The Indian Ambassador to the UAE TP Seetharaman is saying good bye to the Indian community here and to the Indian Foreign Service, from August 31, 2016, after the completion of 36 years.

Seetharaman has advised the Indian diaspora especially in the UAE and Gulf region to rethink their addiction to a luxurious lifestyle using borrowed money, especially huge loans beyond  their means of repayment and multiple credit cards.

The Ambassador himself said he does not use a credit card and only uses a debit card.

Speaking at a reception organised by the Indian Media Fraternity in Dubai, the Ambassador said among other things, two major issues that the Indian community should be beware of is the issue of personal debt and the youngsters getting willy-nilly into fundamentalist ideology.

“My earnest advise to the Indian community is to be aware of uncontrolled personal debt, especially from multiple credit cards and they should  be aware of the consequences.

“If a Dh2,500 per month  salary earner is taking a loan of Dh 300,000 and three or four credit cards together, his ability to pay back is limited. They should be aware of the problems of uncontrolled debt,” the outgoing Ambassador said.

“When such people come to the embassy seeking help, we cannot do anything for them,” the Ambassador said.

Another problem that the community should  be aware of the involvement of a few Indians in terrorism related cases.

“Even if it is two or three cases, it should be a worrying factor and those who are aware of such people should report the cases and not hide it.

“If it becomes a trend, the way Indian community is viewed will  be drastically changed,”  he alerted. “The community should correct such people and help some people who might have gone wrong.”

“I have worked and lived in 12 cities in 11 countries and I have a rich and diverse experience as a diplomat.

The Ambassador revealed that he may put together his experience in the form of a book and he is yet to decide in what format he would publish it.

“I did not want to write a book, while being on the payroll of Indian Government, using official time. After retirement, my time will belong to me only and I have plenty of time to write or  teach,”  he said.

Before joining the Indian Foreign Service, he was an Assistant Professor of Literature at the Madras Christian College, Chennai.

During his five year tenure as the  ambassador to the UAE, the bilateral relations improved in many areas –political, military, economic and cultural –as high profile leaders including the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the UAE.

“Now there is an improved relationship between  the UAE and India. Many state governments in India are also coming to the UAE to attract various investments,” the ambassador said.

He said a Workers Resource Centre may be opened in Sharjah using the outsourcing service of the same entity currently providing the service in other Emirates.

There are plans to open Workers Resource Centres in Saudi Arabia too.

Earlier, Seetharaman has served as the Indian High Commissioner to Mauritius. He has handled India’s bilateral relations with countries in Europe as well as the European Union in New Delhi as Additional Secretary, for Western Europe and as Joint Secretary for Central Europe.

In the Permanent Mission of India in Geneva, he was Minister (Disarmament).

He was also Press Secretary to the President of India Mr. K.R. Narayanan.

Ambassador Seetharaman is married to Deepa and they have a son and a daughter.