Jyotindra Nath Dixit
Encyclopedia
Jyotindra Nath Dixit commonly referred as J. N. Dixit, was an India
n diplomat and former Indian Foreign Secretary
(1991–1994), the top bureaucratic job in the Ministry of External Affairs
. At the time of his death he was the National Security Advisor
to the Prime Minister of India
and is most remembered for his role as a negotiator in Pakistan and China Disputes.
, then known as Madras, to famous Malayali
writer Munshi Paramu Pillai and Retnamayi Devi. He got his surname, Dixit, from his stepfather Sitaram Dixit, a freedom fighter and journalist.
He did his schooling in Central India, Rajasthan and Delhi. there after he did B.A. Honors Degree in Philosophy, Economics and Political Science the Zakir Husain College (University of Delhi
) (1952 Batch), then he did his Master’s in International Law
and International Relations
from Delhi University, and . Pursued studies for Doctoral Degree at the School of International Studies, now part of Jawaharlal Nehru University
.
in 1958, and served in Vienna
, Austria, became India’s first Ambassador to Bangladesh
(1971–74) after its liberation. Subsequently, he served as Deputy Chief of Mission at the Embassies in Tokyo and Washington, followed by Ambassador in Chile
, Mexico
, Japan
, Australia
, Afghanistan
(1980–85); High Commissioner Sri Lanka
(1985–89) and Pakistan
(1989–91). Was Chief administrator of Indian aid in Bhutan
.
He later served as the Indian Foreign Secretary
from 1991 and ultimately retired from Government service in 1994. He was also a representative of India
to the UN, UNIDO
, UNESCO
, ILO
and Non-Aligned Movement
(NAM). He was a member of the first National Security Advisory Board, He was also the author of several books. He was the High Commissioner in Colombo in 1987 when India signed an accord with the LTTE and deployed of the Indian Peace Keeping Force
(IPKF) to the Tamil area in the island nation at the height of ethnic crisis.
He succeeded to the post of the National Security Advisor
in 2004. And his columns on international and regional affairs, appeared regularly in various publications including Outlook
and Indian Express, and remained a visiting lecturer at many educational institutions.
J.N. Dixit, died on 3 January 2005, in New Delhi, after suffering a heart attack, and was survived by his wife, Vijaya Sundaram and two sons, and four daughters. He became the first National Security Advisor who died in office.
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
n diplomat and former Indian Foreign Secretary
Indian Foreign Secretary
An Indian Foreign Secretary is the top diplomat for Indian Foreign Relations, who is appointed in the Ministry of External Affairs Office. Foreign Secretaries are experienced IFS officers, who are ambassadors to foreign nations....
(1991–1994), the top bureaucratic job in the Ministry of External Affairs
Ministry of External Affairs (India)
The Ministry of External Affairs is the foreign ministry of India. It is the Indian government agency responsible for the foreign relations of India. The Minister of External Affairs holds cabinet rank as a member of the Council of Ministers. The current minister is S M Krishna...
. At the time of his death he was the National Security Advisor
National Security Advisor (India)
The National Security Advisor of India is a member of the National Security Council , and the primary advisor to the Prime Minister, the Indian Cabinet and the NSC on internal and international security issues.-Overview:...
to the Prime Minister of India
Prime Minister of India
The Prime Minister of India , as addressed to in the Constitution of India — Prime Minister for the Union, is the chief of government, head of the Council of Ministers and the leader of the majority party in parliament...
and is most remembered for his role as a negotiator in Pakistan and China Disputes.
Early life and education
Born in ChennaiChennai
Chennai , formerly known as Madras or Madarasapatinam , is the capital city of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, located on the Coromandel Coast off the Bay of Bengal. Chennai is the fourth most populous metropolitan area and the sixth most populous city in India...
, then known as Madras, to famous Malayali
Malayali
Malayali is the term used to refer to the native speakers of Malayalam, originating from the Indian state of Kerala...
writer Munshi Paramu Pillai and Retnamayi Devi. He got his surname, Dixit, from his stepfather Sitaram Dixit, a freedom fighter and journalist.
He did his schooling in Central India, Rajasthan and Delhi. there after he did B.A. Honors Degree in Philosophy, Economics and Political Science the Zakir Husain College (University of Delhi
University of Delhi
The University of Delhi is a central university situated in Delhi, India and is funded by Government of India. Established in 1922, it offers courses at the undergraduate and post-graduate level. Vice-President of India Mohammad Hamid Ansari is the Chancellor of the university...
) (1952 Batch), then he did his Master’s in International Law
International law
Public international law concerns the structure and conduct of sovereign states; analogous entities, such as the Holy See; and intergovernmental organizations. To a lesser degree, international law also may affect multinational corporations and individuals, an impact increasingly evolving beyond...
and International Relations
International relations
International relations is the study of relationships between countries, including the roles of states, inter-governmental organizations , international nongovernmental organizations , non-governmental organizations and multinational corporations...
from Delhi University, and . Pursued studies for Doctoral Degree at the School of International Studies, now part of Jawaharlal Nehru University
Jawaharlal Nehru University
Jawaharlal Nehru University, also known as JNU, is located in New Delhi, the capital of India. It is mainly a research oriented postgraduate University with approximately 5,500 students and a faculty strength of around 550.-History:...
.
