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{{Use Indian English|date=March 2015}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2020}}
{{Infobox officeholder
|honorific-prefix =
|name = Asoke Kumar Mukerji
|image =
|birth_date = {{birth year and age|1955|12}}
|birth_place = [[Kolkata]], [[India]]
|office = [[Permanent Representative of India to the United Nations]]
|term_start = April 2013
|term_end = December 2015
|predecessor = [[Hardeep Singh Puri]]
|successor = [[Syed Akbaruddin]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.undpi.org/World-News/Syed-Akbaruddin-presents-his-credentials-to-UN-Secy-General.html |title=Archived copy |accessdate=2016-02-07 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160207163930/http://www.undpi.org/World-News/Syed-Akbaruddin-presents-his-credentials-to-UN-Secy-General.html |archivedate=7 February 2016}}</ref>
|office1 = Special Secretary (Political matters) in <br>[[Ministry of External Affairs (India)|Ministry of External Affairs]] at [[New Delhi]]
|term_start1 =February 2012
|term_end1 = March 2013
|predecessor1 =
|successor1 =
|office2 = Additional Secretary (Foreign policy planning & review) in<br>[[Ministry of External Affairs (India)|Ministry of External Affairs]] at [[New Delhi]]
|term_start2 =2010
|term_end2 =2012
|predecessor2 =
|successor2 =
|office3 =Deputy High Commissioner of India to the [[United Kingdom]]
|term_start3 =2007
|term_end3 =2010
|predecessor3 =[[Ranjan Mathai]]
|successor3 =Rajesh N Prasad
|occupation = Diplomat ([[Indian Foreign Service|IFS]])
}}

'''Asoke Kumar Mukerji''' (born December 1955) is a former [[India]]n diplomat and writer. He was [[Permanent Representative of India to the United Nations]] from April 2013 to December 2015.<ref name=mukerji>{{cite web|url=https://www.pminewyork.org/pages.php?id=1401 |title=Ambassador's profile, Permanent Representative of India to the United Nations |accessdate=2014-08-19}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Permanent Representatives of India to the United Nations|url=https://www.pminewyork.org/pages.php?id=962|accessdate=2014-08-19|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303225044/https://www.pminewyork.org/pages.php?id=962|archive-date=3 March 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Early life and education==
Mukerji was educated at [[St. Joseph's School, Darjeeling|North Point School]], [[Darjeeling]] and [[St. Stephen's College, Delhi|St. Stephen's College]], [[Delhi]].<ref name=mukerji />

==Diplomatic career==

Mukerji qualified for the Indian Foreign Service, which he joined in July 1978.

His early diplomatic career took him to [[Belgrade]] and [[Washington DC]]. He became Consul General of India in Soviet Central Asia in June 1990, and helped transform India's relations with the five newly independent countries of [[Uzbekistan]], [[Kazakhstan]], [[Kyrgyzstan]], [[Tajikistan]] and [[Turkmenistan]] during the momentous period of transition following the [[dissolution of the Soviet Union]]. During March 1992 to December 1992, he was India's first [[Charge d'affaires]] in Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan.<ref name=mukerji /> Mukerji is actively interested in Central Asian affairs. In July 2012, he articulated a forward-looking view on interaction with Central Asia in an address at the International Institute of Strategic Studies in London.

Mukerji worked as a trade negotiator in the newly formed [[World Trade Organization]] between 1995-98. He was among the first Indian officials tasked with representing India in trade disputes involving India brought before the WTO Dispute Settlement Mechanism. The WTO Dispute Settlement Body in its meeting on 21 October 1998 recognized his "knowledge of the WTO issues was unsurpassed" while approving his inclusion in the Indicative List of Panelists for Dispute Settlement.<ref>Minutes of WTO Dispute Settlement Body Meeting No. WT/DSB/M/48, p.19</ref> Mukerji's article "Developing Countries and the WTO: Issues of Implementation" published in 2000 <ref>{{cite journal|url=https://www.kluwerlawonline.com/abstract.php?area=Journals&id=313133|title=Developing Countries and the WTO; Issues of Implementation|first=Mukerji|last=Asoke|date=1 December 2000|journal=Journal of World Trade|volume=34|issue=6}}</ref> has been widely used in the context of the Doha Development Round of trade negotiations.

