By Our Correspondent
DOHA, QATAR/ DUBAI, UAE:Prominent Non-Resident Odia (NRO), noted Scuba Diver and UAE based corporate leader Priyadarshee Panigrahi met with the Ambassador of India to Qatar, His Excellency Vipul, in Doha on 9th June to extend warm congratulations on the his landmark appointment as India’s next Ambassador to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) and to wish him success in his upcoming diplomatic assignment.
The appointment of Ambassador Vipul by the Ministry of External Affairs is widely seen as a historic milestone, marking the first time India has appointed a non-Muslim diplomat to lead its strategically vital mission in Riyadh, a testament to the rapidly evolving, multifaceted strategic partnership between India and Saudi Arabia.
During the warm and cordial meeting, Priyadarshee reminisced about Ambassador Vipul’s deep-rooted, nostalgic connection to Odisha. At the very inception of his professional career, before entering the Indian Foreign Service (IFS), Vipul worked as a graduate engineer trainee at the iconic Rourkela Steel Plant (RSP) in Odisha.
The meeting also served as an opportunity to recall Ambassador Vipul’s exceptional support for the Odia diaspora during his tenure as the Consul General of India in Dubai (2017–2020).
Priyadarshee highlighted past collaborations where Ambassador Vipul and the Indian Consulate actively partnered with the Odia community for major cultural milestone events like Utkal Divas (Odisha Day) and Nuakhai (Odisha’s Premier Harvest Festival) celebrations in Dubai. Ambassador Vipul was also supportive of the Non-Resident Odias movement for promoting direct air connectivity to then newly inaugurated Jharsuguda airport in Western Odisha.
Throughout his tenure in the UAE, Shri Vipul was widely appreciated by the diaspora for his proactive approach to community welfare, grievance redressal, and promoting India’s rich heritage on international platforms.
Speaking on the occasion of the meeting in Doha, Priyadarshee stated, ” Ambassador Vipul has always been defined by his exceptional accessibility, deep professionalism, and an unwavering commitment to the Indian diaspora. Those of us who interacted with him closely during his time in Dubai witnessed firsthand his proactive approach to community concerns. His work during the Covid-19 Pandemic was also exceptional. I am absolutely delighted to congratulate him on this prestigious elevation”.
He further said ‘‘It is a proud moment for the global Indian diaspora, and uniquely sentimental for the Odia community, to see Ambassador Vipul ascend to one of India’s most critical diplomatic assignments in Riyadh. From his early days in Rourkela to managing complex Gulf relations as Consul General, Joint Secretary and Ambassador, his journey is very inspiring. The Odia community will always remember his immense accessibility and steadfast support for our cultural and welfare initiatives during his time in Dubai. We are confident that under his leadership, India-Saudi relations will reach unprecedented heights”.
Ambassador Vipul expressed his gratitude to Priyadarshee and extended his warm regards to the global Odia community, fondly remembering his formative months spent in Odisha and acknowledging the vibrant contributions of Odia expatriates across the Gulf region.
The interaction in Doha also touched upon the rapidly evolving role of the global Indian diaspora as economic and cultural ambassadors, alongside the strengthening of people-to-people ties between India and the GCC nations.
A seasoned diplomat of the 1998 IFS batch, Ambassador Vipul has built a reputation as a compassionate, community-centric diplomat. Having served as the Consul General in Dubai and subsequently as India’s envoy to Qatar, his appointment to Saudi Arabia underscores his extensive expertise in Gulf affairs and his widely recognized track record of successful diaspora outreach.
Mr. Panigrahi, a senior multinational business executive based in Dubai, apart from being noted Scuba Diver, is a prominent voice for the global Odia community. Coming from a family with a distinguished legacy of public service (his late father Sriballav Panigrahi was a Cabinet Minister in Odisha and a 3-time Member of Parliament), he has consistently used his platform to champion community welfare, cultural exchanges and economic ties.
