Amitabh Mattoo
Encyclopedia
Professor Amitabh Mattoo ' onMouseout='HidePop("88050")' href="/topics/Srinagar">Srinagar
) is one of India's leading thinkers and writers on international relations. He is currently the inaugural Director of the Australia India Institute and Professor of International Relations at the University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. He is on leave from New Delhi's Jawaharlal Nehru University
where he serves as a Professor of International Studies. Mattoo has been a Member of the National Knowledge Commission, a high-level advisory group to the Prime Minister of India, and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Jammu.
Professor Mattoo is also President of the Indian Association of International Studies. From November 2002 until early December 2008, Amitabh Mattoo was the youngest ever Vice-Chancellor of the University of Jammu
, and among the youngest Vice Chancellors in the history of independent India.
Professor Mattoo serves on the Council of the Indian Council for World Affairs (ICWA), the Governing council of Pugwash
, the Nobel prize winning NGO
, on the Academic Advisory Committee of the Indian Council for Cultural Relations, and is a Director of the India-Afghanistan Foundation (established by the governments of India and Afghanistan). Mattoo is a member of the Academic Council of Vishwabharti University as well as the Executive Council of the Central University of Karnataka. Professor Mattoo was a member of India's National Security Council's Advisory Board and a member of the task force constituted by Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh
on Global Strategic Developments. The Task Force examined global trends in strategic affairs and their implications for India.
, Srinagar
and the Jawaharlal Nehru University
, New Delhi. He earned a D. Phil in International Relations from the University of Oxford
, United Kingdom. Mattoo qualified for the Indian Police Service in 1987 through the combined civil service exam but preferred a career in academics.
, USA, the University of Notre Dame
and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
. He has been Chairperson of the Centre for International Politics, Organization and Disarmament at Jawaharlal Nehru University
.
Nuclear policy, India-US relations, India -Pakistan ties and Kashmir are a few of the fields in which Mattoo's contribution will be recognised. Professor Mattoo's has published books on India's nuclear policy and India-Pakistan relations and has written on Kashmir. Mattoo has published ten books and more than 100 research articles (including in journals like Survival and Asian Survey). He writes for Indian newspapers, including The Telegraph and The Hindu and is a commentator on television.
Professor Mattoo became the youngest Vice-Chancellor of the University of Jammu in November 2002 and continued in this position until December 2008.
As a patron of the arts, Mattoo was responsible for building a world-class auditorium in Jammu university, which also hosts an art gallery and a museum. Leading artists of India, including Jogen Chaudhary, have donated their work to the gallery. As President of the J&K chapter of SPIC-Macay, Mattoo was responsible for the University becoming a centre of culture.
Mattoo's attempts at conflict resolution and peace building(combining theory with practice) have been publicly acclaimed. He was a member of the committee, appointed by the Governor of Jammu and Kashmir in 2008, which negotiated the controversial Amarnath land transfer row, which had led to uprisings in Jammu and Kashmir.
On 3 February 2011, Mattoo - in a meeting with India's Education Minister Kapil Sibal- declined to be the Founding Vice Chancellor of the Central University of Jammu for which he had been selected by a search committee of eminent academics (and approved by the President of India),citing personal reasons Earlier, he was in the shortlist of three for the Vice Chancellorship of Jawaharlal Nehru University. The Human Resources Development Ministry, however, took the view that a scientist needed to be the Vice Chancellor.On 1 March 2011 the University of Melbourne appointed Professor Amitabh Mattoo as the inaugural Director of the Australia India Institute.The Chairman of the Institute Board, University of Melbourne Chancellor the Hon. Alex Chernov AO QC (now Governor of Victoria) said: “We are delighted to have as Director a person of world renowned academic and administrative calibre such as Professor Mattoo. He has a wealth of experience in areas concerned with university affairs, government and other institutions." Mattoo will lso serve as a Professor of International Relations in the Faculty of Arts at the University of Melbourne. 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 us’.
honoured Professor Mattoo on the occasion of the Republic Day (2008) with the Padma Shri
, one of India's highest civilian awards, the first time a Vice-chancellor in Jammu and Kashmir
has been so honoured.
