Who Is Sibi George? Indian Diplomat Who Shut Down Norwegian Journalist

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Indian diplomat Sibi George has gone viral after a face-off with a Norwegian journalist during a Ministry of External Affairs press briefing in Norway. His sharp answers and quick rebuttal to Norwegian journalist Helle Lyng who asked about issues related to press freedom, minority rights and human rights in India have found huge support online. At one point during the briefing, the journalist questioned why India should be "trusted" on issues linked to democratic freedoms and rights. Responding firmly, Sibi George defended India's democratic framework and criticised what he described as selective narratives built around NGO reports.

"You know how many stories are up here (in India). We have a lot of breaking news coming every day in the evening. At least 200 TV channels in Delhi alone, in English, Hindi and multiple languages. People have no understanding of the scale of India," George said during the interaction. "They read one or two news reports published by some godforsaken, ignorant NGOs and then come and ask questions," he added.The exchange rapidly spread across social media platforms, triggering political reactions and renewed interest in the veteran diplomat, who currently handles some of India's key diplomatic engagements involving Europe and West Asia.

Who Is Sibi George?

A 1993-batch Indian Foreign Service officer, George has spent more than three decades in diplomacy and has held several strategically important assignments across the world. Before becoming Secretary (West) in the MEA, he served as India’s Ambassador to Japan - one of New Delhi’s most crucial diplomatic postings in the Indo-Pacific region.Over the years, he has also served as ambassador to Switzerland, the Holy See, Liechtenstein, Kuwait and the Republic of Marshall Islands.George began his diplomatic career in Cairo as Political Officer at the Indian mission before moving to Doha as First Secretary, where he handled community, media, consular and information affairs.He later worked as Political Counsellor at the Indian High Commission in Pakistan and also held key diplomatic assignments in United States as Political and Commercial Counsellor in Washington DC.George additionally served as Deputy Chief of Mission in Tehran and Riyadh, gaining extensive experience in politically sensitive regions.Within the MEA headquarters in New Delhi, he worked in the East Asia Division, coordinated the India-Africa Forum Summit and later headed the Administration, Establishment and Welfare divisions.In 2014, he received the SK Singh Award for Excellence in the Indian Foreign Service from the MEA.Originally from Kerala's Kottayam district, George belongs to the Podimattam family of Pala. A gold medallist in both graduation and post-graduation, he also studied at the American University in Cairo and trained at institutions including LBSNAA Mussoorie, IIM Ahmedabad, IIM Bengaluru, IIFT Delhi and ISB Hyderabad.He is married to artist Joice John Pampoorethu, and the couple have three children.