Suparjya swain 
FEATURE: As India’s top diplomat in Auckland, Dr. Madan Mohan Sethi is not just strengthening international ties—he is shaping India’s global presence through strategic engagement, cultural diplomacy, and grassroots insight. A seasoned officer of the Indian Foreign Service, currently serving as the Consul General of India in New Zealand’s largest and most dynamic city, Dr. Sethi brings to the role a blend of the empathy of a healer and the strategic depth of a statesman.
Growing up in Odisha, he was an academically gifted student, earning top marks in school and later studying at B.J.B. Autonomous College in Bhubaneswar. He went on to earn his medical degree from MKCG Medical College, Berhampur. “Medicine taught me patience, discipline, and empathy,” he recalls. “But it was the day-to-day interaction with patients—listening to their stories, understanding their struggles—that truly shaped my personality.”
After serving in rural Primary and Community Health Centres, he followed a long-standing dream: to join the All India Services. With persistence and resilience, he cracked the Indian Foreign Service examination in 2006. “I always had the curiosity to understand how the government works. Diplomacy gave me that opportunity,” he says.
Now posted in Auckland, home to nearly 200,000 people of Indian origin, Dr. Sethi leads India’s engagement with one of the most multicultural and economically vibrant cities in the Southern Hemisphere. “Auckland has a GDP of nearly USD 150 billion with a population of just 1.7 million,” he notes. “Its strengths lie in agro-production, creative industries, manufacturing, and services. It offers immense opportunities for collaboration.”
His diplomatic approach is inclusive and people-centric. From celebrating Utkal Divas with traditional Odissi performances to promoting Odisha’s crafts among curious New Zealanders, he has created a space where trade, culture, and community come together naturally.
A key focus area for Dr. Sethi is strengthening connections between India’s tribal heritage and New Zealand’s indigenous Māori culture. “India’s tribal culture is rich and diverse, much like that of the Māori,” he says. “What fascinates me is how Māori identity continues to thrive through language, festivals, and political participation. We want to initiate dialogues, host seminars, and organize cultural exchanges that explore shared values.”
Across postings in Myanmar, Italy, and Vietnam, Dr. Sethi has consistently built bridges. His tenure in Vietnam was particularly impactful. “In just three years, bilateral trade grew by nearly USD 4 billion. Over 60 Indian and 60 Vietnamese universities established ties, and delegations from 23 provinces visited India,” he shares. Odisha’s business chambers also played a role, as did Indian cultural organisations, with multiple Odissi dance events and art exhibitions staged in Vietnam. His efforts culminated in a unique cinematic collaboration—Love in Vietnam—a cross-cultural film now set for global release.
No matter where he’s posted, Odisha stays close to his heart. “Odisha needs more growth centres—clusters based on local resources like agriculture, minerals, and tourism. Industrialisation must go hand in hand with sustainability,” he suggests. He envisions Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Berhampur, and Balasore as future hubs for advanced healthcare and education, while promoting tourism in districts like Koraput, Rayagada, and Kandhamal.
He is also deeply committed to empowering women and youth through skill development and entrepreneurship. “Labour-intensive industries like food processing, leather, textiles, and engineering must be region-specific. We must learn from countries that have succeeded and adapt their models with Indian sensibilities.”
A doctor at heart and a diplomat by mission, Dr. Sethi is equally focused on social equity. “We must change mindsets, not just policies,” he says. “True progress is measured by how we treat our most vulnerable.” He advocates for strengthening healthcare and education access in every district and creating multiple urban centres of excellence across Odisha.
To young aspirants, especially from small towns, he offers a grounded message: “Curiosity, hard work, sincerity, and ethics are the only real currencies. The internet has flattened the world—use its power wisely.”
His journey—from a rural clinic to the diplomatic corridors of Rome, Ho Chi Minh City, and now Auckland—proves that with purpose and perseverance, no ambition is too distant. Nineteen years into the Indian Foreign Service, he remains grounded yet forward-looking. “It has been a fulfilling journey,” he says, “and I am thankful to the Government of India for entrusting me with responsibilities that have challenged and shaped me.”
In every posting, and in every conversation, Dr. Sethi carries Odisha with him—not just as a memory, but as a mission.
