UAE Gets Kannadiga Indian Ambassador in Lokesh K 
Daijiworld Media Network – Abu Dhabi
Pic: Ramcy Fernandes
 
Abu Dhabi, Apr 18: First time in the history of UAE, a Kannadiga has been appointed as India's ambassador to the country. Lokesh Mysore Kapanaiah, who arrived in UAE on April 12, has taken charge from outgoing ambassador Talmiz Ahmed.

Lokesh, who hails from Mysore in Karnataka state, was the deputy chief of mission at the Indian embassy in Brussels. A 1977 batch Indian Foreign Service officer, he served as an ambassador to Slovakia earlier.

"Instead of identifying myself as Kannadiga, I would like to be recognized as Indian first. The region I belong to comes only later. During my previous assignment, I had to deal with Kannadigas, whose number hardly reached three digits. I am happy that UAE is a multicultural society and people of all regions of India are resideing here, said Lokesh. 

"I will give equal importance to the welfare of the Indian community and to strengthen diplomatic relations with the UAE. The political and economic ties between the UAE and India have been excellent," he said.

A post-graduate in Botany and in Military Science Lokesh is married to Radhika Lokesh who is also a diplomat, currently posted as Consul General in Saint Petersburg, Russia. The couple has two daughters.

Lokesh has vast experience in the diplomat level and served in a different positions representing India around the world. He started his mission as third secretary at Kandy, Srilanka in 1979-80 and later was promoted to second secretary in 1980-81 becoming assistant high comissioner to Srilanka from 1981 to 83. He has rendered service in places such as Lagos, Nigeria, Washington, Durban South Africa, Slovak Republic, Brussels abroad and Tamil Nadu, Mumbai and New Delhi in India.