Sherman Teichman and I met many years ago at Tufts when I was studying at the Fletcher School. He was then launching EPIIC, an epic 360 program as a complement to the more formal study of liberal arts and sciences at the university. For my one dimensional mind it opened up and supplemented my multi/inter-disciplinary education and teaching in international relations, political ecology and contemporary affairs. Over time through seminars, active field engagement, workshops, sterling speakers from the mainstream and alternative policy and academic universe, I witnessed the growth of a live forum of what a life of the mind can be. Through critical thinking and self reflection year after year one witnessed students bring together their inner and outer journey's and realise their potential. This was a seminal encounter for my personal and professional growth while teaching in the Boston area and later in my professional work as a diplomat, international civil servant, activist in politics, and civic life in NGOs and movements. But explicitly it enabled my transition to a full human being - helping me recognize my limitations and possibilities - making me self-aware of what a wholesome person means.
Kishore Mandhyan's work covers peacekeeping and diplomacy; teaching and research in global security, political ecology and social change; civic and political activism in sustainable development; and international administration and governance. Currently, he is Co-Convenor-Maharashtra of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP-Commoner’s Party) and Lok Sabha Prabhari for the Mumbai South Parliamentary Constituency. He worked on the State Advisory Council to the Maharashtra State Executive, Mumbai Metropolitan Region Working Group, Political Education and Training Committee and Disciplinary/ Grievance Cells, on matters related to party organization, manifesto, policy/ program and election campaign issues, funding and external relations.
He was Political Director a.i and Deputy Director for Peacekeeping, Humanitarian and Human Rights in the Cabinet of the United Nations Secretary General. He represented the Executive Office of the Secretary General to the International Parliamentary Union, and was responsible for portfolios related to the Alliance of Civilizations, Human Security, Peacebuilding; Protection of Civilians, Coordination of anti-Piracy operations off the coast of Somalia, Restoration of Buddha’s Lumbini Cultural site/ Nepal; North and Horn of Africa (Western Sahara/ Morocco, Libya) and West, Central and South Asia including the Gulf.
Prior to the UN secretariat in New York, through the nineties until 2007, he led political and civil operations (annex 1 - select list attached) in UN peacekeeping missions and transitional administrations in conflict zones. These included countries which emerged out of the former Yugoslavia - Croatia, Bosnia, Macedonia and Kosovo in Europe; Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Cyprus, Jordan in West Asia, Gulf and the Middle East.
In the eighties, he taught International Relations/ Organization, Comparative Politics and Environmental Policy at Boston College, Tufts and Harvard and served as a panelist on public and foreign affairs in various national and global forums (annex 2 - select list attached). He was recognized for Excellence in Teaching at Harvard, at Tufts by the Institute for Global Leadership and Jai Hind College (Bombay University) for his international service, and as a thought leader at the World Vision Institute.
At the World Bank in the Office of Science and Technology he researched and co-wrote the Strategy for Renewable Energy Technologies. And as member of the Save Mumbai Committee he co-drafted the Citizen’s Urban Regional Environmental Approach in response to the Municipal Development Master Plan of 1981-2001. He has reviewed and drafted several reports of the UN Secretary General to the General Assembly and the Security Council on peace, security and sustainable development.
His professional administrative career began with the Government of India in the Central Civil Services in the early seventies holding assignments with the Ministry of Communications in Maharashtra. Educated in the Physical Sciences and Law at Bombay University, his advanced graduate study in international political economy of security and development, global policy and governance, and diplomatic history was at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy in Boston. He was trained in public administration at the National Academy of Administration/ India, the Program on Negotiation/ Harvard, and the Sloan Workshop on Nuclear Arms Control/ MIT.
Associations he is a part of include the Triglav Circle (France), Transnational Futures Foundation (Sweden), Global Dialogue Forum (Australia), TITLI (Teacher’s Institute for Transformative Learning in India). He was also a member of the Greenpeace Advisory Board/ New England Chapter, and produced and ran a cultural radio show ALMANAC on FM 91.5 geared to the South Asian migrant community in Boston. His interests are in travel and comparative research on Indian states, South Asian and Indian foreign policy, governance of UN peace operations; poetry; architecture, permaculture gardens, community sustainable agriculture and slow food (Terra Madre).
