New Delhi: Eminent economist and head of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Economic Advisory Council, Bibek Debroy, died today after being admitted to AIIMS Delhi for intestinal obstruction at the tender age of 69. Mr Debroy is an acclaimed Padma Shri awardee and is regarded for his unimpeachable impact on many sectors of the Indian economy and also as a great scholar in various sectors like history, culture, and spirituality.
PM Modi Leads Tributes
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences, describing Mr Debroy as a ‘towering scholar’ and a very prominent figure who left a profound mark on India’s intellectual landscape. “Dr Bibek Debroy Ji was a great scholar, well-acquainted with economics, history, culture and Spirituality,” Prime Minister Narendra Modi wrote on X (previously Twitter), acknowledging Debroy’s passion for India’s ancient texts and his attempts to present these texts to the younger generation.
Dr. Bibek Debroy Ji was a towering scholar, well-versed in diverse domains like economics, history, culture, politics, spirituality and more. Through his works, he left an indelible mark on India’s intellectual landscape. Beyond his contributions to public policy, he enjoyed… pic.twitter.com/E3DETgajLr
---Advertisement---— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) November 1, 2024
A Storied Career in Academia and Public Policy
Apart from his academic profession, Mr. Debroy had his tenure at Presidency College, Kolkata, Gokhale Institute of Politics and Economics, Pune and Indian Institute of Foreign Trade, Delhi. He also directed the Ministry of Finance –UNDP project on the legal amendment and served as a member of NITI Aayog until June, 2019. Mr. Debroy had his early education at the Ramakrishna Mission School, college education at Presidency College, Delhi School of Economics and Trinity College, Cambridge, Mr. Debroy’s academic journey spanned some of the world’s top institutions.
Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan paid tribute and described Mr. Debroy as a “noted economist and brilliant scholar”. In a social media post, Pradhan expressed gratitude for Debroy’s insights, noting several newspaper columns where he imparted as many economics ideas to millions of Indians.
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Economic liberalization or the structural reforms touched by Mr Debroy during his illustrious career as a bureaucrat include policy making. As an influential voice in India’s economic landscape, he authored more than 20 books and numerous articles, including the acclaimed “The Indian Economy: A Macro-Economic Perspective.” His involvement with institutions like the Indian Statistical Institute and the National Institute of Public Finance and Policy has helped strengthen the analytical framework for economic policies in India. Another prominent contribution of Debroy was in the realm of public awareness as a prolific writer and columnist.
As a prolific columnist, Debroy employed his space and opinion piece to educate and thus expand the populace’s understanding of economics and India’s financial landscape.
Bibek Debroy’s passing leaves a void in India’s economic and intellectual communities, as he will be remembered for his lasting contributions to economic reforms, public knowledge, and cultural enrichment.
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