J.N. Dixit

J.N. Dixit

Jyotindra Nath Dixit (January 8, 1936 – January 3, 2005) was an Indian diplomat and former Foreign Secretary. At the time of his death he was National Security Adviser to the Prime Minister and played an important diplomatic role in the Indo-China and Indo-Pak border conflict issues. He received a B.A. Honors Degree in Philosophy, Economics and Political Science the Zakir Husain College, and then he did his Master’s in International Law and International Relations from Delhi University.

Dixit joined the foreign service in 1958, and served in Vienna, Dhaka, Santiago, Tokyo, Canberra, Colombo and Thimpu. He served as the Indian Foreign Secretary from 1991 and ultimately retired from Government service in 1994. He was the High Commissioner in Colombo in 1987 when India signed an accord with the LTTE and deployed the Indian Peace Keeping Force to the Tamil area in the island nation at the height of ethnic crisis.

Two years later, Dixit became foreign secretary, at a time when India was at its weakest - politically and economically destitute. The insurgency in disputed Kashmir was at its zenith and the security forces, including the army, were panicking under the onslaught of Islamic separatist militants.

Dixit opted for a diplomatic approach based on self-interest, deflecting international pressure, particularly from Washington, to resolve Kashmir on western terms. His efforts largely deviated US attention from nuclear testing toward reaching a settlement on Kashmir. Dixit also pursued a "look East" policy to strengthen India's regional position. The Look East Policy is a cornerstone of modern Indian foreign policy. It involves establishing close economic and diplomatic relationships with countries of South East Asia so as to establish India as a focal power centre in the region.

"J.N. Dixit had two formidable attributes. First, he worked as if he was 10 men with 10 equally quicksilver brains. Second, the national interest was for him both a professional ideal and a personal passion. His last words: "I want to make my country proud" says it all, " said his close friend and admirer Gopalkrishna Gandhi in the days following his death.