Career
He joined the Indian Foreign ServiceIndian Foreign Service
The Indian Foreign Service is the foreign service of India. It is the body of career diplomats of India.The Indian Foreign Service is part of the Central Civil Services of the Government of India...
in 1958, and served in Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
, Austria, became India’s first Ambassador to Bangladesh
Bangladesh
Bangladesh , officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh is a sovereign state located in South Asia. It is bordered by India on all sides except for a small border with Burma to the far southeast and by the Bay of Bengal to the south...
(1971–74) after its liberation. Subsequently, he served as Deputy Chief of Mission at the Embassies in Tokyo and Washington, followed by Ambassador in Chile
Chile
Chile ,officially the Republic of Chile , is a country in South America occupying a long, narrow coastal strip between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far...
, Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
(1980–85); High Commissioner Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
(1985–89) and Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
(1989–91). Was Chief administrator of Indian aid in Bhutan
Bhutan
Bhutan , officially the Kingdom of Bhutan, is a landlocked state in South Asia, located at the eastern end of the Himalayas and bordered to the south, east and west by the Republic of India and to the north by the People's Republic of China...
.
He later served as the Indian Foreign Secretary
Indian Foreign Secretary
An Indian Foreign Secretary is the top diplomat for Indian Foreign Relations, who is appointed in the Ministry of External Affairs Office. Foreign Secretaries are experienced IFS officers, who are ambassadors to foreign nations....
from 1991 and ultimately retired from Government service in 1994. He was also a representative of India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
to the UN, UNIDO
United Nations Industrial Development Organization
The United Nations Industrial Development Organization , French/Spanish acronym ONUDI, is a specialized agency in the United Nations system, headquartered in Vienna, Austria...
, UNESCO
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
, ILO
International Labour Organization
The International Labour Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations that deals with labour issues pertaining to international labour standards. Its headquarters are in Geneva, Switzerland. Its secretariat — the people who are employed by it throughout the world — is known as the...
and Non-Aligned Movement
Non-Aligned Movement
The Non-Aligned Movement is a group of states considering themselves not aligned formally with or against any major power bloc. As of 2011, the movement had 120 members and 17 observer countries...
(NAM). He was a member of the first National Security Advisory Board, He was also the author of several books. He was the High Commissioner in Colombo in 1987 when India signed an accord with the LTTE and deployed of the Indian Peace Keeping Force
Indian Peace Keeping Force
Indian Peace Keeping Force was the Indian military contingent performing a peacekeeping operation in Sri Lanka between 1987 and 1990...
(IPKF) to the Tamil area in the island nation at the height of ethnic crisis.
He succeeded to the post of the National Security Advisor
National Security Advisor (India)
The National Security Advisor of India is a member of the National Security Council , and the primary advisor to the Prime Minister, the Indian Cabinet and the NSC on internal and international security issues.-Overview:...
in 2004. And his columns on international and regional affairs, appeared regularly in various publications including Outlook
Outlook (magazine)
Outlook is one of India's four top-selling English weekly newsmagazines. Like many other Indian magazines, it is reluctant to reveal its circulation, but the 2007 National Readership Survey suggested 1.5 million copies...
and Indian Express, and remained a visiting lecturer at many educational institutions.
J.N. Dixit, died on 3 January 2005, in New Delhi, after suffering a heart attack, and was survived by his wife, Vijaya Sundaram and two sons, and four daughters. He became the first National Security Advisor who died in office.
Works
- Self in Autumn, (Collection of Poems), 1982.
- Anatomy of a flawed Inheritance – a survey of Indo-Pak Relations 1970-94. Konark Publishers. 1995.
- My South Block Years, UBS publishers, New Delhi. 1996
- Assignment Colombo – Indo-Sri Lanka Relation form 1985-1989, Konark Publishers, 1997.
- Across Borders – A survey of 50 years of India’s foreign Policy, PICUS Publishers. 1998.
- Liberation and Beyond: Indo-Bangladesh Relations 1971-99, Konark Publishers. 1999.
- An Afghom: Diary-Zahir Shah to Taliban, Konark Publishers, 2000.
- Indian Foreign Policies and its Neighbours, Gyan Books, New Delhi, 2001. ISBN 8121207266.
- India’s Foreign Policy—challenge Of Terrorism Fashioning Interstate Equations, by Gyan Books, 2003. ISBN 8121207851
- External Affairs. Roli Books, 2003. ISBN 8174362649.
- Indian Foreign Service: History And Challenge. Konark Publishers, 2005. ISBN 8122006949.
See also
- Brijesh MishraBrijesh MishraBrajesh Chandra Mishra was the first National Security Advisor and principal secretary to the former Prime Minister of India, Atal Bihari Vajpayee....
- M K Narayanan
- National Security CouncilNational Security Council (India)The National Security Council of India is the apex agency looking into the political, economic, energy and strategic security concerns of India...
- National Security AdvisorNational Security Advisor (India)The National Security Advisor of India is a member of the National Security Council , and the primary advisor to the Prime Minister, the Indian Cabinet and the NSC on internal and international security issues.-Overview:...
External links
- J.N. Dixit, Official biography Indian Embassy
- J. N. Dixit Columns at OutlookOutlook (magazine)Outlook is one of India's four top-selling English weekly newsmagazines. Like many other Indian magazines, it is reluctant to reveal its circulation, but the 2007 National Readership Survey suggested 1.5 million copies...
- A Mission in Jaffna & the Memories of War-Torn Jaffna