Brajesh Mishra,IFS (Retd.) | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Mishra in 2011. | |
| 1stNational Security Advisor of India | |
| In office 19 November 1998 – 22 May 2004 | |
| Prime Minister | Atal Bihari Vajpayee |
| Preceded by | Office established |
| Succeeded by | J. N. Dixit |
| 9thPrincipal Secretary to the Prime Minister of India | |
| In office 19 March 1998 – 22 May 2004 | |
| Prime Minister | Atal Bihari Vajpayee |
| Preceded by | N. N. Vohra |
| Succeeded by | T. K. A. Nair |
| Permanent Representative of India to the United Nations | |
| In office June 1979 – April 1981 | |
| Preceded by | Rikhi Jaipal |
| Succeeded by | Natarajan Krishnan |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Brajesh Chandra Mishra 29 September 1928 |
| Died | 28 September 2012 (aged 84) New Delhi, India |
| Cause of death | Heart failure |
| Party | Bharatiya Janata Party (1991–98) |
| Parent | Dwarka Prasad Mishra (father) |
| Relatives | Sudhir Mishra (nephew) |
| Occupation | |
| Known for | India's firstNational Security Advisor andprime minister,Atal Bihari Vajpayee'sprincipal secretary |
| Awards | Padma Vibhushan |
Brajesh Chandra Mishra (29 September 1928 – 28 September 2012) was an Indian politician anddiplomat from theIndian Foreign Service who is best known for serving as the firstNational Security Advisor of India from 1998 to 2004. He also served as theprincipal secretary of then Prime MinisterAtal Bihari Vajpayee.[1][2][3][4] He received thePadma Vibhushan for his contributions.[5][6]
He was born inHinduBrahmin family[7] on 29 September 1928 toDwarka Prasad Mishra, who was a formerChief Minister of Madhya Pradesh.[8] His father was considered a staunch politician from theCongress Party and very close toIndira Gandhi though they fell out later.[9]
Brajesh Mishra joined theIndian Foreign Service (IFS) in 1951. He served aschargé d'affaires inBeijing after the 1962Sino-Indian War and was India's ambassador toIndonesia. He was also ambassador and India's Permanent Representative in Geneva. Mishra's last posting was asIndia's permanent representative to the United Nations from June 1979 to April 1981.[10]
As permanent representative, he voiced India's position on the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan at thesixth emergency special session of the United Nations General Assembly, but his disagreement with that position was part of the reason why he resigned from IFS and joined the United Nations in 1981; serving as 6thUnited Nations Commissioner for Namibia from 1 April 1982 to 1 July 1987.[11][12][13]
In April 1991, Mishra joined theBharatiya Janata Party and became head of its foreign policy cell.[14] He resigned from the party in March 1998 on becoming the 9thPrincipal Secretary to the Prime Minister of India. After Brajesh Mishra, the post ofprincipal secretary became such a powerful one that it eclipsed the status ofcabinet ministers. As Vajpayee's troubleshooter, he was one of the most powerful principal secretaries thePrime Minister's Office had ever seen.[15]
From November 1998 to 23 May 2004, he was also the first National Security Advisor and was instrumental in creating an institutional structure for national security management.[16] His batch as an IFS officer was the same as theIndian Administrative Service batch ofK. Subrahmanyam, widely considered as the doyen of India's strategic affairs community, and made him the first convener of theNational Security Advisory Board where they worked closely on many issues.[17]
He was the key motivator of foreign policy and principal spokesman on major issues. He was actively involved in framing India's geo-political policies. He was closely involved in planning the1998 Nuclear tests and played a crucial role in shaping India's policy regarding Pakistan and China.[18]
He is stated to have played a major role in pushing and supporting theBhutan to undertakeOperation All Clear.
After demitting office, Mishra had initially expressed reservations against theIndia–United States Civil Nuclear Agreement. Following this, the thenPrime Minister,Manmohan Singh briefed specially to address his concerns about the deal.[19] Thereafter, Mishra extended his support and publicly endorsed the deal.
In 2011, he was awarded thePadma Vibhushan, India's second highestcivilian award.[20]
Mishra died on 28 September 2012 atFortis hospital,Vasant Kunj inNew Delhi.[21]
| Preceded by Office established | National Security Advisor 1998–2004 | Succeeded by |
