U Thant

U Thant
U Thant in 1963
U Thant
Born	22 01, 1909
Birthplace	Pantanaw, Burma
Died	Template:Death date and age New York City, U.S.
Nationality	Burmese
Occupation	Diplomat, civil servant
Title	3rd Secretary-General of the United Nations
Known for	Third Secretary-General of the United Nations (1961–1971)
Education	University of Rangoon
Children	3

U Thant (Template:Lang; 22 January 1909 – 25 November 1974) was a Burmese diplomat who served as the third Secretary-General of the United Nations from 1961 to 1971, becoming the first Asian and the first non-Scandinavian to hold the position. Appointed to the role six weeks after the death of his predecessor, Dag Hammarskjöld, in a plane crash, Thant served for a record ten years and one month, navigating the United Nations through some of the most perilous episodes of the Cold War. His tenure was defined by his central role in defusing the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962, his direction of United Nations operations in the Congo, and his public criticism of United States involvement in the Vietnam War. A devout Buddhist known for his calm and unassuming demeanour, Thant brought a distinctive moral perspective to the office shaped by his faith and his experience as a citizen of a newly independent nation. He oversaw the admission of dozens of newly independent African and Asian states into the United Nations, reshaping the character of the General Assembly during the era of decolonization. His death in 1974, and the Burmese military government's refusal to honour him, triggered riots in Rangoon that underscored his enduring significance to the Burmese people.

Early Life

Thant was born on 22 January 1909 in Pantanaw, a small town in the Irrawaddy Delta region of Burma (present-day Myanmar). He grew up in a period of considerable political ferment, as Burma was under British colonial rule and nationalist sentiment was rising among the educated classes. His family was of modest but respectable standing, and his father was a prosperous landowner who placed great value on education.

As a young man, Thant was exposed to the cross-currents of Burmese political life. He held moderate views, positioning himself between the fervent nationalists who agitated for immediate independence and those who maintained loyalty to the British colonial administration. This capacity for moderation and balance would become a defining characteristic throughout his career in both Burmese politics and international diplomacy.

During his formative years, Thant developed a deep commitment to Theravada Buddhism, which profoundly influenced his worldview and his approach to public service. Scholars have noted that his Buddhist principles — particularly the emphasis on equanimity, compassion, and the avoidance of extremes — were instrumental in shaping his diplomatic style. His ability to remain calm and dispassionate in the face of intense geopolitical pressures would later earn him the respect of both Western and Eastern bloc diplomats.

Among his closest childhood and school friends was U Nu, who would go on to become Burma's first Prime Minister following the country's independence in 1948. This friendship proved consequential for Thant's career, as it opened the door to his entry into Burmese government service and, ultimately, to the international stage.

Education

Thant received his early education at the National High School in Pantanaw, where he excelled academically and first developed his interest in literature and history. He subsequently attended the University of Rangoon, the premier institution of higher learning in colonial Burma. At the university, he was part of a generation of Burmese students who would play leading roles in the country's independence movement and post-independence governance. The University of Rangoon during this period served as an incubator for political activism and intellectual debate, and Thant's time there reinforced both his nationalist sympathies and his moderate temperament.

After completing his studies, Thant returned to Pantanaw, where he initially pursued a career in education, working as a schoolteacher and later as a headmaster. His reputation as an educator and a thoughtful writer brought him to the attention of political leaders, including his friend U Nu, and set the stage for his transition into government service.

Career

Early Government Service in Burma

Following Burma's independence from Britain in 1948, Thant entered government service under the administration of Prime Minister U Nu. Between 1948 and 1961, he served in various positions within Nu's cabinet, gaining experience in public administration and developing an understanding of international affairs. His roles included work in the areas of information and broadcasting, and he served as a trusted adviser to the prime minister. Thant's moderate political stance and his reputation for integrity made him a valued figure within the ruling Anti-Fascist People's Freedom League (AFPFL), the dominant political party in post-independence Burma.

During this period, Thant also began to build relationships with foreign diplomats and to develop a reputation outside Burma. His calm manner, intellectual acuity, and command of English — honed during his years as an educator — distinguished him in diplomatic circles. In the late 1950s, he succeeded James Barrington as Burma's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, a posting that brought him to New York and placed him at the centre of international diplomacy during a critical period of the Cold War.

Appointment as Secretary-General

On 18 September 1961, Secretary-General Dag Hammarskjöld was killed in a plane crash while travelling to negotiate a ceasefire in the Congo Crisis. The search for a successor was complicated by Cold War tensions; the Soviet Union had previously proposed replacing the Secretary-General with a three-person "troika" representing the Western, Eastern, and non-aligned blocs. Thant, as a representative of a non-aligned nation, emerged as a compromise candidate acceptable to both superpowers.

On 30 November 1961, Thant was appointed Acting Secretary-General by the United Nations General Assembly. He was formally confirmed as Secretary-General the following year. His appointment marked a significant shift in the character of the office; he was the first person from outside Scandinavia and the first Asian to hold the position, reflecting the changing composition of the United Nations as newly independent nations from Africa and Asia joined the organization in growing numbers.

