Statement of Purpose

College/University: John C. Whitehead School of Diplomacy, Seton Hall University, South Orange, NJ
Degree: MA Diplomacy and International Relations

My first brush in the field of International Relations was in high school, where I studied Humanities. Pursuing my graduation in Political Science was a natural progression.

I completed my BA from St. Xavier’s College, Calcutta, ranked amongst the top 5 institutions in India. I studied Political Theory, Thought, and constitutions of countries, Public Administration and International Relations. The Indian society, its unity in diversity, the present conflict ridden world and the quest of the United Nations to resolve them intrigues me.

I read about the roles of the UN, EU, ASEAN and SAARC. The recognition of Human Rights in America is known and I wish to draw lessons from the American experience, which can be meaningfully implemented in India.

Women in India continue to be discriminated against in politics. To counter this anomaly, 33% seats were to be reserved for women in the Indian Parliament. This step itself was discriminatory and had become a debatable issue. I represented my college and spoke against the passage of the Women’s Reservation Bill in the Youth Parliament, a debate on contemporary politics, organized by the State Government. Although this Bill was rejected, this issue remains controversial.

The education with the School of Diplomacy & International Relations at Seton Hall University will give me an opportunity to share my experiences of the Indian subcontinent. The focus will be on the pressing issues of the 21st century, which include the Green Revolution, the ecological imbalance, population explosion, poverty, child labor and illiteracy. I will bring to SHU this experience, characteristic of India, and make presentations of these complex issues by drawing parallels with those prevalent in other countries. I believe that will be a perfect fit in SHU.

SHU is unique among U.S. graduate schools in its focus on International Organizations and Public Policy, Economics, Environmental Policy, and serves as a center of excellence for research in these areas. It is know to integrate critical elements of World Trade, Human Resource Management and global politics into a distinctive curriculum. The courses you offer will give me the chance to study subjects like criminal law, human rights and Asian Area Studies.

It is my desire to go for higher education in a reputable university like yours, where I will get an exposure and the right blend of courses. I intend to use my educational experiences to maximize my opportunities for a career that will be personally satisfying. Today an education in IR is not only relevant to those seeking careers in government institutions, but also in corporate entities. Given the opportunity, I would like to pursue a doctoral program in IR.

I am interested in studying under erudite scholars in SHU and interacting with the multifaceted students your schools is known to draw. I intend to forge partnerships that can work towards addressing some of the complexities. It all of us could give a small bit of ourselves, then this would become a better place to live in. There is an urgent need to contribute to the upliftment of the millions in my country. I want to be a part of it and what better way to do this than to choose a career in the study of IR at the highest level.

I believe that my education background, my experiences, preparation and my ‘will to succeed’ makes me a strong candidate for the Master of Arts in Diplomacy and International Relations program in your university.