He is credited with the formation of the first private-public partnership Indian Community Welfare Committee in the [[United Arab Emirates]] during his assignment as Consul General of India in [[Dubai]] (1998-2001).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pravasitoday.com/icwc-has-so-far-handled-47-diya-money-cases-since-inception-and-hopes-to-hit-the-half-a-century-mark-soon|archiveurl=https://archive.fo/20150119022554/http://www.pravasitoday.com/icwc-has-so-far-handled-47-diya-money-cases-since-inception-and-hopes-to-hit-the-half-a-century-mark-soon|url-status=dead|title='ICWC has so far handled 47 Diya money cases since inception and hope…|date=19 January 2015|archivedate=19 January 2015}}</ref> This platform, under the patronage of the Government of India, brought together stakeholders from the private sector, public undertakings, and individual civil society representatives, including women social workers, to deal with issues facing Indian nationals in distress.

Mukerji was India's Deputy Ambassador to the Russian Federation between 2001-2005. He was responsible for the implementation of projects inducting modern defence systems into the three wings of India's armed forces during his assignment, including the T-90 main battle tank,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://english.pravda.ru/news/world/04-01-2002/24035-0/#.VLnzBGA5CM8|title=First Batch of Russian T-90 Tanks Delivered To India|date=3 January 2002}}</ref> and the Su-30MKI fighter aircraft.

As India's Ambassador to [[Kazakhstan]] (2005-2007), Mukerji negotiated the acquisition of India's first Caspian Sea oilfield stake (Satpayev) in 2005 by Indian Government-owned [[Oil and Natural Gas Corporation]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://investkz.com/en/journals/76/618.html|title=Deferred expectations from Kazakhstani shelf|website=investkz.com}}</ref>

Between 2007-10, Mukerji was India's Deputy High Commissioner to the [[United Kingdom]] at [[London]], which is India's oldest and largest diplomatic mission.<ref name=mukerji />

Mukerji was responsible for India's foreign policy planning and review, participation in international organizations, border management, and cyber issues as Additional Secretary in the Ministry of External Affairs from 2010-2012. He headed the Government of India's multi-agency counter terrorism working groups with foreign countries, including with the five permanent members of the UN Security Council, and co-chaired the India-EU Security Dialogue.<ref name=mukerji /> He led Indian delegations for dialogues on cyber issues with the United States, United Kingdom,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.aninews.in/newsdetail2/story83454/india-uk-to-enhance-international-cooperation-on-cyber-security.html |title=Archived copy |accessdate=2015-12-28 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160123081327/http://www.aninews.in/newsdetail2/story83454/india-uk-to-enhance-international-cooperation-on-cyber-security.html |archivedate=23 January 2016}}</ref> Russia and Japan<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mofa.go.jp/announce/announce/2012/11/1105_01.html|title=MOFA: The 1st Meeting of Japan-India Cyber Dialogue|website=www.mofa.go.jp}}</ref> between 2011-2012.

He was Chairman of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) Steering Committee that established the South Asia Forum,<ref>http://mea.gov.in/in-focus-article.htm?3048/Foreign+Secretarys+media+interaction+during+curtain+raiser+for+1st+meeting+of+SAF</ref> tasked with implementing a South Asian Economic Union by the SAARC Summit in Maldives in 2011. He has worked closely with Indian and international think-tanks on foreign policy issues related to major transitions in India's immediate neighbourhood.<ref name=mukerji />