The Cuban Missile Crisis

The most dramatic test of Thant's tenure came in October 1962, during the Cuban Missile Crisis. The confrontation between the United States and the Soviet Union over the deployment of Soviet nuclear missiles in Cuba brought the world closer to nuclear war than at any other point during the Cold War. Thant played an active role in facilitating communications between U.S. President John F. Kennedy and Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev, serving as an intermediary at a moment when direct communication between the two leaders was fraught with risk.

Thant sent identical appeals to both Kennedy and Khrushchev, urging restraint and proposing a temporary suspension of the U.S. naval quarantine of Cuba and of Soviet arms shipments to the island. While the crisis was ultimately resolved through direct negotiations between Washington and Moscow, Thant's intervention was credited with helping to create diplomatic space for a peaceful resolution. His ability to maintain communication with both sides, drawing on the moral authority of the Secretary-General's office rather than coercive power, exemplified the approach he would take throughout his tenure.

The Congo Crisis and Operation Grandslam

The Congo Crisis, which had begun in 1960 following the country's independence from Belgium, remained a major challenge for the United Nations during Thant's early years as Secretary-General. The secessionist movement in the province of Katanga, led by Moise Tshombe and supported by foreign mining interests, threatened the territorial integrity of the newly independent nation and posed a test of the UN's peacekeeping capabilities.

In December 1962, Thant ordered Operation Grandslam, a United Nations military operation aimed at ending the Katangese secession. The operation, carried out by UN peacekeeping forces, succeeded in bringing an end to the secessionist insurgency and in reintegrating Katanga into the Congo. The decision to authorize the use of force was a significant one, and it demonstrated Thant's willingness to act decisively when he believed the principles of the United Nations Charter were at stake. The operation was controversial in some quarters, particularly among those who believed the UN should avoid military action, but it was credited with preserving the unity of the Congo and establishing an important precedent for UN peacekeeping operations.

Reappointment and Second Term

On 2 December 1966, Thant was reappointed as Secretary-General by a unanimous vote of the United Nations Security Council. His reappointment reflected the broad confidence he had earned among member states, despite the controversies that had accompanied some of his decisions.

During his second term, Thant oversaw the continued expansion of the United Nations, as numerous newly independent states in Africa and Asia were admitted to membership. This expansion transformed the character of the General Assembly, shifting the balance of power away from the Western bloc and giving greater voice to the developing world. Thant, as a representative of a post-colonial nation, was sympathetic to the aspirations of these new member states and worked to ensure that their concerns were heard within the UN system.

Criticism of the Vietnam War

Perhaps the most politically consequential aspect of Thant's second term was his public criticism of United States conduct in the Vietnam War. At a time when the Cold War made such criticism politically risky, Thant spoke out repeatedly against the escalation of the conflict, calling for negotiations and a peaceful settlement.

Thant's opposition to the war strained his relationship with the administration of President Lyndon B. Johnson and drew criticism from American officials who felt that the Secretary-General was overstepping the bounds of his office. Thant, however, maintained that the pursuit of peace was central to the mandate of the United Nations and that the Secretary-General had a duty to speak out against actions he believed threatened international peace and security. His stance earned him admiration in many parts of the world, particularly among those who opposed the war, and contributed to growing international pressure on the United States to seek a negotiated end to the conflict.

Thant's criticism of the Vietnam War was consistent with his broader approach to international relations, which emphasized dialogue, negotiation, and the peaceful settlement of disputes. His Buddhist faith, with its emphasis on non-violence and compassion, reinforced these convictions and set him apart from some of his predecessors and successors in the Secretary-General's office.

UNEF and Middle East Tensions

Thant's tenure also intersected with the volatile situation in the Middle East. The United Nations Emergency Force (UNEF), established in 1956 to supervise the ceasefire following the Suez Crisis, remained deployed in the Sinai Peninsula and the Gaza Strip during his time in office. In May 1967, Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser requested the withdrawal of UNEF forces from Egyptian territory. Thant complied with the request, a decision that proved controversial when the Six-Day War erupted shortly thereafter in June 1967. Critics argued that the withdrawal of UNEF removed a buffer that had helped to prevent conflict, while supporters of Thant's decision maintained that the Secretary-General had no legal authority to refuse the withdrawal request of a sovereign nation on whose territory the force was deployed.

The controversy over the UNEF withdrawal was one of the most debated episodes of Thant's tenure. It raised fundamental questions about the nature of UN peacekeeping, the limits of the Secretary-General's authority, and the relationship between the United Nations and sovereign states.

Retirement

Thant refused to serve a third term as Secretary-General. He stepped down on 31 December 1971, and was succeeded by Kurt Waldheim of Austria. In his farewell remarks, Thant reflected on the challenges facing the United Nations and the world, expressing concern about the growing gap between rich and poor nations, the persistence of armed conflict, and the threat posed by nuclear weapons. He also spoke of the limitations of the Secretary-General's office, noting that the ability of the UN to act was constrained by the willingness of its member states to cooperate.

