Below is an excerpt from the section titled 'India-China Cooperation and Conflict' from the author's book, 'Beyond Boundaries: The World of India and China (2008-2022)'. In June 2011, a school located within the premises of the Indian consulate in Beijing was shut down. It had been operational for nearly three decades in the Chinese capital, catering to children from Kindergarten to Class 4. Known as the "Indian Consulate School," it held significance beyond its elementary education offerings. Despite its potential to evolve into a senior secondary school, the decision-makers in New Delhi opted to close it down. They not only downplayed its importance but also questioned its political and other purposes it served.
The closure was justified by portraying the school as unworthy of operation, which did not reflect positively on the Indian political establishment. India's Ambassador to China, S. Jaishankar (now the Minister for External Affairs), stated that the school had outlived its purpose, citing the scarcity of schools for expatriates in the years following the Cultural Revolution (1966-76). While the explanation provided by Jaishankar was unconvincing, it is likely that the decision to close the school was made at a higher level in the Ministry of External Affairs, possibly for undisclosed reasons.
The closure of the school raised concerns about transparency and the absence of an Indian educational institution in China. The school had allowed the Government of India (GOI) to save a significant amount by providing education for embassy staff's children up to Class 4. However, with the closure, there was no viable alternative for Indian expatriates in China. The decision not only deprived them of a crucial educational option but also overlooked potential cost savings and the opportunity to establish an Indian institutional presence in China.
Apart from the diplomatic and financial implications, there were also personnel and gender-related issues associated with the closure. Allegations surfaced that most of the teachers in the school were 'wives' of Indian diplomats, implying their lack of competence. However, blaming the spouses who took up teaching roles to justify the school's closure was unfair, especially when the Foreign Secretary herself was a woman. The Indian school was preferred by diplomatic staff and expatriates from various countries for their children's primary English-medium education.
The absence of this diplomatic adjunct underscored the lack of equivalent English-medium educational options for expatriates in Beijing. At a time when India needed to enhance its visibility and presence in China, the closure of the school seemed counterproductive. It was better to have a school with some controversy than to have no school at all.