==At the United Nations==
Mukerji spearheaded India's campaign in the [[United Nations General Assembly]] mandated Inter-Governmental Negotiations for expanding and reforming the [[United Nations Security Council]], catalyzing the consensus United Nations General Assembly Decision 69/560 of 14 September 2015 adopting a text-based negotiation process after 23 years of discussions.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.un.org/press/en/2015/ga11679.doc.htm|title=General Assembly Adopts, without Vote, 'Landmark' Decision on Advancing Efforts to Reform, Increase Membership of Security Council — Meetings Coverage and Press Releases|website=www.un.org}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.firstpost.com/world/india-calls-transparency-reforms-un-security-council-1816355.html|title=India calls for more transparency, reforms in UN Security Council — Firstpost|website=www.firstpost.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/ng-interactive/2015/sep/23/un-security-council-failing-70-years|title=Vetoed! What's wrong with the UN security council – and how it could do better|first1=Julian|last1=Borger|first2=Bastien|last2=Inzaurralde|first3=Cath|last3=Levett|first4=Chris|last4=Newell|first5=Finbarr|last5=Sheehy|first6=Phil|last6=Maynard|first7=Julian|last7=Borger|first8=Bastien|last8=Inzaurralde|first9=Cath|last9=Levett|first10=Chris|last10=Newell|first11=Finbarr|last11=Sheehy|first12=Phil|last12=Maynard|via=www.theguardian.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://america.aljazeera.com/articles/2015/10/2/paralysis-over-syria-builds-pressure-for-reform-at-united-nations.html|title=Paralysis over Syria builds pressure for reform at United Nations}}</ref>

He projected the interests of India as a major troop-contributing country to [[United Nations Peacekeeping Operations|United Nations peacekeeping operations]].<ref name="speech1">{{cite web | url=https://www.pminewyork.org/all_speeches.php?id=3&sid=1 | title=Ambassador's Speeches | publisher=Permanent Representative of India to the United Nations | date=17 February 2015 | accessdate=13 March 2015}}</ref><ref>https://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/sep/17/un-united-nations-peacekeepers-rwanda-bosnia</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/sep/07/what-has-the-un-achieved-united-nations|title=70 years and half a trillion dollars later: what has the UN achieved?|first=Chris|last=McGreal|date=7 September 2015|website=The Guardian}}</ref> During [[United Nations]] negotiations on [[Agenda 2030]], Mukerji advocated strongly for the greater use of technology, especially information and communication technology, to accelerate development.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/economy/indicators/inclusive-growth-should-be-guiding-objective-of-undp-india/articleshow/29545242.cms?intenttarget=no|title=Inclusive growth should be guiding objective of UNDP: India|date=16 January 2018|via=The Economic Times}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.outlookindia.com/newswire/story/un-agenda-should-ensure-developed-nations-accountability-india/878023|title=UN Agenda Should Ensure Developed Nations' Accountability: India}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.outlookindia.com/article/the-sdg-agenda/295415|title=The SDG Agenda}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=snb-_-eW4pc|title=Ambassador Asoke K. Mukerji's Interview with All India Radio|last=India at United Nations|date=16 October 2015|via=YouTube}}</ref> The outcome of the [[United Nations]] process on Financing for Development reflected the acceptance of this proposal by the establishment of a Technology Facilitation Mechanism.<ref>United Nations A/RES/69/313 paras G.114 and G.123 dated 17 August 2015</ref>

The Review of [[World Summit on the Information Society|the World Summit on the Information Society]] (WSIS) by the [[United Nations General Assembly]] endorsed accelerating the use of ICTs for development, including bridging the digital divides.<ref>United Nations A/70/L.33 dated 13 December 2015</ref>

During a review in the [[United Nations]] on the future role of [[UN peacekeeping]], Mukerji raised greater awareness of the need to recognize the value and role of troops sent by UN member states for peacekeeping operations.

