>Procyonidae: clarify, not incumbent

2021-08-21T09:57:11Z

clarify, not incumbent

New page

{{short description|Indian diplomat}}
{{EngvarB|date=September 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2014}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Shamma Jain
| image = Shamma_Jain.jpg
| imagesize = 300px
| order =
| office = [[Ambassadors of India to Greece|Indian Ambassador to Greece]]
| term_start = June 2017
| term_end = October 2019
| office1 = [[India–Panama relations|Indian Ambassador to Panama, Costa Rica and Nicaragua]]
| term_start1 = May 2014
| term_end1 = June 2017
| office2 = [[India–Ivory Coast relations|Indian Ambassador to Ivory Coast, Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea]]
| term_start2 = August 2008
| term_end2 = August 2011
| birth_place = [[Jammu]], [[Jammu and Kashmir (state)|Jammu & Kashmir]], [[India]]
| nationality = [[Indian people|Indian]]
| children = 1
| profession = Diplomat
}}

'''Shamma Jain''' (born 1959) is an Indian senior diplomat who served as the [[List of ambassadors of India to Greece|Indian ambassador to Greece]] from June 2017<ref>{{cite web|author=|year=|url=http://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/shamma-jain-appointed-indian-envoy-to-greece-117062901243_1.html |title=Shamma Jain appointed Indian envoy to Greece|publisher=[[Business Standard]]|accessdate=29 June 2017}}</ref> up to October 2019.<ref>{{cite web|author=|year=|url=https://elinepa.org/shri-amrit-lugun-appointed-new-ambassador-of-india-to-greece/ |title=Shri Amrit Lugun appointed new Ambassador of India to Greece</ref> She has also served as the ambassador of India to [[Panama]], [[Costa Rica]], [[Nicaragua]],<ref>{{cite web|author=|year=|url=http://www.cii.in/PhotoGalleryDetail.aspx?enc=KBTvEDa/DRwabL03WCyPLwcWzSYGoWkz9NTe76paDb4yKMmz3UAayrbPCfwFBtBrrBBtNYQut6JIs2A3OJ7jh9F3rmQNa373y67qvqEGRKJqp8jcr+41hI/Hnv7lFntS |title=CII Interactive Session|publisher=[[Confederation of Indian Industry]]|accessdate=14 May 2014}}</ref> [[Ivory Coast]], [[Liberia]], [[Sierra Leone]] and [[Guinea]] from 2008 to 2011.<ref>{{cite web|author=|year=|url=http://www.eoiabidjan.org/page/display/61 |title=Embassy of India in Ivory Coast|publisher=Ministry of External Affairs|accessdate=8 September 2008}}</ref> Aside from serving as an ambassador, Jain has worked in other diplomatic positions, including as the [[Deputy chief of mission|Deputy Chief of Mission]] in [[Rome]], political counsellor in the [[United States]], and at the permanent delegation of India to [[UNESCO]] in [[Paris]].

== Early life and education ==

Shamma Jain was born in [[Jammu]], [[Jammu and Kashmir (state)|Jammu & Kashmir]]. She was awarded the Chancellor's Gold Medal for B.A. in Political Science at [[University of Jammu]]. She received double master's degrees in Philosophy and Politics from [[Jawaharlal Nehru University, Delhi|Jawaharlal Nehru University]] in New Delhi.<ref>{{cite web|author=|year=|url=http://www.jnu.ac.in/SIS/CAS/CAS_Alumni_MPhil.pdf |title=Center for African Studies|publisher=JNU|accessdate=14 May 2014}}</ref> She was the recipient of the prestigious [[University Grants Commission (India)|UGC]] Fellowship.

