London in our Indian Embassy. Thus, he was able to respond to international queries. After Emergency was lifted, he was able to respond to queries of PM Morarji Desai. The stories narrated in the book are full of how he saved one foreign service officer by his ability and contacts. Author has written in detail about his travel with Sonia Gandhi to Afghanistan and USSR. He is very careful in his words to praise emergency though. The book, however, should be read as a history lesson. It will perhaps make people appreciate how things have changed for better. Author’s description about his education in Maharaja College, Rajasthan, Scindia School, Gwalior. He is classmate with sons of PM Nehru’s younger sister Krishna Hathi Singh. Author was posted in UN to represent India. Here he describes his meeting with Vijayalakshmi Pandit and her daughter. Important part of the author’s story is that he is an author. He has started writing, his articles were published in US magazines. Author’s description of Rajaji, First Governor General of India and his stay at his house in New York. Vision of Rajaji and his role during the Partition of India is now part of history. Rajaji had suggested to the last Viceroy of India Lord Mountbatten that partition of India is the only solution. The book showcases the history of India during the tenure of service of the author.
February 13, 2020
The book shocked me. It also made me realise how the sensibilities of right and wrong have changed in Indian public life.
The author gloats over his family connection with ex-royals , Gandhi family and other famous people . He seems to take pride in how he assisted Indira Gandhi in getting away with her wrongdoings and whims and how he insulted PM Morarji Desai because he was not an elite . The stories are full of how he saved the guilty because of his network with Gandhi family and how he ensured his loyal officers "got their due" when he became Minister . His sycophancy/ crush for Indira Gandhi will put even teenage girls worshiping movie stars to shame. He is very careful in his words to praise emergency though ...even tried to say he later changed his view . What shocked me was the tone of his writing . He definitely think that his was the right way of how things should be.
I only feel happy that we got rid of this generation of political leaders who thought that having some ex-royals as in-laws, studying in some snobbish schools/college and calling Nehru's sister "masi" is the best eligibility for a diplomat . I do not mean to say that the next generation of leaders/ bureaucrats was any better but at least they were not product of royal lineage and patronage of the Gandhi family.
The book, however, should be read as a history lesson . It will perhaps make people appreciate how things have changed for better.
The author gloats over his family connection with ex-royals , Gandhi family and other famous people . He seems to take pride in how he assisted Indira Gandhi in getting away with her wrongdoings and whims and how he insulted PM Morarji Desai because he was not an elite . The stories are full of how he saved the guilty because of his network with Gandhi family and how he ensured his loyal officers "got their due" when he became Minister . His sycophancy/ crush for Indira Gandhi will put even teenage girls worshiping movie stars to shame. He is very careful in his words to praise emergency though ...even tried to say he later changed his view . What shocked me was the tone of his writing . He definitely think that his was the right way of how things should be.
I only feel happy that we got rid of this generation of political leaders who thought that having some ex-royals as in-laws, studying in some snobbish schools/college and calling Nehru's sister "masi" is the best eligibility for a diplomat . I do not mean to say that the next generation of leaders/ bureaucrats was any better but at least they were not product of royal lineage and patronage of the Gandhi family.
The book, however, should be read as a history lesson . It will perhaps make people appreciate how things have changed for better.
December 9, 2024
In “Walking with Lions “Natwar Singh narrates interesting personal anecdotes of his interactions with world leaders and celebrities. He presents their quirks and idiosyncrasies and the amiable side of their personalities. You come across the pettiness of publicly acknowledged greats reminding us of their human frailties. He engagingly relates some historical trivia, the back-room stories, and behind-the-screen machinations leading up to the publicly known outcomes giving us a peep into the goings on in the MEA and Indian embassies. Some of his pen pictures of the leaders are very accurate. The portrait of P V Narasimha Rao is spot on. His adoration for Mrs. Gandhi is understandable as he owes his diplomatic and political rise to her. However, he concedes that his initial enthusiasm for the Emergency was misplaced and his loyalty to her precluded objectivity. While writing about Nehru, he says that Bertrand Russel got the essentials of Nehru’s vision accurate. He quotes Russel - ‘Every conceivable argument has been available to tempt Mr. Nehru to forego democratic institutions in India … Had Nehru made this decision, it is doubtful that the rule of law or representative institutions would have any chance among emergent nations. To the extent they do is the achievement of Nehru.’ One may disagree with Nehru on many issues but his credentials for democracy as opined by Russel should be agreeable even to his adversaries.
A breezy and easy read.
A breezy and easy read.
September 11, 2021
Successive Congress leaders have surrounded themselves with dedicated sycophants and have ill-served their masters. Mr Natwar Singh is the loyalist who shows sign of sycophancy in the book. the book is a good read for folks interested in anecdotes of the international relation during glory years of NAM movement. The writing is good but the book feels largely self-congratulatory and rhetorical.
