eCard from Vietnam-Mme.Nguyen Thi Binh

Breaking stereotypes, she captivated the world. During the Vietnam War, US leaders had the people in the West believe that the Viet Cong were barefoot, filthy barbarians. And then on 4 November 1968, there appeared on the world stage at the Paris Conference on Viet Nam the Viet Congs official representative -- a petite, demure woman in ao dai, the Vietnamese traditional dress. She spoke quietly, calmly, forcefully. The world listened. Her name was Nguyen Thi Binh.

Mme.Nguyen Thi Binh, former vice-president of Vietnam, the countries first women foreign minister, one of the signatories of the Paris Peace Accord in January 1973 and head of the delegation of the Provisional Revolutionary Government of the Republic of South Vietnam at the Paris Peace talks, the longest in the history of diplomacy.

Who could have been the person in Vietnam with the experience and vision to think of choosing a woman for such tough assignment? History had thus far seen something like this in the form of the Rani of Jhansi Regiment, the world first woman's regiment in the history.

It is said that Mme. Binh is the Vietnamese person with the most friends across the world, from ordinary people to famous head of state from many different political systems. During the war years, she travelled across nearly all the planet to portray an unusual and beautiful image of Vietnam during their devastating struggle, that of an unarmed warrior but a slender, unassuming yet erudite woman who seemed familiar and spoke clearly. Decisive events could not change her leisurely, self-confident presence. She called her work "People's diplomacy," meaning person to person, heart to heart.

This friendly nature of hers might be the reason for a person of her stature to grant an immediate approval to the interview request of Diptyasa Jash and Sayantan Dasgupta, who were in Vietnam last week in search for clues about Subhas Chandra Bose's presence in that country much after his supposed death. Both are still in awe about their meeting with such a friendly, gentle, down to earth and loving personality.