Alva Myrdal among pioneer Swedish women ambassadors

”From Myrdal to Lindh” is an interesting book about Swedish women Ambassadors and Ministers for Foreign Affairs, pioneers in a field earlier completely dominated by men, published in 2010. As late as 2001 a similar book was published with the title ”Swedish Diplomatic Profiles during the 20th Century”, all of them being men.
Gabriele Winai Ström who worked as a diplomat in the Swedish Ministry for Foreign Affairs in Sweden then reacted, and decided to write an alternative book presenting a selection of prominent women who have influenced the Swedish foreign policy, among them Alva Myrdal (photo) – in 1955 the first woman appointed to be Sweden’s Ambassador to India. A very successful appointment indeed, since she had already worked as a high UN official in New York and Paris, and was acquainted to the Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru. During her period in Delhi from 1955 till 1960 she became engaged on behalf of Sweden in crucial policies like disarmament, decolonization and the organisation of non-aligned nations.
The book deals with the conditions of the 15 women, heading embassies and the ministry of foreign affairs, including Anna Lindh, popular Minister of Foreign Affairs, but tragically assasinated in 2003. Already translated into other Nordic languages, the interest has been expressed to translate the book also into French and English to reach a wider audience. 
On Monday 6 February 2012, the Swedish Embassy in New Delhi organises a literary function, where the book will be presented by Gabriele Winai Ström, and Kaj Fölster, daughter of Alva Myrdal.