August 7, 1998.
This date remains etched in my memory. Professionally and personally, it is one of the most terrifying experiences of my life as a diplomat. At the time, I was serving as the Deputy High Commissioner and Head of Chancery at the Indian embassy in Nairobi, Kenya.
The day started out normally. Nairobi’s cool August breeze made for a salubrious day. As usual, in the morning, I went to the Indian High Commission on Harambee Avenue in the city centre. I took a quick look at the schedule, and knew it was going to be a busy day. We were organising roadshows to promote the Resurgent India Bonds, which were launched on 5 August 1998. Independence day celebrations were a week away. Furthermore, we had significantly increased our diplomatic outreach as India had conducted nuclear tests in May 1998.
At about 10:35 AM, I got a call on my landline. I left my computer, which was by the window, and picked up the phone at my desk. (It was the pre-mobile phone time, though dialup internet and email were in use).The call was from an old army colleague, with whom I had worked in Colombo during the IPKF period.
A few minutes into the call, I heard a loud bang. I paused for a few seconds and said: ‘it sounds like a bomb.’ My colleague joked that I had not gotten over my Colombo memories. Even before he finished his sentence, there was another huge explosion. This time, the sound was deafening. The whole building shook.
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