Chandrasekhar Chatterjee, Deputy Head of Subdelegation – Damascus and Southern Syria

 

Could you chart your ICRC journey for us?

I joined the ICRC in May 2015 and was stationed in Myanmar, where I spent 2.5 years, including on an assignment as part of a Rapid Deployment Unit in August 2017. Following that, I was on a mission in Mali. In both Myanmar and Mali, I was part of the Protection team.

Thereon, I moved to Kananga in the Democratic Republic of the Congo as the head of subdelegation in 2020. In March of this year, I joined the ICRC team in Damascus and Southern Syria as the deputy head of the subdelegation there.

I have taken a break of at least two to three months between missions because work can be tough, and you need that time to rest and recalibrate before going on the next mission.

What is your background pre-ICRC and where do you belong to?

For 14 years, I taught Bengali language, civilization, culture and literature in Paris at INALCO (Institut national des langues et civilisations orientales) and was living in France. Originally, I’m from Kolkata, which is in the Indian state of West Bengal. My father lives there and I often visit him. I also have a stay permit for France, so I also go there when I can.

Coming from an academic background, how did you find the transition to the humanitarian sector?

I remember that during my first mission to Myanmar, I was very curious to see how the ICRC actually works and I wanted to experience all of it firsthand. When I arrived, there was a humanitarian crisis under way and the Protection Coordinator sent me and the team to interact with people who had been displaced in a very remote location in order to assess their humanitarian needs. We were regularly in dialogue with the authorities and were able to collect many Salamat messages from the displaced people, helping deliver these messages to their families.

Coincidentally, when I was teaching Bengali in Paris, I had briefly studied the dialect used by Muslim communities in Myanmar as part of my research work. So, I was aware about it and it helped me communicate directly with the detainees during visits to the places of detention.

The ICRC’s unique mandate gives us access to places of detention. You started as a Protection delegate and have done a number of these visits. It sounds like really challenging work. So, how do you keep yourself motivated?

We maintain a confidential and bilateral dialogue with the authorities, which is a very unique aspect of our work at the ICRC. Based on the principles of impartiality, neutrality and independence, we are able to establish trust with authorities and all parties to the conflict. This, in turn, helps us secure humane treatment of detainees and improve the conditions of detention. Besides the larger impact, the resulting small changes can bring back some dignity in the lives of detainees, which is something that keeps us all going.

Can you share a moving experience from your work in the field? 

During a visit to a place of detention in Myanmar, I had collected a Red Cross message from a young detainee, promising to deliver it to his mother back home. What followed was a journey involving a boat ride to a remote part of the country, a two-hour walk through marshy land, my knees deep in mud, and finally reaching a small thatched hut, where I met the old mother who burst into tears of happiness upon getting a message that her son was still alive. I can’t ever forget her face, and how gratifying that moment felt.

What are your top tips for adapting to new cultures?

Read extensively on the country, its people and culture. Carry a small part of your home with you – for me, I take a small batch of Indian spices with me whenever I travel to a new country. This helps me cook familiar food when I’m far away from home. I also carry some good films and books – this preparation helps add familiarity to wherever you might go.

What are the qualities that the ICRC looks for in its staff members?

"A curious mind, an openness to new cultures, a mindset of getting along with people from diverse backgrounds and an attitude of celebrating the differences – this is what the ICRC looks for in its delegates."

You need to be a humanitarian at heart, i.e. somebody who wants to help people who are suffering. For that, you have to be empathetic and a good listener. Since it’s highly likely that you will work in very challenging contexts, be physically and mentally strong and have an innate urge to find a solution to humanitarian problems. But remember, the ICRC has a duty of care towards you and will always take care of you and your safety.

What does success mean to you?

My only goal is to be able to support the beneficiaries and the people we work with. My colleagues’ positive feedback about my work – whether as a delegate or as a manager – has kept me motivated. I enjoy wearing the manager’s hat and thrive on the challenges that the role can bring along.