bout de papier, Vol. 29, No. 1 (2015), pp. 30–31
Colleagues and friends were deeply saddened to learn of the death of Sumeeta Chandavarkar, who passed away unexpectedly in Ottawa on November 16, 2014 at the age of 43. She leaves her husband David Moodie, her parents Shyamsunder and Sujata Chandavarkar, her brother Sumant Chandavarkar, his wife and a beloved niece and nephew, and legions of friends. Sumeeta unfailingly spoke of her family with tremendous love and pride, and it was clear that her family was the source of her determination and drive.
Sumeeta had been a Foreign Service Officer since 2002, with postings to Guangzhou, Shanghai and Taipei. Her most recent assignment was as Deputy Director in the Human Rights Policy Division. Sumeeta was one of the department’s most seasoned China hands and fluent Chinese speakers, and was particularly proud of the contribution she had made to advancing Canada’s interests in Taiwan, Shanghai and Southern China, where her creativity and innovative approach shone through.
Sumeeta was a friend and colleague to many of us in the Department and is remembered for her wit, energy, her engaging laugh and her zest for life. Her loss has been felt by a wide range of people, as evidenced by the astonishing number of condolences and memories which flowed in from around the world, from colleagues, friends, locally engaged staff in the posts where she had served, diplomats from other countries, and professional contacts from all walks of life. A gathering at DFATD to honour Sumeeta’s memory held on November 27, 2014 drew close to a hundred people to share memories and honour her contributions both to the Foreign Service and as an exceptional friend. They spoke of Sumeeta’s bright inquisitive mind, her positive energy and enthusiasm, her professional dedication, her impressive multilingualism, her passions for swimming, cooking and entertaining, and her talent for making others feel welcome and drawing people together to enjoy each other’s company. In testament to her enduring friendships with colleagues at home and abroad, some travelled from as far away as Istanbul and Tokyo to attend the celebration of her life at DFATD and her funeral on November 22. With support from colleagues, a mighty oak tree is to be planted in Sumeeta’s memory this spring in Brantwood Park, within sight of her house, with a park bench in her name to facilitate quiet contemplation of the Rideau River.
Having been raised in places as far-flung as India, Malaysia, Zimbabwe and Hong Kong, Sumeeta moved to Toronto as a teenager, first attending Havergal College, then earning her BA at the University of Toronto and her Master’s degree at Simon Fraser University. She was awarded a scholarship under the Canada-China Scholars’ Exchange Program to study Chinese at the Beijing Language and Culture University in 1996, and later worked for a joint venture in Beijing at a time when this was unusual for a foreigner, let alone a young woman with no formal support system in China.
After two years in Beijing, Sumeeta applied to the China division of the Department of Foreign Affairs, which was always in search of talented young people familiar with China. As Gordon Houlden, then deputy director, put it, “I hired Sumeeta when the Department desperately needed China talent, and never regretted that choice.” Sumeeta later joined the Foreign Service and was justly proud of serving as a Canadian diplomat.
Just what an asset Sumeeta was to the Canadian Foreign Service was evident from her accomplishments during her postings to Taipei, Shanghai and Guangzhou, where she made stellar contributions to advancing Canada’s relations in these jurisdictions, and in particular raised Canada’s profile through cultural, academic and advocacy activities involving everyone from writers and journalists to academics and health professionals. Her signature catch phrase for Canadian advocacy worked equally well in each of these locations, playing on the fact that the first syllable in the Chinese word for Canada (Jia加) is a homonym for family or home 家 : Jia zai Taiwan 加 在台湾 (Canada in Taiwan), Jia zai Shanghai 加在上海 (Canada in Shanghai), Jia zai Guangzhou 加在广州 (Canada in Guangzhou). Without a doubt, Sumeeta was at home in any Chinese environment, thanks in part to the years she spent in Hong Kong as a child. Her passing is felt particularly keenly within the Department’s circle of China hands, current and retired.
At the celebration of Sumeeta’s life on November 27, her director Rachael Bedlington reflected on Sumeeta’s contribution to Canadian diplomacy. “When I think of Sumeeta, I think of her professional accomplishments which were many, and her dedication, which was unflagging. Though work was sometimes very challenging, she excelled in conquering the policy details and quickly mastering aspects that were nuanced and sensitive. I believe she saw value in what she was doing. And we certainly valued her efforts, hugely. She was recognized professionally more than once, most recently in 2014 through an award for her outstanding performance in leading headquarters efforts to ensure the successful adoption at the Human Rights Council in Geneva of the flagship Canadian-led resolution on the elimination of Violence Against Women. This was a really key accomplishment for Canada, and most importantly, for the women whose lives the resolution aims to empower. She made a difference through what she was doing.”
Rachael also spoke of Sumeeta’s mischievous sense of humour. “Sumeeta took a particular pleasure in sometimes saying deliberately outrageous things, to provoke humour and lighten the mood. In our division working to promote better respect for human rights worldwide, I remember one particular occasion when a conversation about eradicating child labour led her to muse about the negative impact this could have on production of wonderful luxury products, such as Persian carpets – leading to howls of outrage and protest, and laughter, because we knew of course that her intent was just the opposite.”
Sumeeta had an unquenchable thirst to live life to the fullest. She made it clear that right from the beginning when she contracted polio as an infant, her parents, always enormously supportive, encouraged her to reach for her goals, and not to see her physical challenges as an obstacle. Her determination allowed her to overcome what for others might well have been insurmountable obstacles to achieving what she set out to do in life.
Perhaps because of her own experience, Sumeeta was particularly adept at reaching out to civil society and disadvantaged communities seeking to protect their rights. For example, in her interactions with Chinese civil society, such as migrant workers or environmental activists, those with whom Sumeeta engaged felt very strongly the momentum and energy that she brought to their work. It is a gift to be able to help others overcome their struggles, to give them hope and traction for achieving their goals, especially in other cultures. Sumeeta had that gift and used it very well, to the benefit of advancing Canada’s interests abroad.
Sumeeta was tireless, adventurous, witty and a great deal of fun. It was a privilege to have known her. To this day, she remains a reminder that life is what you make of it.
Julia Bentley first met Sumeeta when they moved to Beijing in 1996, as a diplomat and student respectively. They remained friends when they both moved back to Ottawa and Sumeeta later joined the department. Over the last five years, Julia visited Sumeeta in Shanghai, Guangzhou and Ottawa, and enjoyed a memorable weekend in Hong Kong together.
A number of Sumeeta’s friends and family members gathered at Brantwood Park in Ottawa on July 3, 2015 to view the oak tree planted in her memory and the park bench dedicated to her. It was a sunny summer day and the view of the river from the bench offers an oasis of tranquility in an otherwise busy part of town.
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Originally published in bout de papier, Vol. 29, No. 1 (2015), pp. 30–31. Read the rest of this issue →
