Munir Butt
Encyclopedia
Munir Udit Zadu Nehru Butt, CMG
(born 1940) is a former senior British diplomat and academic who was an economic and foreign policy advisor to various British Prime-Ministers.
, Dehra Dun, and Balliol College, Oxford
, then gained a doctorate in Political Sciences from the London School of Economics
. He also holds qualifications in politics and finance from University College, London
He is a great grand nephew of Motilal Nehru
, whose son Jawaharlal Nehru
was the first Prime-Minister of India. As such, he is a scion of the Nehru-Gandhi family
, who have had a significant influence over Indian politics over the last 80 years, and to date, three family members have served as Indian Prime-Minister.
's Wind of Change
speech in 1960. In an interview he also revealed that this speech pushed him into joining the Conservative Party at university. He later rescinded his membership during the administration of Edward Heath
, and has since described himself as apathetic, though a voter of Liberal Democrat
bent.
Butt spent his summers at university working at various NGOs, including the United Nations, in his native Kashmir. It was there he gained a deep passion for the Kashmir crisis and for South Asia as a whole. He subsequently undertook extensive education about the conflict, and his doctoral thesis was on the region, but the exact subject remains unknown. He was a member of the FCO'S South Asia & Oceania desk from 1971–1989, working in locations including Thailand, Nepal, India, Pakistan and Burma (Myanmar), and it was in this capacity he advised many Heads of Government and senior diplomats. After 1989 he became a special envoy to India and Pakistan with emphasis on inter-country relations and the Kashmir issue.
He is regarded as a world expert on Indian and Pakistani affairs, and was a personal advisor in the region to Prime Ministers James Callahan, Edward Heath and Margaret Thatcher, and advised U.S. Presidents Jimmy Carter
, Ronald Reagan
, George H.W. Bush and Bill Clinton.
In 1994 he was appointed Senior envoy to Pakistan
and India
by John Major. The appointment of Butt was contentious at the time, due to claims of conflict of interest, Butt being from the Indian subcontinent. However Butt insisted that he considered himself a British citizen, and that no conflict of interest entered his mind.
His connections and advice were particularly helpful in 1997, when India moved missiles near to the Pakistani border, triggering a diplomatic crisis, during which he was a member of the emergency diplomatic team sent between New Delhi and Islamabad in a display of shuttle diplomacy
.
Butt has since retired from politics and is involved in business in the United Kingdom, India and the United States, holding non executive directorships in private companies. He is also a guest lecturer of international relations at the University of Oxford
, Georgetown University
and University of Geneva
Order of St Michael and St George
The Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George is an order of chivalry founded on 28 April 1818 by George, Prince Regent, later George IV of the United Kingdom, while he was acting as Prince Regent for his father, George III....
(born 1940) is a former senior British diplomat and academic who was an economic and foreign policy advisor to various British Prime-Ministers.
Early life
He was educated at St. Paul's School, Darjeeling, The Doon SchoolThe Doon School
The Doon School is an independent school located in Dehradun in the state of Uttarakhand in India. Established in 1935, it was founded by Satish Ranjan Das. Its first Headmaster was Arthur E...
, Dehra Dun, and Balliol College, Oxford
Balliol College, Oxford
Balliol College , founded in 1263, is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England but founded by a family with strong Scottish connections....
, then gained a doctorate in Political Sciences from the London School of Economics
London School of Economics
The London School of Economics and Political Science is a public research university specialised in the social sciences located in London, United Kingdom, and a constituent college of the federal University of London...
. He also holds qualifications in politics and finance from University College, London
He is a great grand nephew of Motilal Nehru
Motilal Nehru
Motilal Nehru was an early Indian independence activist and leader of the Indian National Congress, who remained Congress President twice, and...
, whose son Jawaharlal Nehru
Jawaharlal Nehru
Jawaharlal Nehru , often referred to with the epithet of Panditji, was an Indian statesman who became the first Prime Minister of independent India and became noted for his “neutralist” policies in foreign affairs. He was also one of the principal leaders of India’s independence movement in the...
was the first Prime-Minister of India. As such, he is a scion of the Nehru-Gandhi family
Nehru-Gandhi family
The Nehru–Gandhi family or Nehru - Feroze Gandhi family is an Indian political family which has been dominant in the Indian National Congress for most of India's history since independence...
, who have had a significant influence over Indian politics over the last 80 years, and to date, three family members have served as Indian Prime-Minister.
Career
Butt entered the Foreign Service in 1970, having fulfilled the requirement to be a British citizen for ten years before entering Her Majesty's Diplomatic Service. He revealed that he was inspired to join the FCO after hearing British Prime Minister Harold MacmillanHarold Macmillan
Maurice Harold Macmillan, 1st Earl of Stockton, OM, PC was Conservative Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 10 January 1957 to 18 October 1963....
