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| Amitabh Mattoo : A torch bearer……… | | 
By: Shafiq Mir
Though due to centuries long uncertainty in this part of the world, the community known for its intellect and skills could not deliver anything special to the mankind, however, still some of them are torch bearers in many conflicting and confusing situations. Looking back to the current century of south Asia, a great philosopher and poet known as Dr. ‘Sir’ Mohammad Iqbal emerges from this part of world and gives his eternal message to the whole of mankind in general and muslim community of the world in particular. This great philosopher of south Asia had belonged to Kashmir. Before his family conversion to Islam and migration to Lahore, he belonged to Kashmiri Pandit family with Sapru caste. In the field of politics too, this part of the earth gave first prime minister to the Independent India called Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru. Nehru had also roots in Kashmir. The list goes long if all the unnoticed heroes of this land are searched in various fields of life . In recent past, Aga Shahid Ali, son of the soil had earned a famous name in the field of English literature in US before he died in around 40s of his age .There are scores of untold stories where Kashmiries made a difference despite being entangled with domestic conflict for centuries.]
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Similar is the story of another Kashmiri called Amitabh Mattoo. Mr Mattoo is not only a leading academician of south Asia, but an intellectual and an expert of politics as well in the south Asian region. He is the man whose suggestion is not only sought by the government of India at any point of crisis or conflict even he is contacted by the world on various issues related to the peace and conflicts.
Born on 26th June 1962 in Srinagar area of Kashmir, Prof. Amitabh Mattoo has also made a difference with his different approach and style of thinking. Perhaps, he doesn’t bother whether you appreciate him or not, whether you follow him or not, he follows only what he feels right and correct. His different approach from the crowds can be gauged with the fact that he stayed back along with his family in Kashmir valley in 1990 when whole of his Pandit community migrated from valley alleging insecurity from the Muslim majority. To stay back in Kashmir valley in 1990 and thereafter was not an ordinary step he had taken when his entire community had migrated from valley fearing attacks on them by militants. It is also fact that many pundits were killed by the unidentified gun men during that period in Kashmir. In such circumstances, when entire community had decided to migrate from valley, the decision of Mattoo family to stay in valley was not less than a revolt against own community on one hand and to push the future generation in danger on other. But, he did and stood with his decision till date . Not only he did stay back in Kashmir valley but also tried his best to serve the people whatever the way he could. In September 2014 floods, Mattoo family was trapped, however, soon after they were rescued from their Gogjibag residence, Matoo started relief operation from Delhi . And he continued his work till the last rescue work was completed. Though, Mr Mattoo is not liked by many hardliners with in his own community for his liberal approach towards his Kashmiri Muslims brothers, but he never cares. These are some of the qualities making him entirely different .
Background …..
Amitabh Mattoo comes from one of the most respected Kashmiri Pandit families of Kashmir which never left the valley even during the years of conflict. Before the land reforms in Jammu and Kashmir, Mattoo's family was one of the biggest landlords in the state. His grand father, Pandit Raghunath Mattoo was famously known as Jenab Sahib for his generosity and philanthropy, and was Wazir-i-Wazarat and later Governor. His great-grandfather was Pandit Suraj Kak Mattoo who brought up Kashmir Muslim orphans as his own and introduced radical social reforms amongst the Kashmiri Pandits.
Studied in Burn Hall School Srinagar and Jawahalal Nehru University, New Delhi, Matoo had a degree in international relations from the university of Oxford. He had also qualified for the Indian Police Service in 1987 through combined civil service exam, however he didn’t join and preferred a career in academics.
Brief Profile………..
53 year old Prof Mattoo is presently Chief Executive Officer and inaugural Director of the Australia Institute and Professor of the International Relations at the University of Melbourne, Vitoria Australia. One of the India’s leading thinker and intellectual, Amitabh Mattoo is widely regarded as an inspiring and innovative builder of institutions. He is also considered as the foremost Indian intellectual seeking to build peace in the south Asian region. Presently on leave from JNU where he serves as Professor of Disarmament Studies at the school International Studies, Mattoo has been member of the National Knowledge Commission, a high –level advisory group to the Prime Minister of India. He is also president of the Indian Association of International Studies . He had created difference in 2002 when he became Vice –Chancellor of Jammu University at the age of 40 and he was the second youngest Vice –Chancellor of India after Shiyama Parsaad Mukher Jee, who had this credit of being young Vice –Chancellor of India in Calcutta university in 1934 . Not only this,on 3 February 2011, in a meeting with India's then Education Minister Kapil Sibal, Mattoo declined to be the Founding Vice Chancellor of the Central University of Jammu the post he was offered by HRD minister .
There is a long list of services and positions to his credit. Prof.Mattoo serves on the Governing Council of the Indian Council for Social Science Research(ICSSR). Beside this, he is also member of executive committee and Governing council of ‘Pugwash’ the Nobel prize winning NGO. Member of Lancet Commission on Adolcent Health and Well Being. Not only this, Mattoo is also member of Acadmic Council of Vishwa Bharti University as well as the Executive Council of the central University of Karnatka. He was appointed a member of India's National Security Council's Advisory Board by Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, he has been a Director of the India-Afghanistan Foundation (established by the governments of India and Afghanistan) and was a member of the task force constituted by Indian Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh on Global Strategic Developments. The Task Force examined global trends in strategic affairs and their implications for India. Despite reports of Mattoo's proximity to various political parties, his expertise and advice has been sought on matters of national security and foreign policy across parties and governments.
Visiting professor at Standford UniversityUSA, Mattoo has published books on India's nuclear policy and India-Pakistan relations and has written on Kashmir as well. Mattoo has published ten books and more than 100 research articles (including in journals like Survival and Asian Survey).
At the time of any crisis in the state of Jammu and Kashmir, services of Professor Amitabh Mattoo were utilized by the Government of Jammu and Kashmir and his suggestions were sought to resolve the issues. For instance, in 2008, Matoo was appointed member of the committee by Governor in Jammu and Kashmir to negotiate the Amarnath Land row which had led to uprising in Jammu and Kashmir. Not only this, On 26 June 2011, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah made an open offer to noted academician Amitabh Mattoo to return to the state and ‘advise his government.
Mattoo has been a leading advocate of reconciliation between Kashmiri Pandits and Kashmiri Muslims and between India and Pakistan. He co-chairs the Chaophraya Dialogue, the most respected Track II dialogue between India and Pakistan, with Ambassador Sherry Rehman from Pakistan.
Recipient of many national awards including Padma Shri, Mattoo was also awarded the Qimpro Platinum Standard Award in 2008 and was recognized as a national Statesman for his work in the field of education along with Anand Mahindra who was awarded for his leadership in business .
But, the unfortunate part of the state of Jammu and Kashmir is that the person who guides the people outside India in their conflicts, his own people could not take the benefit of his influence and global vision with regard to the resolution of Kashmir conflict which has consumed lives of hundreds of thousands. It is time for the younger generation for Kashmir to get connected with this person and see the possibilities of the resolution of the issue which has burnt thousands of house and left thousands of mothers wailing .
(The Author is a senior journalist. He can be reached at [email protected] or 09419170570 )
(Opinions expressed in write-ups/articles/Letters are the sole responsibility of the authors and they may not represent the Scoop News)
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