== Career ==

Jain began her diplomatic career with the [[Indian Foreign Service]] in 1983.<ref>{{cite web|author=|year=|url=http://www.mea.gov.in/press-releases.htm?dtl/23152/Ms+Shamma+Jain+appointed+as+the+next+Ambassador+of+India+to+Panama |title=Shamma Jain appointed as the next Ambassador of India to Panama|publisher=Ministry of External Affairs|accessdate=14 May 2014}}</ref> Prior to being appointed as the [[Indian Ambassador to Panama]], she headed the Counter Terrorism Division, overseeing all matters related to counter terrorism diplomacy, and the Policy Planning & Research Division at the [[Ministry of External Affairs (India)|Ministry of External Affairs]] in New Delhi.<ref>{{cite web|author=|year=|url=http://www.meaindia.nic.in/staticfile/organisation.pdf |title=MEA Organization|publisher=Ministry of External Affairs|accessdate=14 May 2014}}</ref> Ambassador Jain also served as the Joint Secretary of the Indian Council of World Affairs, India's oldest foreign policy think tank.<ref>{{cite web|author=|year=|url=http://www.newindianexpress.com/thesundaystandard/MEA-Moves-its-Men-Post-Haste/2014/03/02/article2085131.ece |title=MEA Moves its Men, Post-Haste|publisher=[[Indian Express]]|accessdate=14 May 2014}}</ref>

[[Image:Indianamb italia1.jpg|250px|thumb|left|Ambassador Shamma Jain (second from right) on the occasion of [[International Day of Non-Violence]] in Rome, Italy]]Jain used to be the [[Deputy Chief of Mission]] at the [[Embassy of India in Rome]], Italy.<ref>{{cite web|author=|year=2008|url=http://news.webindia123.com/news/Articles/India/20080820/1032240.html |title=Shamma Jain appointed next Ambassador to Cote d'Ivoire|publisher=UNI|accessdate=3 September 2008}}</ref> She also served as First Secretary of the Indian Delegation to [[UNESCO]] in Paris, and as Political Counselor at the [[Embassy of India, Washington, D.C.]] from 1997 to 2001, where she was responsible for bilateral political and strategic ties between the United States and India.<ref>{{cite web|author=|year=|url=http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0009/000938/093839F.pdf |title=Conseil Exécutif – 140th Session|publisher=UNESCO|accessdate=22 September 2008}}</ref>

From 2003 to 2005, she served as the Deputy Chief of Mission and [[Chargé d'Affaires]] in [[Manila]], Philippines.<ref>{{cite web|author=|year=2008|url=http://www.asean.org/archive/arf/11ARF/2nd-ISM-CTTC/Annex-A.pdf|title=ASEAN Regional Forum on Counter-Terrorism|publisher=[[ASEAN]]|accessdate=5 October 2008}}</ref> Prior to this, she was the Director of [[SAARC]] with responsibility for advancing India's policy agenda in the South Asia region. Ambassador Jain has also held diplomatic assignments in [[Turkey]] and [[Argentina]].

Jain was the 2009 Commencement speaker at the [[University of Liberia]], where she was awarded the degree of [[Honorary Degree|Doctor of Letters (Honoris Causa)]].<ref>{{cite web|author=|year=2009|url=http://allafrica.com/stories/200904210789.html|title=Liberia: UL Releases Itinerary For Its 87th Graduation Indian Envoy To Serve As Commencement Speaker|publisher=allAfrica.com|accessdate=24 June 2009}}</ref> She also served as the commencement speaker for the British Institute of Management and Technology's 2009 graduating class. She has one son, Ishan.

== Ambassador to Ivory Coast ==

Jain was appointed as the [[India–Ivory Coast relations|Indian Ambassador to Ivory Coast]], with concurrent accreditation to Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Guinea in August 2008. During her tenure, there was a dramatic increase in commercial, trade and cultural ties between West Africa and India. These closer economic links have provided the impetus for India's trade with West Africa to grow to $40 billion by 2015.<ref name="MEA">{{cite web | url=http://www.business-standard.com/article/news-ians/government-initiatives-aiding-india-west-africa-trade-surge-113101500516_1.html | title=Government initiatives aiding India-West Africa trade surge | publisher=[[Business Standard]] | accessdate=15 May 2014 }}</ref>

