Vikas Swarup, who became famous as the author of ‘Q&A,’ the book that was made into the Oscar winning blockbuster ‘Slumdog Millionaire’, is set to take up responsibility as Spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), India.
Swarup, a 1986 batch Indian Foreign Service officer, will continue to remain in the limelight in a new role, reports the Economic Times.
Starting mid-April, he will succeed Syed Akbaruddin, who will be the chief coordinator for the India-Africa Summit to be held here in October and expected to be attended by more than 40 heads of states or governments.
After the summit, which was postponed in December following the Ebola outbreak, Akbaruddin will head for an ambassadorial posting.
Quoting official sources the Economic Times said the file regarding Swarup’s appointment was issued on Wednesday, ending speculation about who would succeed Akbaruddin.
As MEA spokesperson, he was the only one of his tribe who held weekly briefings, was available 24×7 and made optimum use of social media, said the report.
