Henry Kissinger - Hero for the World; Villian for India
In the course of history, there are men who have marked their intellectual capacity thorough their wide array of work. Though appreciated for their activities, these historical figures do become the target of a section who considers them not able to their expectation. The Life and time of Henry Kissinger is a testimony of that.
1. Year 1954 - 1971 made Henry famous. In this time period, he was Harvard University faculty member, Associate Director of Harvard's centre for International Affairs and Consultant, Weapons Systems Evaluation Group of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
2. The Year 1961 to 1970 also saw him dabbling with the Government policies. In this time period, he was Consultant, National Security Council; Consultant, US Arms Control and Disarmament Agency; Consultant, US Department of State; Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs for President Nixon.
3. In the year 1972 - Henry Kissinger and President Nixon together are named “Time Magazine's Men of the Year.”
4. For the next 4 years that is from “September 23, 1973-January 20, 1977” - Kissinger was named as Secretary of State under Presidents Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford.
5. In the Year 1973, Henry Kissinger won the Noble Peace Prize with Le Duc Tho, for negotiating the end of the Vietnam War.
For Indian and Indian, Henry Kissinger has always been a dividing figure. The print reason for the same is his role during the year 1965 - 1970’s. When the leaked tapes of Nixon was made public, the World was shocked to hear the conversation between the two respected public figures - Nixon and Kissinger. In the alleged taped conversation, Nixon used the word “Witch” for then India’s Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. Kissinger acknowledged the same and in conversation used the word “Bitch” for the Indian Prime Minister. When these tapes were made public, India was rightfully aggravated. Though it should be made clear that post the incident, on number of time and at various forums - Henry Kissinger has apologised for his words. In fact in the year 1985, when after the incident 1st time he landed in India, Henry first went to the memorial of Indira Gandhi and apologised for his words. He later explained to the world forum that when he said was in context to cold world era and was in response to Nixon who has habit of using such words for world leaders.
Henry Kissinger came in news again when India’s now Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomed him in India. India’s foreign policy is very slowly taking now a full turn. It is up to the people to acknowledge and accept the same.
So who is Henry Kissinger. A common glance on Google gives his known history - Henry Alfred Kissinger born Heinz Alfred Kissinger; May 27, 1923 is an American politician, diplomat and geopolitical consultant who served as United States Secretary and National Security Advisor under the presidential administrations of Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford. Henry Kissinger can in most simple words be defined as a maverick. At certain points in his career, he was looked upon by one of the direct influencer on American Nixon Government. Let’s look at his five life points which shows his deep intellectual and social influence.
1. Year 1954 - 1971 made Henry famous. In this time period, he was Harvard University faculty member, Associate Director of Harvard's centre for International Affairs and Consultant, Weapons Systems Evaluation Group of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
2. The Year 1961 to 1970 also saw him dabbling with the Government policies. In this time period, he was Consultant, National Security Council; Consultant, US Arms Control and Disarmament Agency; Consultant, US Department of State; Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs for President Nixon.
3. In the year 1972 - Henry Kissinger and President Nixon together are named “Time Magazine's Men of the Year.”
4. For the next 4 years that is from “September 23, 1973-January 20, 1977” - Kissinger was named as Secretary of State under Presidents Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford.
5. In the Year 1973, Henry Kissinger won the Noble Peace Prize with Le Duc Tho, for negotiating the end of the Vietnam War.
World will also remember his memoir White House Years (1979), Years of upheaval( 1982), Years of Renewal (1999). In November 2002, he is appointed by President George W. Bush to lead the National Commission one Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States (also known as the 9-11 Commission). Though he later resigned from the same.
For Indian and Indian, Henry Kissinger has always been a dividing figure. The print reason for the same is his role during the year 1965 - 1970’s. When the leaked tapes of Nixon was made public, the World was shocked to hear the conversation between the two respected public figures - Nixon and Kissinger. In the alleged taped conversation, Nixon used the word “Witch” for then India’s Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. Kissinger acknowledged the same and in conversation used the word “Bitch” for the Indian Prime Minister. When these tapes were made public, India was rightfully aggravated. Though it should be made clear that post the incident, on number of time and at various forums - Henry Kissinger has apologised for his words. In fact in the year 1985, when after the incident 1st time he landed in India, Henry first went to the memorial of Indira Gandhi and apologised for his words. He later explained to the world forum that when he said was in context to cold world era and was in response to Nixon who has habit of using such words for world leaders.
Henry Kissinger came in news again when India’s now Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomed him in India. India’s foreign policy is very slowly taking now a full turn. It is up to the people to acknowledge and accept the same.
Regards,
The Nik Baat
Nikhil Jha
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