Kishore’s Recent Publications/ Appearances: Ecological Economics: An Institutional Perspective/ NMMS Journal of Management and Policy - 2019; Redefining Perspectives: TedX KCCSR – 2019; Reflections on Indian Elections 2019/ Young Entrepreneurs Club35 – March 2019 (annex 3 – select list attached).
Key UN HQ Field Assignments
Director of Political Affairs/ United Nations Assistance Mission in Iraq (UNAMI) – 2004/ 2007
Core Mandate: *Stabilisation *State and Nation Building *Constitution Making * Conduct of Elections *Delivery of Services *Humanitarian Coordination *Planning of Census *Mediation of Internal Disputed Boundaries (Kurdistan) *Regional Reconciliation (West Asia, Gulf, Middle East) *Restoration of damaged Samarra Mosque with UNESCO
Representative of the Secretary General and Designated Security Coordinator/ United Nations Liaison Office in Croatia (UNLO) – 1999/ 2002
Core Mandate: *Representation and Liaison post peacekeeping phase *Oversight of post-Dayton Erdut Agreement *Co-Chair/ UN-US Article 11 Commission *Sustaining Croatia-UN peace agreements *Inputs pertinent to Croatian candidacy to the EU in Stabilization and Association Process *Political support to International War Crimes Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (UNICTY) *Coordination of UN Funds, Agencies and Programs *Safety and Security of UN staff
Political Advisor/ United Nations Mission in Prevlaka (UNMOP) – 1999/ 2002
Core Mandate: *Advice and support to multinational UN Observer Group deployed in the disputed Prevlaka peninsula between Croatia and Montenegro *Facilitation of territorial transfer agreement
Head of Civil Affairs/ United Nations Mission in Bosnia-Herzegovina (UNMIBH) – 1998/ 1999
Core Mandate: *Implementation of Annex 11 of the Dayton Agreement and Bonn-Petersburg Agreement on effective law enforcement *Political Advice to International Police Task Force (IPTF) *Formation of Border Control Mechanism and Freedom of Movement protocols *Establishment and execution of Legislative, Judicial and Penal System Assessment and Reform Program *Training, Audit, Accreditation and Governance of criminal justice institutions *Handover to EU High Representative for follow up to UN mandate *Support, safety and security of refugees and displaced persons *Restoration of damaged bridge in Mostar with UNESCO
Co-Chair/ United Nations-European Union Joint Commission on Civil Administration and Public Records – United Nations Transitional Administration in Eastern Slavonia (UNTAES) - 1996/97
Core Mandate: *Interim governance of the disputed territory of Eastern Slavonia between Serbia and Croatia *Facilitation of merger and integration of the people, territories and institutions of Baranja and Srem into the Croatian constitutional system
Co-Chair/ United Nations-Council of Europe Joint Commission on Education and Culture – United Nations Transitional Administration (UNTAES) – 1996/97
Core Mandate: *Convening and facilitating negotiations including transitional governance of public education and culture regimes within framework of the European Convention on Minorities *Design and implement options for merger of education and culture structures, teacher accreditation, language, recognition of curricula, and governance of minority (Hungarian, Serbian, Slovak, Gypsy) education and cultural requirements in accordance with international human rights standards
Political Advisor/ United Nations Confidence Restoration Operation in Croatia (UNCRO)/ 1995-1996
Core Mandate: *Develop and implement real time observation, monitoring, reportage, prevention, and diplomatic engagement on human rights violations, crimes against humanity, mass atrocities, war crimes post military action (Operations Flash and Storm) in United Nations Protected Areas (UNPAs).
Member – Task Force/ United Nations Protection Force in the Former Yugoslavia (UNPROFOR)/ 1993-94
Core Mandate: *Political advice to UN military forces, civil society, international non-governmental organizations on humanitarian protection and human rights matters * Interpretation of security council mandates related to cease-fires, rules of engagement, economic and political agreements between parties to conflict *Confidence Building measures and Peacebuilding initiatives in Zones of Separation *Support of Demining projects
Kishore is, simply put, a unique talent, a man of extraordinary courage and integrity, whom I am honored to call a friend. I first worked with him in the context of preparing and placing my students and alumni in the sensitive circumstances of post-Dayton Former Yugoslavia.
What is very exciting for me is that he will be integral to the unique educational incubator of Sai University in Chennai. His breadth of knowledge and experience will continue to inspire the next generation of Indian generations.