In July 2014, the [[United Nations]] agreed, after protracted negotiations which had dragged on for almost ten years, on increasing the monthly reimbursements to troops deployed on [[United Nations Department of Peace Operations|United Nations peacekeeping operations]] through a survey mechanism of troop contributing countries. Consequently, the rate reimbursed for each soldier deployed for UN peacekeeping rose from US$1028 per month to US$1332 per month, and would rise up to US$1410 per month by 2017.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.un.org/press/en/2014/gaab4116.doc.htm|title=Concluding Second Resumed Session, Fifth Committee Approves Texts on Peacekeeping Budget, Increasing Troop Reimbursement Rates — Meetings Coverage and Press Releases|website=www.un.org}}</ref>

India became the first UN troop contributing country to create a Virtual Wall in honor of her fallen UN peacekeepers, which was launched by Mukerji at the United Nations on 29 May 2015.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/international/india-unveils-virtual-memorial-wall-for-fallen-un-peacekeepers/article7263356.ece|title=India unveils virtual memorial wall for fallen UN peacekeepers|last=Ians|date=30 May 2015|via=www.thehindu.com}}</ref>

The proposal by India for the establishment of a Memorial Wall at the United Nations Headquarters to honor the more than 3300 soldiers who have laid down their lives during UN peacekeeping operations was recommended by the Special Committee on Peacekeeping Operations in its report A/69/19 (Para 19), and adopted by the UN General Assembly in June 2015.

Participating in the Leaders' Summit on Peacekeeping on 28 September 2015, Prime Minister Modi called for this memorial wall to be created quickly, affirming India's readiness to contribute, including financially, towards this objective.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.narendramodi.in/statement-by-prime-minister-at-the-summit-on-peace-operations--356824|title=India's commitment to UN Peacekeeping remains strong and will grow: PM Modi at the Summit on Peace Operations}}</ref>

Mukerji crafted the successful campaign in the [[United Nations General Assembly]] to have a Resolution adopted by consensus to declare 21 June of every year as the [[International Day of Yoga]] , implementing a proposal made by Prime Minister [[Narendra Modi]] of India to the United Nations General Assembly on 27 September 2014.<ref>https://www.un.org/en/ga/69/meetings/gadebate/27sep/india.shtml |</ref> The Resolution moved by India attracted a record number of 177 co-sponsoring countries, and was tabled, negotiated and adopted between 27 September 2014 and 11 December 2014, making it one of the fastest initiatives of its kind to be implemented in the United Nations General Assembly.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/un-declares-june-21-as-international-day-of-yoga/articleshow/45481256.cms?intenttarget=no|title=UN declares June 21 as 'International Day of Yoga'|date=11 December 2014|publisher=|via=The Economic Times}}</ref> The United Nations commemoration of the First International day of Yoga was held outdoors on 21 June 2015 with the active participation of the UN Secretary General Ban ki-Moon, and beamed live for the thousands of yoga practitioners gathered at the iconic Times Square in the heart of Manhattan, symbolically linking the activities of the United Nations with the wider world.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=51210#.VbxcZupRGM8|title=UN News — Celebrating first International Day, UN says Yoga can boost public health and promote peaceful relations|first=United Nations News Service|last=Section|date=21 June 2015|website=UN News Service Section}}</ref>

His contributions to the work of the United Nations during his assignment were positively assessed, especially by his peers.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.business-standard.com/article/news-ians/thanks-to-mukerji-serious-negotiations-on-security-council-to-begin-116013100286_1.html|title=Thanks to Mukerji, serious negotiations on Security Council to begin|last=IANS|date=31 January 2016|via=Business Standard}}</ref>

