New Delhi, Nov. 2 -- She was known for her poise and quiet strength on the world stage. Now retired from diplomatic service, Ruchira Kamboj, India's first woman Permanent Representative to the United Nations, is embarking on a new chapter as an author with her memoir, On the World Stage: A Life in Diplomacy.

Loss turned into ambition

Recounting how her father "embodied the quintessential Army officer" and left a deep imprint on her life, Kamboj shares, "I was only 16 when he left us suddenly. He was the one who gave me the dream and inspired me to join the Indian Foreign Service... My life as an IFS officer, and this book is an homage to him."

Of worldly wisdom and womanly duties

The book traces milestones across nearly four decades o...