May 18, 2018
Great Book! Inspiring!
June 13, 2019
A good book which shows only the lighter side of the Gandhi's. Love the way the Author narrates his experiences.
July 2, 2019
This is one of the greatest books on Indian diplomatic history. A must read.
September 10, 2019
An insightful book.
October 9, 2019
Quick and a pleasant read. Some of the stories are truly fascinating. The author's closeness to the Nehru family shows in all the essays.
June 2, 2020
It's an easy read of witty events surrounding Indian diplomacy.
December 23, 2021
His life incidents essentially nice to read for the aspirants
March 4, 2022
Light read... Interesting stories and memories from author'# life ...
January 14, 2016
With “Walking with the Lions,” Mr Singh has written an exhaustive brief to acquit himself before the bar of history, which he hopes will be more forgiving than the caustic judgments of the present. His power stemmed from the bond that runs through this book: the close, even adulatory relationship with Madam Gandhi which prompted jealousy and derision from many Party leaders and diplomats .
And in the urgency that followed the Emergency, the conviction that the India could not wait for slow-motion coalition-building hardened into pre-emptive action. The book’s few vivid scenes are largely of those early, fearful days.
And in the urgency that followed the Emergency, the conviction that the India could not wait for slow-motion coalition-building hardened into pre-emptive action. The book’s few vivid scenes are largely of those early, fearful days.
August 24, 2013
Took up this book for reading as a past time, but the stories kept me going inadvertently. N.S's memoirs are quite blunt and acidic regarding adversaries.But what it lacks has been made up with heavenly eulogies for Gandhi family especially Mrs.Gandhi. Also the aristocratic royal lineage (maybe out of wedlock) and attitude is clearly visible throughout his writings. A good read as to know how a diplomat's life has been, of meeting world leaders, statesmen and also about playing to the tune of petty politicians and incongruous directives from New Delhi.
January 7, 2017
The book is a great account of the inside of the Ministry of External Affairs like a backdoor drama. Includes a number of small essays that appeared in newspaper over the years across continents including various famous people with whom Natwar Singh got an acquaintance.
What is best about the book is the honest truth behind the stories, lively characters and interesting discussion. Authors keeps the interests engrossed by making realistic scenarios and bringing out human in all these worldly personalities.
What is best about the book is the honest truth behind the stories, lively characters and interesting discussion. Authors keeps the interests engrossed by making realistic scenarios and bringing out human in all these worldly personalities.
September 28, 2015
The book is an easy and interesting read. It brings about some facets of leaders you don't get to read in history books. It offers a peak into their personality. The book talks about leaders from across the globe of a different generation. You won't be lost if you don't know them. Natwar Singh gives you ample history so that you can read along. Though this book is a casual read, you end up gaining some knowledge of history.
December 5, 2015
A collection of 50 vignette encounters with world leaders across the world during his three decade stint as a diplomat. It gives a rather unknown perspective from a diplomat regarding many world leaders and especially Indira Gandhi.
Fascinating(self-boasting)read for anyone interested in reading about the 'nation heads' of various countries and their meetings with their counterparts that had happened before this author.
Fascinating(self-boasting)read for anyone interested in reading about the 'nation heads' of various countries and their meetings with their counterparts that had happened before this author.
January 21, 2018
Decent book, nothing amazing on offer though. Lacks depth and at times the author seems partisan in his views (understandably). Having read his autobiography "One Life Is Not Enough", this book barely had anything new in store. Anyone who reads this first would feel the same about the other book. A one time read maybe, nowhere close to being great.
May 22, 2014
We always see the bureaucrat community through the eyes of media. This book was a rare opportunity to know them through one of their own. Each chapter is interesting and what fascinated me was the personal relations that were highlighted throughout the book.
July 16, 2015
Quite an interesting series of vignettes about some very prominent figures from high politics to art, and some amusing moments - the Rajiv-Reagan dinner for one - and even the few bloopers - King Hasan of Jordan, Putin's expertise in karate! - dont detract overmuch....
September 7, 2014
Quick and a pleasant read. Some of the stories are truly fascinating. The author's closeness to the Nehru family shows in all the essays.
September 2, 2013
A quick read, with amusing anecdotes. Not a literary gem but has interesting nuggets about the art of diplomacy.
August 10, 2016
Just compliation of his memoirs, most are full of self-glorifications rest with "Chamcha-giri" and glorification of self and most revered Gandhi Family...!!
January 29, 2017
an lighthearted book full on anecdotes.although the bias towards gandhi family is visible throughout,it gives a good perspective on diplomatic life. a perfect timepass to kill time!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews