Who is Sibi George, the Indian diplomat involved in the clash with the Norwegian journalist? | Today’s news
Sibi George, an Indian diplomat, went viral after she responded to a Norwegian journalist who asked why India should be trusted given its alleged human rights abuses.
Responding to Norwegian journalist Helle Lyng Svendsen George, Secretary (West) in the Ministry of External Affairs elaborated on why India is a trusted partner to so many countries around the world, citing the successful hosting of the G20 Summit, Voice of the Global South and the recent AI Impact Summit in New Delhi.
George said the Constitution of India guarantees a sovereign, socialist, secular, democratic republic and ensures justice, freedom of thought, expression, belief, faith and worship as well as equality of opportunity through its fundamental rights and principles.
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“We are one-sixth of the world’s total population, but not one-sixth of the world’s problems,” he said.
“People don’t understand the scale of India. They read one or two reports published by some God-forsaken, ignorant NGOs and then come and ask. Don’t worry about it. We are proud to be a democracy, we have been a democratic society for centuries,” he said.
Who is Sibi George?
Sibi George is a 1993-batch Indian Foreign Service officer who has served as Secretary (West) in the Ministry of External Affairs of India since 2025. George was born in Kerala’s Kottayam and studied political science at St. Thomas College in Pala and also holds a diploma in Arabic from the American University in Cairo.
George began his career as a diplomat in 1993 in Cairo, Egypt, serving as a Political Officer at the Indian Embassy.
He has also served in Indian diplomatic missions in Doha, Islamabad, Washington, Tehran and Riyadh in various capacities.
Back home in India, George served in the East Asia Division of the MEA and also as the Coordinator of the India-Africa Forum Summit.
George also served as India’s ambassador to Switzerland, the Vatican and the Principality of Liechtenstein.
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Responding to the Norwegian journalist, George also said that India has guaranteed equal rights to women since the first day of independence, unlike many other countries, showing its strong belief in equality and human rights.
“We gave the freedom to vote to our women in 1947. We fought for our freedom together and we got the right to vote from day one. I know of many countries where women’s suffrage came after several decades. We believe in equality; We believe in human rights. If someone whose rights are violated, they have the right to go to court. We are proud to be a democracy,” he said.
What did Helle Lyng Svendsen do?
Svendsen had earlier tried unsuccessfully to ask the Indian prime minister a question after he and his Norwegian counterpart Jonas Gahr Store had made their media statements. The media had already been told that the two leaders would not ask questions during their joint interaction.
Subsequently, the Indian Embassy in Norway responded to Svendsen’s social media post on the issue, saying she was “very welcome to come and ask your questions” at a press conference organized by the mission.
Key things
- Sibi George highlights India’s historic commitment to women’s rights and democracy.
- The Indian government is proactive in addressing international human rights criticism.
- George’s remarks underscore the importance of understanding India’s context and achievements.