's Wind of Change
Wind of Change
"Wind of Change" is a 1990 power ballad written by Klaus Meine, vocalist of the German heavy metal band Scorpions. It appeared on their 1990 album Crazy World, but did not become a worldwide hit single until 1991, when it topped the charts in Germany and across Europe, and hit #4 in the United...
speech in 1960. In an interview he also revealed that this speech pushed him into joining the Conservative Party at university. He later rescinded his membership during the administration of Edward Heath
Edward Heath
Sir Edward Richard George "Ted" Heath, KG, MBE, PC was a British Conservative politician who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and as Leader of the Conservative Party ....
, and has since described himself as apathetic, though a voter of Liberal Democrat
Liberal Democrats
The Liberal Democrats are a social liberal political party in the United Kingdom which supports constitutional and electoral reform, progressive taxation, wealth taxation, human rights laws, cultural liberalism, banking reform and civil liberties .The party was formed in 1988 by a merger of the...
bent.
Butt spent his summers at university working at various NGOs, including the United Nations, in his native Kashmir. It was there he gained a deep passion for the Kashmir crisis and for South Asia as a whole. He subsequently undertook extensive education about the conflict, and his doctoral thesis was on the region, but the exact subject remains unknown. He was a member of the FCO'S South Asia & Oceania desk from 1971–1989, working in locations including Thailand, Nepal, India, Pakistan and Burma (Myanmar), and it was in this capacity he advised many Heads of Government and senior diplomats. After 1989 he became a special envoy to India and Pakistan with emphasis on inter-country relations and the Kashmir issue.
He is regarded as a world expert on Indian and Pakistani affairs, and was a personal advisor in the region to Prime Ministers James Callahan, Edward Heath and Margaret Thatcher, and advised U.S. Presidents Jimmy Carter
Jimmy Carter
James Earl "Jimmy" Carter, Jr. is an American politician who served as the 39th President of the United States and was the recipient of the 2002 Nobel Peace Prize, the only U.S. President to have received the Prize after leaving office...
, Ronald Reagan
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....
, George H.W. Bush and Bill Clinton.
In 1994 he was appointed Senior envoy to 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...
and 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...
by John Major. The appointment of Butt was contentious at the time, due to claims of conflict of interest, Butt being from the Indian subcontinent. However Butt insisted that he considered himself a British citizen, and that no conflict of interest entered his mind.
His connections and advice were particularly helpful in 1997, when India moved missiles near to the Pakistani border, triggering a diplomatic crisis, during which he was a member of the emergency diplomatic team sent between New Delhi and Islamabad in a display of shuttle diplomacy
Shuttle diplomacy
In diplomacy and international relations, shuttle diplomacy is the action of an outside party in serving as an intermediary between principals in a dispute, without direct principal-to-principal contact...
.
Butt has since retired from politics and is involved in business in the United Kingdom, India and the United States, holding non executive directorships in private companies. He is also a guest lecturer of international relations at the University of Oxford
University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
, Georgetown University
Georgetown University
Georgetown University is a private, Jesuit, research university whose main campus is in the Georgetown neighborhood of Washington, D.C. Founded in 1789, it is the oldest Catholic university in the United States...
and University of Geneva
University of Geneva
The University of Geneva is a public research university located in Geneva, Switzerland.It was founded in 1559 by John Calvin, as a theological seminary and law school. It remained focused on theology until the 17th century, when it became a center for Enlightenment scholarship. In 1873, it...
Honours
- Order of St Michael and St GeorgeOrder of St Michael and St GeorgeThe Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George is an order of chivalry founded on 28 April 1818 by George, Prince Regent, later George IV of the United Kingdom, while he was acting as Prince Regent for his father, George III....
, 1998. - Honorary doctorate, New York UniversityNew York UniversityNew York University is a private, nonsectarian research university based in New York City. NYU's main campus is situated in the Greenwich Village section of Manhattan...
, 1996 - Honorary degree Stockholm UniversityStockholm UniversityStockholm University is a state university in Stockholm, Sweden. It has over 28,000 students at four faculties, making it one of the largest universities in Scandinavia. The institution is also frequently regarded as one of the top 100 universities in the world...
, 1999 - Honorary associated member, Society of Knights of the Round TableSociety of Knights of the Round TableThe Honourable Society of Knights of the Round Table, also known as The Knights of the Round Table Club, is a British society which exists to perpetuate the name and fame of King Arthur and the ideals for which he stood...
,