Professor Amitabh Mattoo was awarded the Qimpro Platinum Standard Award (2008)and was recognised as a National Statesman for his work in the field of education along with Mr Anand Mahindra who was awarded for his leadership in business. In 2008, "n recognition of his achievements in the fields of academics and international relations and for serving the people of Jammu & Kashmir dedicatedly, Prof Mattoo was declared Person of the Year by Shehjar
Srinagar
Srinagar is the summer seasonal capital of Jammu and Kashmir. It is situated in Kashmir Valley and lies on the banks of the Jhelum River, a tributary of the Indus. It is one of the largest cities in India not to have a Hindu majority. The city is famous for its gardens, lakes and houseboats...
) is one of India's leading thinkers and writers on international relations. He is currently the inaugural Director of the Australia India Institute and Professor of International Relations at the University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. He is on leave from New Delhi's Jawaharlal Nehru University
Jawaharlal Nehru University
Jawaharlal Nehru University, also known as JNU, is located in New Delhi, the capital of India. It is mainly a research oriented postgraduate University with approximately 5,500 students and a faculty strength of around 550.-History:...
where he serves as a Professor of International Studies. Mattoo has been a Member of the National Knowledge Commission, a high-level advisory group to the Prime Minister of India, and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Jammu.
Professor Mattoo is also President of the Indian Association of International Studies. From November 2002 until early December 2008, Amitabh Mattoo was the youngest ever Vice-Chancellor of the University of Jammu
University of Jammu
The University of Jammu was established in 1969 by an Act of the State Legislature which effectively bifurcated the erstwhile Jammu and Kashmir University into the Universities of Jammu and Kashmir respectively. The University is at present located on the banks of the Tawi River...
, and among the youngest Vice Chancellors in the history of independent India.
Professor Mattoo serves on the Council of the Indian Council for World Affairs (ICWA), the Governing council of Pugwash
Pugwash Conferences on Science and World Affairs
The Pugwash Conferences on Science and World Affairs is an international organization that brings together scholars and public figures to work toward reducing the danger of armed conflict and to seek solutions to global security threats...
, the Nobel prize winning NGO
Non-governmental organization
A non-governmental organization is a legally constituted organization created by natural or legal persons that operates independently from any government. The term originated from the United Nations , and is normally used to refer to organizations that do not form part of the government and are...
, on the Academic Advisory Committee of the Indian Council for Cultural Relations, and is a Director of the India-Afghanistan Foundation (established by the governments of India and Afghanistan). Mattoo is a member of the Academic Council of Vishwabharti University as well as the Executive Council of the Central University of Karnataka. Professor Mattoo was a member of India's National Security Council's Advisory Board and a member of the task force constituted by Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh
Manmohan Singh
Manmohan Singh is the 13th and current Prime Minister of India. He is the only Prime Minister since Jawaharlal Nehru to return to power after completing a full five-year term. A Sikh, he is the first non-Hindu to occupy the office. Singh is also the 7th Prime Minister belonging to the Indian...
on Global Strategic Developments. The Task Force examined global trends in strategic affairs and their implications for India.
Early life and education
Amitabh Mattoo had his early education in Burn Hall SchoolBurn Hall School
Burn Hall School is a missionary school for boys situated in Srinagar, India, the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir. The school was established by the Mill Hill fathers/missionaries of Ireland....
, Srinagar
Srinagar
Srinagar is the summer seasonal capital of Jammu and Kashmir. It is situated in Kashmir Valley and lies on the banks of the Jhelum River, a tributary of the Indus. It is one of the largest cities in India not to have a Hindu majority. The city is famous for its gardens, lakes and houseboats...
and the Jawaharlal Nehru University
Jawaharlal Nehru University
Jawaharlal Nehru University, also known as JNU, is located in New Delhi, the capital of India. It is mainly a research oriented postgraduate University with approximately 5,500 students and a faculty strength of around 550.-History:...
, New Delhi. He earned a D. Phil in International Relations from the University of Oxford
University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
, United Kingdom. Mattoo qualified for the Indian Police Service in 1987 through the combined civil service exam but preferred a career in academics.
