Why German Ambassador to India Michael Steiner is an envoy with difference

NEW DELHI: His roller coaster term as the German Ambassador to India could be coming to an end but Michael Steiner’s unconventional, almost showman approach to diplomacy has not only made him an envoy with a difference but also perhaps the most visible expatriate in Lutyens Delhi.

Steiner, whose latest endeavour — a short parody of Bollywood hit Kal Ho Na Ho that features former foreign minister Salman Khurshid as Saif Ali Khan — has gone viral with over six lakh hits online since it was released last week, is a stark opposite of the stern, businesslike approach that diplomats are traditionally known for.

From encouraging a ‘holy cow’ to predict the result of football matches to a satsang by Sri Sri Ravi Shankar to taking on the government over the controversy over teaching of German in Kendriya Vidyalaya schools and an unprecedented concert by Zubin Mehta at Srinagar, Steiner’s term has been colorful.

It has raised eyebrows from those more used to the conventional style of diplomacy but has also won him hearts for attempting to go beyond the usual to connect at a deeper level. "It is very risky at times", he admits, "and a lot of hard work".

Steiner believes that this departure from the norm is the way of the future for diplomacy that has to go beyond generating just government to government linkages.