Six years ago, my son Rajesh Ragavan, a cartographer, came to Cambodia to take up an assignment as a UNV specialist. His work involved intensive touring to many places in the country. One such tour took him to Siem Reap and the world heritage monument, Angkor Wat. Aware of my interest in art and archaeology, he wrote to me that this archaeological site was worth a visit. At the time, many preoccupations in India prevented my undertaking a visit to Cambodia. Fortunately for me, the contract of my son got extended under other projects. I finally took up the trip in September 1995, accompanied by my spouse.

In Cambodia, we hired a taxi for a one-day visit to Siem Reap. We visited many sites and monuments during this short time. As we approached Angkor Wat in the afternoon, I saw the wonderful and grandiose temple and I felt a strong desire to know more about this monument. I undertook a second visit to Cambodia in September 1996, to carry out research on the temple of Angkor Wat. This led me to the National Library of Cambodia, to the National Museum of Cambodia Library and others. As a librarian, I could assess that the state of these libraries was quite unsatisfactory.

I heard that a UNESCO expert had prepared a report on promoting library development in Cambodia. One of his recommendations was to set up the Angkor Scientific and Technical Documentation Centre in Siem Reap. I thought that my knowledge and my experience in the library field could be useful for this purpose. I therefore contacted the Director of the UNESCO Office in Cambodia, on the recommendation of the UNDP Office in Phnom Penh. I sent my curriculum vitae and a short account of the proposed Documentation Centre in Siem Reap - and was selected to set it up. The procedure was worked out. Initial funding was to be provided by UNESCO. I joined the UNESCO Office in Cambodia on February 3, 1997. Since then I have been a UNV - just like my son - along with him in the same country!

The UNV Newsletter in Cambodia welcomed me to UNV and introduced me as "the father of UNV Rajesh Ragavan". This seemed quite unique. Dale Gilles, UNV Programme Manager, spoke of a rare happening in the UNV family. And during a visit to Cambodia in November 1998, UNV's Executive Co-ordinator Sharon Capeling- Alakija pointed out that this UNV assignment has brought together three generations: me and my wife, my son and his wife, and their son - all together in Cambodia!