So keen on posting, Rao had learnt local dialect

The death of 1990-batch IFS officer V Venkateshwara Rao along with four others in the attack on the Indian Embassy has sent shockwaves in the IFS fraternity.

The death of 1990-batch IFS officer V Venkateshwara Rao along with four others in the attack on the Indian Embassy has sent shockwaves in the IFS fraternity.

The 44-year-old diplomat had just gone back after a vacation in India. Serving as the Counsellor Political and Information, Rao had been in Kabul since August 2006.

A bright officer, Rao knew French and German and learnt Dari 8212; a local Persian dialect spoken in Afghanistan 8212; for his current assignment. He had studied in Hyderabad University and Jawaharlal Nehru University in Delhi, from where he did his M.Phil. in foreign policy.

Before Kabul, he was Counsellor in Washington D C, First Secretary Political in Kathmandu, and had also served in Berlin and Colombo.

Rao8217;s wife Malathi is one of the founding teachers of Delhi8217;s Sanskriti School. He is also survived by son Aniket and daughter Amulaya, who study in Class VIII and VI at the same school.

Malathi today left on a special aircraft for Kabul along with a high-level government team today. The team includes medical experts who will help embalm the body.

Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Navtej Sarna, who is away in Japan for the G8 Summit, condemned the 8220;cowardly8221; terrorist attack on the diplomatic mission and said 8220;such acts of terror will not deter us from fulfilling our commitments to the Government and people of Afghanistan8221;.

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The IFS Officers8217; Association held a condolence meeting in the evening, and a statement remembered Rao as a bright and energetic officer. 8220;His latest tour of duty in Kabul, under difficult conditions, revealed his determination, sincerity and courage of immeasurable proportions. It is extremely distressing that he has had to lay down his life to a cowardly act of terrorism. His death, while answering the highest call of duty, will be an inspiration to all of us, reflecting the professionalism that our service represents.8221;

Rao8217;s wife Malathi, who is a special educator at Sanskriti School and teaches students with special needs like those suffering from dyslexia, received a call from a friend informing her about the blast while at school.

Principal Abha Sahgal and her colleagues say they are all in shock.