Upon his retirement, Thant remained in New York, where he lived quietly. He continued to write and to offer his views on international affairs, though he no longer held any official position.

Personal Life

Thant was a devout Theravada Buddhist, and his faith was central to his personal and professional life. Scholars have described his approach to diplomacy as "Buddhism in action," noting the influence of Buddhist principles such as equanimity, compassion, and non-attachment on his decision-making and his public conduct. He practised meditation regularly and often spoke of the importance of inner calm in navigating the pressures of international diplomacy.

Thant had three children. His grandson, Thant Myint-U, became a historian and author, writing extensively on the history of Burma and of the United Nations. Thant Myint-U's works have contributed to a broader understanding of his grandfather's legacy and of Burma's place in the modern world.

Thant was known among his colleagues for his modesty, his courtesy, and his reluctance to seek the spotlight. His calm and unassuming demeanour won the respect of diplomats from a wide range of countries and political systems, and he was described as a man of principle who was willing to take unpopular positions when he believed them to be right.

Death and Funeral Crisis

U Thant died of lung cancer on 25 November 1974, in New York City, at the age of 65. His death set off a chain of events in Burma that revealed the depth of public affection for him and the tensions between the Burmese people and the country's military government.

The military government of Burma, led by General Ne Win, refused to grant Thant a state funeral or any official honours, a decision that outraged the Burmese public. Thant was the most prominent Burmese figure on the international stage, and his exclusion from official recognition was perceived as a deliberate slight by the military regime, which had long been at odds with the political legacy of U Nu and his associates.

When Thant's body was returned to Rangoon, students and citizens seized the coffin and brought it to the campus of the University of Rangoon, where they held their own memorial ceremonies. The military government responded by sending troops to retake the coffin, resulting in violent clashes that left scores of casualties. The events surrounding Thant's funeral became known as the U Thant crisis and represented one of the most significant episodes of public dissent in Burma during the military era.

Thant was eventually buried at the Kandawmin Garden Mausolea in Yangon, Myanmar.

Recognition

Thant's contributions to international diplomacy were recognized during and after his lifetime, though the nature of the Secretary-General's office — which depends on moral authority rather than coercive power — meant that his achievements were often more appreciated in retrospect than at the time.

His role in the Cuban Missile Crisis was considered one of the most significant interventions by a Secretary-General in the history of the United Nations, and it established a model for the use of the office as a channel for quiet diplomacy during international crises. His willingness to speak out against the Vietnam War, while controversial at the time, was later seen by many as an example of the Secretary-General's capacity to serve as a moral voice on issues of war and peace.

The Nobel Peace Prize was not awarded to Thant during his lifetime, though the role of the Secretary-General and the broader question of peace were subjects of ongoing discussion within the Nobel Committee during his tenure.

Efforts to preserve Thant's legacy in Burma have faced challenges. A project to establish a library in his honour in Yangon was reported to have stalled due to a lack of funding. His childhood home in Pantanaw and his residence in Rangoon have been the subject of preservation efforts by supporters who seek to maintain his memory for future generations.

In New York City, the street in front of the United Nations headquarters — a short section of First Avenue between 42nd and 43rd Streets — was informally known in connection with Thant's legacy, reflecting his long association with the organization.

Legacy

U Thant's decade at the helm of the United Nations coincided with one of the most turbulent periods in the history of the Cold War. His tenure saw the organization navigate the Cuban Missile Crisis, manage complex peacekeeping operations in the Congo and the Middle East, and absorb a wave of newly independent nations that fundamentally altered the composition and character of the General Assembly. Throughout these challenges, Thant brought a distinctive perspective rooted in his experience as a citizen of a post-colonial nation and his deep commitment to Buddhist principles of non-violence and equanimity.

His approach to the office was characterized by a preference for quiet diplomacy over public confrontation, a willingness to serve as an intermediary between hostile parties, and a readiness to speak out on issues of principle even when doing so put him at odds with powerful member states. His criticism of the Vietnam War, in particular, demonstrated that the Secretary-General's office could serve as a platform for moral leadership, even in the absence of enforcement power.

The events surrounding Thant's death and funeral underscored his significance to the Burmese people and the degree to which his legacy was intertwined with the broader struggle for political freedom in Burma. The riots that followed the military government's refusal to honour him were among the earliest major acts of public dissent against military rule and foreshadowed the larger pro-democracy movements that would emerge in Burma in subsequent decades.

Thant's grandson, Thant Myint-U, has written extensively about both the history of Burma and the legacy of his grandfather, helping to keep the memory of U Thant alive for new generations. Within the United Nations, Thant is remembered as a Secretary-General who expanded the moral and political dimensions of the office and who demonstrated that effective leadership could come from beyond the traditional power centres of the Western world.

His record of service — marked by the resolution of the Cuban Missile Crisis, the end of the Katanga secession, the expansion of UN membership, and the articulation of a moral critique of the Vietnam War — remains one of the most consequential in the history of the Secretary-General's office.