Jyotindra Nath Dixit Explained

Jyotindra Nath Dixit
Office:2nd National Security Advisor of India
Primeminister:Manmohan Singh
Term Start:23 May 2004
Term End:3 January 2005
Predecessor:Brajesh Mishra
Successor:M. K. Narayanan
Office2:18th Foreign Secretary of India
Primeminister2:P. V. Narasimha Rao
Term Start2:1 December 1991
Term End2:31 January 1994
Predecessor2:Muchukund Dubey
Successor2:Krishnan Srinivasan
Birth Date:1936 1, df=yes
Birth Place:Madras, Madras Presidency, father Munshi Paramu Pillai
Death Place:New Delhi, India
Nationality:Indian
Alma Mater:Zakir Husain Delhi College
Jawaharlal Nehru University
Occupation:Diplomat
Spouse:Vijaya Lakshmi Sundaram
Children:5
Parents:Munshi Paramu Pillai (father)
Retnamayi Devi (mother)

Jyotindra Nath Dixit (8 January 1936 – 3 January 2005) was an Indian diplomat, who served as Foreign Secretary (1991–1994), the top bureaucrat in the Ministry of External Affairs. At the time of his death, he was the National Security Adviser (India) to the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and is mostly remembered for his role as a negotiator in disputes with Pakistan and China.[1] [2] [3] [4]

Early life and education

Born in Madras (present-day Chennai, India) to Malayali Nair parents, famous Malayali writer Munshi Paramu Pillai and Retnamayi Devi. He got his surname, Dixit, from his stepfather Sitaram Dixit, a freedom fighter and journalist.[5]

He did his schooling in Central India, Rajasthan and Delhi. thereafter he did BA Honours Degree in Philosophy, Economics and Political Science the Zakir Husain College (University of Delhi) (1952 Batch),[6] then he did his Master's in international law and international relations from Delhi University, and pursued studies for Doctoral Degree at the Indian School of International Studies, now part of Jawaharlal Nehru University.[7]

Career

He joined the Indian Foreign Service in 1958, and served in Vienna, Austria. He became India's Deputy High Commissioner 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 (1960-1961 3rd Secretary), Japan, Australia, Afghanistan (1980–85); High Commissioner Sri Lanka (1985–89) and Pakistan (1989–91). He was Chief administrator of Indian aid in Bhutan.[1]

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 Sri Lanka government 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.[8] His columns on international and regional affairs, appeared regularly in various publications including Outlook and Indian Express.[9] He remained a visiting lecturer at many educational institutions.[10]

Personal life and death

J N Dixit, died on 3 January 2005, in New Delhi, after suffering a heart attack. He was married to Vijaya Lakshmi Dixit (née Sundaram) and had five children, Ashok Dixit married to Mandakini Dixit (née Haldipurkar), Rahul Dixit married to Rupa Dixit(née Thakkar), Aabha Dixit married V. B (Anand) Dhavle, Dipa Dixit married to Rajiv Shakdher and the late Dhruv Dixit, who died in 2002. His grandchildren are Sanghamitra Dixit, Sumiran and Sagiri Dixit, Jaidev and Abhishek Dhavle and Vasudhaa Shakdher. He married a second time. He was the first National Security Advisor who died in office.[11] [12]

Awards and honours

India's second highest civilian award, the Padma Vibhushan, was posthumously conferred on J N Dixit in 2005.[13]

Works

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/j-n-dixit-489124.html J. N. Dixit: Hawkish diplomat and India's first full-time National Security Adviser
  2. https://web.archive.org/web/20050204143037/http://www.hindu.com/2005/01/05/stories/2005010505321100.htm J.N. Dixit – a tribute
  3. https://www.nytimes.com/2005/01/09/obituaries/09dixit.html J. N. Dixit, 68, Dies; Served as India's Negotiator in Pakistan and China Disputes
  4. http://www.voanews.com/english/archive/2005-01/2005-01-03-voa10.cfm?moddate=2005-01-03 J.N. Dixit, Indian Security Adviser, Dies
  5. Web site: Obituary . 1 August 2009 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190427134640/http://heraldofindia.com/obituary . 27 April 2019 . dead .
  6. http://cities.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=56761 1952, A College Story
  7. News: JN Dixit: A brilliant diplomat, strategist. 16 July 2012. Business Standard. 4 January 2005.
  8. http://www.financialexpress.com/news/jn-dixit-is-nsa/106590/ JN Dixit Is NSA
  9. http://www.expressindia.com/news/columnists/jndixit/index.html Columnists
  10. http://www.financialexpress.com/news/jn-dixit-no-more/123553/ JN Dixit no more
  11. https://web.archive.org/web/20121025044559/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2005-01-03/india/27853439_1_high-commissioner-jn-dixit-foreign-secretary National Security Advisor JN Dixit passes away
  12. http://www.outlookindia.com/article.aspx?226924 EXCLUSIVE PMO: 'They Killed Him...':Close friends say an ugly tug-of-war within the PMO put a huge strain on the late J.N. Dixit that he couldn't withstand
  13. News: Padma Vibhushan for J.N. Dixit, R.K. Laxman. https://web.archive.org/web/20050207104016/http://www.hindu.com/2005/01/26/stories/2005012609050100.htm. dead. 7 February 2005. 3 October 2012. The Hindu. 26 January 2005.