She led India's efforts to deepen engagement with West Africa through intensifying relations with [[Economic Community of West African States]] (ECOWAS), and enhancing co-operation in the area of oil and gas, education, pharmaceuticals, mining and infrastructure. As India's ambassador to Ivory Coast, she argued that capacity building is a major thrust of India's development co-operation with Africa. She advocated for the establishment of over a hundred professional training institutes across Africa, for which India allocated $700 million.<ref name="MEA"/> Along with the former [[External Affairs Minister|Minister of State for External Affairs]] [[Shashi Tharoor]], she was responsible for gaining Liberian support for a permanent seat for India on the [[UN Security Council]].<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.emansion.gov.lr/2press.php?news_id=1326&related=7&pg=sp | title=Visiting Indian Minister of State and Liberian President Hold Bilateral Talks| publisher=Government of Liberia | accessdate=15 May 2014 }}</ref>

In February 2010, Ambassador Jain and Indian Overseas Affairs Minister [[Vayalar Ravi]] met with a car accident during their diplomatic visit to Liberia. This occurred when a speeding driver rammed into their car in [[Monrovia]]. Liberian President [[Ellen Johnson Sirleaf]] went to the scene of the accident and arranged for them to be airlifted to [[Abidjan, Ivory Coast]] for further medical treatment.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://zeenews.india.com/news/nation/ravi-to-be-discharged-from-cote-divoire-hospital-in-few-days_602655.html | title=Ravi to be discharged from Cote d'Ivoire hospital in few days | publisher=[[Zee News]] | accessdate=15 May 2014 }}</ref>

=== Ivorian civil war ===

Despite facing grave danger, Shamma Jain oversaw the evacuation of Indian nationals in Ivory Coast who were caught in the [[Second Ivorian Civil War]] in March 2011.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://in.news.yahoo.com/66-indians-evacuated-cote-divoire-20110412-110003-158.html | title=66 Indians evacuated from Cote d'Ivoire | publisher=Yahoo News | accessdate=15 May 2014 }}</ref> This coincided with India voting in the UN Security Council for sanctions against [[Laurent Gbagbo]] and close aides.<ref name="MEA2">{{cite web | url=http://ibnlive.in.com/news/un-forces-rescue-indian-envoy-to-ivory-coast/148671-2.html | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110410040838/http://ibnlive.in.com/news/un-forces-rescue-indian-envoy-to-ivory-coast/148671-2.html | url-status=dead | archive-date=10 April 2011 | title=UN forces rescue Indian envoy to Ivory Coast | publisher=CNN-IBN | accessdate=15 May 2014 }}</ref> Amidst heavy gunfire and explosions in the diplomatic area where her residence was located, Ambassador Jain remained in Abidjan to ensure the evacuation of several hundred members of the Indian community.

On 8 April 2011, Jain had to be evacuated by French troops when her residence in [[Cocody]], Abidjan was attacked by armed mercenaries. She had been trapped in her house, which was adjacent to [[Gbagbo]]'s besieged presidential compound. This area witnessed the heaviest fighting in the capital between the opposing forces of incumbent Gbagbo and [[Alassane Ouattara]]. After many hours of being holed up in her residence, Ambassador Jain was safely evacuated in a daring operation by UN and [[French forces]] to a French military base outside Abidjan.<ref name="MEA2"/>

==See also==
* [[Syed Akbaruddin]]

==References==
{{commons category}}
{{reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Jain, Shamma}}
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Indian women ambassadors]]
[[Category:Ambassadors of India to Greece]]
[[Category:People from Jammu and Kashmir]]
[[Category:Ambassadors of India to Ivory Coast]]
[[Category:1959 births]]
[[Category:People from Jammu (city)]]
[[Category:Ambassadors of India to Costa Rica|India]]
[[Category:Ambassadors of India to Nicaragua|India]]
[[Category:Ambassadors of India to Panama]]
[[Category:Ambassadors of India to Liberia]]
[[Category:Ambassadors of India to Sierra Leone]]
[[Category:Ambassadors of India to Guinea]]
[[Category:University of Jammu alumni]]

Shamma Jain - Revision history

>Procyonidae: clarify, not incumbent