For Ganbold Dambajav, Ambassador of Mongolia, throughout his three-year keep up to now, the depth of historical past and variety of Delhi stand out. If you wish to really expertise the town, the hot button is to not rush, he says. Aside from the spiritual and heritage websites, Dambajav additionally finds the town’s visitors fascinating — not like in his nation, he says in Delhi, visitors retains shifting regardless of so many automobiles. The yearly winter air pollution stays a priority.
Born in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, in 1973, Dambajav graduated from the Nationwide College of Mongolia with a BA in Overseas Service. He additionally possesses a Grasp’s diploma in Linguistics (Science and Know-how College of Mongolia) and Diplomacy (Diplomatic Academy of the Ministry of Overseas Affairs, Russian Federation). He holds an Honorary Doctorate in Philosophy from the Worldwide American College, Los Angeles, California, USA.
He has labored in varied positions in several departments of the Overseas Ministry of Mongolia (Chief of Protocol; Director of the Division for the Americas, Center East, and Africa; Counsellor of the Coverage Planning Division; Division for Multilateral Cooperation; Consular Division; Administration Division).
He additionally labored on the Everlasting Mission of Mongolia to the UN, New York, USA; Embassy of Mongolia in Sofia, Bulgaria (concurrently accredited to the Republic of Albania, Republic of Cyprus, Hellenic Republic, Republic of North Macedonia & Romania); Embassy of Mongolia in Ottawa, Canada (concurrently accredited to the Federative Republic of Brazil).
Since December 13, 2021, he has been the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Mongolia to the Republic of India. He was awarded the Silver Cross of Benefit of the Republic of Poland. Married, with three youngsters, he speaks Russian and English, and German (newbie).
Dambajav spoke to The Indian Categorical for the fourth in a sequence of interviews with Ambassadors about Delhi — their residence.
Edited excerpts:
What’s the one place within the metropolis you like visiting usually?
Delhi is just too huge to select one place, particularly, in comparison with Mongolia. Dimension-wise, we’re half of India. Inhabitants-wise, we’re lower than one district of Delhi – solely 3.5 million. Delhi, then again, has a inhabitants of over 30 million.
However for me, historic locations and non secular centres – Humayun’s Tomb, Pink Fort and Qutub Minar – stand out. Spiritual locations are very attention-grabbing to me as a result of Mongolia and India name one another religious neighbours.
There are many different locations to go to reminiscent of gardens of Delhi – I like to go to Nehru Park or Lodhi Backyard. In brief, I can’t say one place as a result of all of Delhi may be very engaging.
Three issues which have stood out throughout your keep?
I really like driving. I consider it’s one option to perceive the town and folks’s mentality… In Mongolia, when there may be visitors, now we have to typically wait at one spot for 20 minutes. In Delhi, on most days, someway, visitors retains shifting regardless of so many automobiles. That is, I’d say, one of many fascinating issues in Delhi.
The opposite factor is that persons are very pleasant. Generally, I get caught whereas navigating Google Maps and I’ve to depend on individuals. They’re all very useful.
The third factor is the heritage… the ruins, the forts. I discover it fascinating that yow will discover a whole lot of completely different spiritual locations. You could find a mosque, a Sikh temple, and a Buddhist monument. I really feel that the capital is a illustration of all of India.
Favorite meals?
I discover Indian delicacies very attention-grabbing. I’ve travelled round 23 states up to now… however to grasp a rustic like India, a lifespan is just not sufficient, you already know? The meals in every metropolis and every village is completely completely different.
Indian delicacies may be very standard amongst Mongolians. We love the butter rooster and Hyderabadi Biryani, and naturally the garlic naan. I additionally love masala tea. Every time somebody presents me a beverage, I at all times choose a masala tea over espresso and different drinks.
Once I go to eat exterior, I often go to some place nearer to the embassy. I like going to Claridges Resort. I additionally love going to ITC Maurya lodges – often I’m going there to have Mediterranean delicacies. In Claridges, I’m going for Indian delicacies. I attempted the road meals in Delhi… however my abdomen couldn’t deal with it.
