India
oi-Swastika Sruti
While Prime Minister Narendra Modi was meeting world leaders at the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi, an Indian official was seen accompanying the Prime Minister in his key diplomatic meet-and-greets.
Siddharth Babu, PM Modi’s diplomatic interpreter and a 2017-batch IFS officer, was seen with the Prime Minister at the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi, accompanying him during key meetings with leaders like Putin and Xi Jinping. His role ensures precision in crucial diplomatic dialogues.
Whether it was the meeting between Modi and Putin or between Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping, Siddharth Babu could be seen around the Prime Minister, playing his crucial role in diplomacy which is generally in the shadows.
In fact, a picture of Babu standing between Modi and Putin at the summit has created curiosity among people, and they have been wondering about the identity of this official.
Meet Siddharth Babu?
Siddharth Babu is a 2017-batch Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officer from Kochi, Kerala.
According to information listed on his LinkedIn profile, he serves as a diplomatic interpreter for Prime Minister Narendra Modi and is also a Deputy Secretary for Europe and Eurasia at the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). His work places him close to some of India’s most important diplomatic engagements, particularly meetings involving foreign heads of state and government.
From Mechanical Engineering to Diplomacy
Babu’s career did not start with a diplomatic service. He began with mechanical engineering and initially worked in a private sector. He later appeared for the UPSC Civil Services Examination and secured All India Rank 15 in 2016, according to reports.
With a rank that could have allowed him to enter the Indian Administrative Service, Babu instead chose the Indian Foreign Service. His decision was driven by his interest in international affairs and diplomacy, a field in which his language skills would later become an important part of his work.
The Language Skills Behind His Role
Having been an IFS officer, Babu has been through Foreign Service training that entails the mastery of foreign languages. This skill is very useful in his job as an interpreter in the meetings of the Prime Minister and other foreign dignitaries.
Interpreting in the diplomatic sphere is more than just translating languages. Diplomatic conversations usually entail careful choice of words and nuances in tones.
It is the responsibility of an interpreter to translate both the message and its implications as best as possible.
Why Interpreters Matter in Modi’s Meetings
During a high-level diplomatic meeting, a single word can sometimes carry significant political meaning.
Issues such as border disputes, trade agreements, security cooperation and international conflicts require leaders to communicate with precision. Any misunderstanding can potentially affect how a statement is interpreted by the other side.
An interpreter must therefore listen closely, understand diplomatic terminology and quickly communicate the speaker’s meaning without adding personal interpretation.
The task becomes even more demanding when conversations move rapidly or involve sensitive subjects.
A Familiar Presence at Major Diplomatic Events
Babu has also been spotted along with Modi in several high profile events.
His role has come into focus especially when Modi met other leaders like Putin and Xi at the BRICS Summit.
The meeting covered topics as diverse as trade and economic cooperation to security issues and geopolitics. In such events, the officials who work behind the scenes have a very crucial part to play for proper communication between the leaders.
Whereas all the attention is focused on the Prime Minister and the visiting dignitaries, officials like translators are vital for the smooth conduct of such events.
Babu Also Seen During Republic Day Events
Babu’s diplomatic responsibilities extend beyond the BRICS Summit.
He was also seen alongside Modi during the Republic Day celebrations earlier this year, where he was involved in facilitating interactions with foreign dignitaries.
Such appearances highlight the broader nature of his role, which can involve supporting communication between Indian leadership and international guests at major diplomatic and national events.
The Official Behind the Diplomatic Conversations
The photograph of Siddharth Babu standing alongside Modi and Putin may have attracted attention, but his presence reflects a much larger part of international diplomacy that often happens away from the spotlight.
Behind meetings between world leaders are teams of diplomats, interpreters and officials who ensure that conversations run smoothly and that important messages are communicated accurately.
For Babu, his journey from mechanical engineering and the private sector to the Indian Foreign Service has now placed him at the centre of some of India’s most significant diplomatic interactions – even if his role is usually performed quietly in the background.
