Hyderabad, TELANGANA / New York, U.S.A :
Syed Akbaruddin’s friends describe him as a thorough professional
India’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Syed Akbaruddin, won accolades from Twitteratti after he extended his ‘hand of friendship’ to Pakistani journalists and reportedly asserted at the U.N. Security Council’s closed consultation on Kashmir that Article 370 was an internal matter of the country. But unbeknownst to many, the suave diplomat has a strong Hyderabadi connection, including that of serving as joint secretary of Nizam College Students’ Union.
Those who have been acquainted with Mr. Akbaruddin describe him as ‘focussed’, ‘articulate’, ‘soft spoken’ and with ‘no enemies’.
“He was a degree student at the Nizam College from 1977 to 1980. His father S. Bashiruddin was head of the Department of Journalism from the early 70s to the mid-80s and then moved to Dr. B.R. Ambedkar as its Vice-Chancellor. He also served as Ambassador to Qatar,” says his friend and journalist M. Somasekhar, who met the diplomat around six months ago. “He was active in student politics in the college and was very popular. He continues to be articulate and soft spoken.”