CHENNAI: Thanks to the heat generated by the ongoing anti-corruption campaign in the country, everything else seems to have taken a backseat. So much so, that Rajan R Natarajan’s trip to Tamil Nadu has literally gone unnoticed. For those of you wondering who Dr Natarajan is, the man is a trend-setter. “I went to Pudukkottai District to meet my family members and friends, and was felicitated warmly there,” says Rajan, the fist Indian-American to become the US Deputy Secretary of State for Policy and External Affairs during a conversation here in Chennai. “The district has made a lot of progress since I left for the US 23 years ago. I then left to pursue post-doctoral research at the Michigan State University. There is a post office and houses have concrete roofs now. I expect more industrial development to happen in this district,” he says. Breaking barriers to be the first in the business is not something new to Rajan. He was the first graduate from Pudukkottai district and his success paved the way for others like him to dream big and achieve something similar. “My success motivated youngsters in Pudukkottai district and surrounding areas to study and pursue higher degrees. Now, we see people graduating with engineering and other degrees from here, and working in places such as New Delhi, Singapore, and Taiwan,” he claims. When Rajan won the National Science Foundation Small Business Innovation Research Award, he was felicitated warmly by the elementary school he studied in Pudukkottai District. “They placed my photo alongside Mahatma Gandhi and Indira Gandhi in the school. The gesture was very touching,” he remembers joyfully. After completing his MBA in 1999, Rajan, a bio-technology scientist, shifted his focus and became a technology entrepreneur. He helped develop several businesses from their inception. “I also helped promote technology takeover, its licensing, and shoe-string management styles,” he says.Many misconstrue Rajan’s position to be a political one. He clarifies, “It’s not a political job, and is not related to elections. This post is awarded to people with honesty and integrity. I’m glad that Maryland State Governor Martin O’Malley chose me for this post.” Rajan’s key responsibilities include representing the Secretary of State or Governor at designated public and community outreach events, advising the Secretary on external affairs, and fostering and promoting international diplomatic relationships. Signs off the diplomat, “After assuming charge, I’ve been treated with a lot of respect. People, especially Indians in the US, are confident that I can deliver. I will not disappoint them.”
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