Career
He has been visiting Professor at Stanford UniversityStanford University
The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
, USA, the University of Notre Dame
University of Notre Dame
The University of Notre Dame du Lac is a Catholic research university located in Notre Dame, an unincorporated community north of the city of South Bend, in St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States...
and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
The University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign is a large public research-intensive university in the state of Illinois, United States. It is the flagship campus of the University of Illinois system...
. He has been Chairperson of the Centre for International Politics, Organization and Disarmament at Jawaharlal Nehru University
Jawaharlal Nehru University
Jawaharlal Nehru University, also known as JNU, is located in New Delhi, the capital of India. It is mainly a research oriented postgraduate University with approximately 5,500 students and a faculty strength of around 550.-History:...
.
Nuclear policy, India-US relations, India -Pakistan ties and Kashmir are a few of the fields in which Mattoo's contribution will be recognised. Professor Mattoo's has published books on India's nuclear policy and India-Pakistan relations and has written on Kashmir. Mattoo has published ten books and more than 100 research articles (including in journals like Survival and Asian Survey). He writes for Indian newspapers, including The Telegraph and The Hindu and is a commentator on television.
Professor Mattoo became the youngest Vice-Chancellor of the University of Jammu in November 2002 and continued in this position until December 2008.
As a patron of the arts, Mattoo was responsible for building a world-class auditorium in Jammu university, which also hosts an art gallery and a museum. Leading artists of India, including Jogen Chaudhary, have donated their work to the gallery. As President of the J&K chapter of SPIC-Macay, Mattoo was responsible for the University becoming a centre of culture.
Mattoo's attempts at conflict resolution and peace building(combining theory with practice) have been publicly acclaimed. He was a member of the committee, appointed by the Governor of Jammu and Kashmir in 2008, which negotiated the controversial Amarnath land transfer row, which had led to uprisings in Jammu and Kashmir.
On 3 February 2011, Mattoo - in a meeting with India's Education Minister Kapil Sibal- declined to be the Founding Vice Chancellor of the Central University of Jammu for which he had been selected by a search committee of eminent academics (and approved by the President of India),citing personal reasons Earlier, he was in the shortlist of three for the Vice Chancellorship of Jawaharlal Nehru University. The Human Resources Development Ministry, however, took the view that a scientist needed to be the Vice Chancellor.On 1 March 2011 the University of Melbourne appointed Professor Amitabh Mattoo as the inaugural Director of the Australia India Institute.The Chairman of the Institute Board, University of Melbourne Chancellor the Hon. Alex Chernov AO QC (now Governor of Victoria) said: “We are delighted to have as Director a person of world renowned academic and administrative calibre such as Professor Mattoo. He has a wealth of experience in areas concerned with university affairs, government and other institutions." Mattoo will lso serve as a Professor of International Relations in the Faculty of Arts at the University of Melbourne. 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 us’.
Awards
Recognizing his contribution to education and public life, the President of IndiaPresident of India
The President of India is the head of state and first citizen of India, as well as the Supreme Commander of the Indian Armed Forces. President of India is also the formal head of all the three branches of Indian Democracy - Legislature, Executive and Judiciary...
honoured Professor Mattoo on the occasion of the Republic Day (2008) with the Padma Shri
Padma Shri
Padma Shri is the fourth highest civilian award in the Republic of India, after the Bharat Ratna, the Padma Vibhushan and the Padma Bhushan...
, one of India's highest civilian awards, the first time a Vice-chancellor in Jammu and Kashmir
Jammu and Kashmir
Jammu and Kashmir is the northernmost state of India. It is situated mostly in the Himalayan mountains. Jammu and Kashmir shares a border with the states of Himachal Pradesh and Punjab to the south and internationally with the People's Republic of China to the north and east and the...
has been so honoured.
Professor Amitabh Mattoo was awarded the Qimpro Platinum Standard Award (2008)and was recognised as a National Statesman for his work in the field of education along with Mr Anand Mahindra who was awarded for his leadership in business. In 2008, "n recognition of his achievements in the fields of academics and international relations and for serving the people of Jammu & Kashmir dedicatedly, Prof Mattoo was declared Person of the Year by Shehjar