==Public Speaking==
Mukerji has been a public speaker at the Universities of Cambridge,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.admin.cam.ac.uk/whatson/detail.shtml?uid=20100509T023437Z-events@fe80:0:0:0:216:3eff:fe03:b98b%252|title=What's On: What's On|website=www.admin.cam.ac.uk}}</ref> Oxford, Harvard,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://indiaconferenceatharvard.com/2014/speaker/asoke-kumar-mukerji/|title=Amb. Asoke Kumar Mukerji — India Conference at Harvard|date=9 January 2014}}</ref> Columbia,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-others/intellectuals-pay-rich-tribute-to-ambedkar-at-columbia-university/|title=Intellectuals pay rich tribute to Ambedkar at Columbia University|date=29 October 2013}}</ref> Princeton,<ref>https://www.ias.edu/files/pdfs/publications/annualreport1314.pdf</ref> Rochester,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sjfc.edu/news/detail.dot?id=0b3372bd-2eb2-46b9-bae0-fff6c6edad14|title=Home — News and Events — St. John Fisher College|first=St John Fisher|last=College|access-date=7 June 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160308185506/http://www.sjfc.edu/news/detail.dot?id=0b3372bd-2eb2-46b9-bae0-fff6c6edad14|archive-date=8 March 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref> Dartmouth College,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://dartmouth.edu/events/event?event=34259#.VV6ucJVFCM8|title=Amb. Asoke Kumar Mukerji: Transforming India: Development and Diplomacy — Dartmouth College|website=dartmouth.edu}}</ref> at the London Conference on Cyberspace<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/london-conference-on-cyberspace-chairs-statement|title=London Conference on Cyberspace: Chair's statement — GOV.UK|website=www.gov.uk}}</ref> and at the public commemoration of the 70th Anniversary of the signing of the UN Charter in San Francisco.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://un70charter.org/schedule/ |title=Archived copy |accessdate=2015-08-01 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923004748/http://un70charter.org/schedule/ |archivedate=23 September 2015}}</ref><ref>https://www.pminewyork.org/speeches.php</ref>

Mukerji is a member of the International Institute of Strategic Studies, London, the United Service Institution (USI), India and the Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses (IDSA),India. He is also a mentor to the Centre for Strategic and Foreign Relations at [[Vision India Foundation]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://visionindiafoundation.com/aboutus/team/|title=Team|date=2014-12-19|website=Vision India Foundation|language=en|access-date=2019-06-19}}</ref>

==Works==
Asoke Kumar Mukerji has published seven books.<ref name=mukerji />
* ''Stamped in Memory: a Postal History of Dubai 1909-1999'' <ref>{{cite web|url=http://gulfnews.com/news/gulf/uae/general/book-on-stamps-released-1.426011|title=Book on stamps released|first=A Staff|last=Reporter|date=1 October 2001}}</ref>
* ''India through the eyes of Russian Artists''
* ''India House, London'' (available as an e-book at https://www.hcilondon.in/ebook/indiahouse/) <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.khabar.com/magazine/features/celebrating-londons-india-house-art.aspx|title=Celebrating London's India House Art|website=www.khabar.com}}</ref>
* ''Mahatma Gandhi in London'' (available as an e-book at https://www.hcilondon.in/ebook/gandhi/)
* ''Valour and Sacrifice: the First Indian Soldiers in Europe 1914-1916'' (available as an e-book at https://www.hcilondon.in/ebook/valour/)
* ''Indian War Memorials of the First World War'' (available as an e-book at https://www.pminewyork.org/slide_book/war_memorial/) <ref>http://webtv.un.org/watch/war-memorials-of-the-first-world-war-special-commemorative-event/3732679115001?page=2</ref>
* ''India and the United Nations: A Photo Journey 1945-2015'' (available as an e-book at https://www.pminewyork.org/slide_book/rvsd1_ind_un_70/) <ref>https://www.pminewyork.org/slide_book/rvsd1_ind_un_70/</ref>

==See also==
* [[Asian Indians in the New York City metropolitan region]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Mukerji, Asoke Kumar}}
[[Category:1955 births]]
[[Category:Permanent Representatives of India to the United Nations]]
[[Category:Ambassadors of India to Kazakhstan]]
[[Category:Indian civil servants]]
[[Category:Indian Foreign Service officers]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:University of Delhi alumni]]

Asoke Kumar Mukerji - Revision history

>SdkbBot at 22:28, 2 July 2021