State of the World from NPR Looking Back at the Man Who Helped Shape the U.N.
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Sep 11, 2025 
Thant Myint-U, author and grandson of U Thant, the first non-Western UN Secretary-General, shares fascinating insights into his grandfather's legacy. He recounts U Thant's journey from a small town in Burma to the UN during the tumultuous Cold War. Myint-U discusses the diplomatic challenges U Thant faced, including his pivotal role in the Cuban Missile Crisis, showcasing the vital importance of peacemaking and negotiation on the world stage. Personal anecdotes illuminate the profound impact of his grandfather's work in striving for a just world.
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Childhood Visit To The UN
- Thant Myint-U remembers visiting the UN as a three-year-old and seeing his grandfather on the 38th floor.
- A lit map behind the desk and visits with astronauts reflected U Thant's fascination with space and the future.
Personal Mystery Inspires Research
- Thant Myint-U lived with his grandfather until age eight but felt his grandfather remained a mysterious figure.
- He later researched U Thant's life more deeply only after working at the UN himself.
Secretary-General As Peacemaker
- The UN evolved from an enforcement design into a platform for mediation and peacemaking.
- Dag Hammarskjöld and U Thant pioneered the Secretary-General as neutral mediator shaping Cold War conflict resolution.
