New Delhi, January 3
National Security Adviser Jyotindra Nath Dixit, widely perceived as the modern-day Chanakya of Indian diplomacy and a strategic ideologue, died here early this morning following a massive heart attack, five days before he was to turn 69.

He is survived by wife and two daughters. The funeral will take place here on Wednesday, January 5.

Dixit’s death has come at a time when, as NSA, he was closely involved in back-channel diplomacy with India’s two nuclear neighbours — Pakistan and China — and was performing a pivotal role in shaping strategic partnership with three major powers — the USA, Russia and the UK.

He had two rounds of Special Representative-level talks with Chinese vice-minister Dai Bingguo on the Sino-Indian boundary dispute and had several covert meetings with his Pakistani counterpart Tariq Aziz, wherein the two NSAs choreographed Indo-Pak composite dialogue process.

Though a big void has been created in the South Block with Mr Dixit’s death, sources in the Prime Minister’s Office feel that it is too premature at this juncture to talk about Dixit’s replacement.

Dixit had attended a party late last night. Around 6.30 am, he felt acute pain in the chest and collapsed on way to the All-India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS). Doctors tried in vain to resuscitate him.

Dixit’s embalmed body has been kept at his official residence — 11, Safdarjung Lane — for people to pay their last respects.

The nation’s top leadership paid rich tributes to the late bureaucrat. President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi, former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Leader of the Opposition and former Deputy Prime Minister L.K. Advani, External Affairs Minister K. Natwar Singh, Home Minister Shivraj Patil and Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit were among those who visited his residence and paid their last tributes.

In his condolence message to Mrs Dixit, the Prime Minister said in Dixit’s death he personally had lost “a close friend, a valued colleague and a great source of support and advice” and the nation had lost “a true patriot, a great diplomat and a wise strategist”.

Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister T.K.A. Nair recalled that he and Dixit were with the Prime Minister till 8 pm yesterday and the NSA was briefing the PM about the major areas of challenges in India’s foreign relations.

Special Adviser to the Prime Minister M.K. Narayanan said he, along with Dixit and Nair, had formed a “troika” for a coordinated functioning in the PMO.

“Of the three, Dixit probably had the most difficult job as he was to deal with the outside world and he was of great help to the Prime Minister in this task,” he said.

Both said Dixit’s death was an irreparable loss to the nation.

Separate condolence meetings were organised at the PMO and in the Ministry of External Affairs.

High Commissioners of Pakistan and Bangladesh — Aziz Ahmed Khan and Himayayuddin — and diplomats of Iran, Russia and South Africa were among a number of foreign diplomats who paid tribute to the departed soul.

The US Embassy here paid rich tributes to the late NSA for the “central role” he played in improving the Indo-US relations.

“Ambassador David C. Mulford and his colleagues at the embassy note with great sadness the sudden demise of Mr Dixit. Throughout his distinguished career, Mr Dixit played a central role in improving the US-India relationship, most notably as the Foreign Secretary in the early 1990s and recently as National Security Adviser. Mr Dixit leaves behind many American friends and admirers,” a statement issued by the US Embassy said.

Punjab Governor and Administrator, Union Territory, Chandigarh, S.F. Rodrigues also expressed profound grief over the demise of the diplomat.

Describing Dixit as an able administrator and distinguished diplomat, the Governor said his contribution to different facets of national life would be ever remembered. He conveyed his sympathies to the bereaved family.

Dixit was appointed NSA in May, 2004 succeeding Brajesh Mishra soon after Manmohan Singh became the Prime Minister. He held the post with the rank of Minister of State.

Since 2003, he had been closely associated with the Congress’s foreign affairs cell. As its vice-chairman, he played an active role in drafting the party’s pre-poll paper on foreign policy, defence and national security.

He had the unique distinction of having served as India’s High Commissioner in the capitals of all South Asian neighbours — Bhutan, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Pakistan and Sri Lanka — except the Maldives, during a diplomatic career spanning nearly four decades.

He was the High Commissioner in Colombo in 1987 when India signed an accord with the LTTE and sent the Indian Peace Keeping Force to the Tamil area in the island nation at the height of ethnic crisis.

His influence with J.R. Jayawardene was so strong that he was known in the diplomatic circles in the island country as “viceroy”.

He was the first Indian High Commissioner to two important neighbouring countries —Bangladesh and Afghanistan — and had also served as High Commissioner in Islamabad.

The then Prime Minister P.V. Narasimha Rao had appointed Dixit as Foreign Secretary in 1992, a post he held till his superannuation in 1994.