Are there any encounters within the capital that can stick with you?
One such encounter I had was on the final day of October 2021. I used to be out with my partner. It was very late at night time. We went to an area restaurant in Larger Kailash 1. There was a really good man there who guided us. It was our very first impression so to talk. One other factor I wish to level out. Northeast Indians, I really feel, are similar to Mongolians. Every time I meet somebody from Ladakh or Assam, it at all times looks like residence.
What’s going to you miss when you say goodbye to this metropolis?
I’ll miss a bunch of issues… the way in which Indian individuals deal with their company… I feel my spouse will in all probability miss the walks in Nehru Park.
One other factor I’ll miss is driving round Delhi. Going to completely different places like South Extension and Akshardham… My final go to to Delhi was in 2009 and since then, it has modified loads. I wished to talk about the exceptional improvement that our Indian pals have made. India is what I prefer to consult with as an “Elephant financial system.” I’m glad to see the success of such a populous nation. For much less populated nations, development is comparatively simple… however for a big nation like India, I really feel it’s very tough.
I keep in mind there weren’t many flyovers in Delhi at the moment. Now, at each intersection, you could have a flyover. The Metro is incredible. Generally, once I go to Gurgaon, I desire the Metro – it will get there in half the time. Previous Delhi may be very fascinating. I simply want I might go to it extra usually… the visitors prevents me from doing that.
Sadly, the visitors is getting worse yearly. In 2021, I used to placed on my headphones and drive my automobile. In two songs, I’d attain from my residence to the embassy. However now it takes 4 to five songs. Based mostly on that, I calculated that visitors has gotten worse. In Mongolia, the visitors is even worse at occasions… Personally, I consider Mongols are nomads by nature. I at all times have this one joke. Please needless to say Mongolians drive automobiles like they trip horses – they’ll flip wherever at any second.
How would you introduce Delhi to somebody again residence?
I’d say, Delhi is just too huge for Mongolians. For anybody planning to go to, my recommendation can be to spare a minimum of per week… when you actually wish to see this magnificent metropolis. Spend two days in Previous Delhi… Even South Delhi and New Delhi have a great deal of attention-grabbing locations to go to. If you wish to really expertise Delhi, don’t rush. Take your time. Just a few days for Delhi are usually not sufficient, and even a lifespan for India is just not sufficient.
How is Delhi completely different from the opposite locations you could have visited in India?
India may be very various. Mumbai may be very completely different from Kerala or Karnataka. South India may be very completely different from North India. I’ve additionally visited Assam, Kolkata and Darjeeling – I liked going there… Gujarat, then again, is completely completely different. It is vitally dynamic. In the event you go there, you are feeling that a whole lot of adjustments hold occurring . The vibes are completely different all over the place… Delhi is a megalopolis and it manages to convey everybody from completely different corners of India in a single place.
Does the air pollution hassle you?
To be trustworthy, after all it does. I’m actually involved about my household and embassy employees. I feel the air pollution is partly because of the actions of people. I consider now we have to maintain ourselves. Publish Diwali, I inform all my employees to put on masks after they exit. Inside, I ask them to place an air air purifier and a dehumidifier. November, December and January are the worst.
Delhi may be very humid for us Mongolians. Again residence, now we have very dangerous air pollution throughout the winter. Additionally it is very chilly – typically it falls beneath minus forty levels. To supply warmth, we have to burn coal. We Mongolians additionally must depend on coal for energy era. For me, air pollution is just not such a brand new factor… however after all, I’ve to look out for my household. I feel air pollution is current all over the place on the earth.
Is there something you’d recommend to directors or planners to make this metropolis extra livable?
I’ve no proper, capability or data to recommend to my Indian pals to do issues this fashion or that. We Mongolians are studying this ourselves. City life is a brand new factor, urbanisation for us began simply six many years in the past.
