KISSINGER AT 100

KISSINGER AT 100

Henry Kissinger is 100 years old. Born on 27 May, 1923, this Jewish refugee fleeing Nazi Germany in 1938, alumnus of Harvard College and Harvard University, Nobel Peace Prize winner in 1973 for successful mediation in bringing about ceasefire in Vietnam, prominent player in opening up Sino-US relations by way of splitting the already strained communist alliance between the Soviet Union and China, seminal contributor to the Paris Peace Accords, was a controversial figure as he engaged the US in supporting West Pakistan in 1971 when it was conducting a genocide in East Pakistan, now Bangladesh. A brilliant and often ruthless brain who practised Realpolitik, Kissinger has been a key figure in post-war geopolitics. Now at 100 years old, he must be looking back upon his achievements and failures which have shaped the destiny of 20th century man. Such a Secretary of State the United States of America has never had. A man of epic proportions.

Written by Sugata Bose