Bibek Debroy (1955-2024): A prodigy from macro to mythology
- Ayushi Priya
- Nov 4, 2024
- 3 min read
यं यं वापि स्मरन्भावं त्यजत्यन्ते कलेवरम् |
तं तमेवैति कौन्तेय सदा तद्भावभावित: ||
Bhagavada Geeta chapter-8 verse-6: Whatever one remembers upon giving up the body at the time of death, O son of Kunti, one attains that state, being always absorbed in such contemplation.
Bibek debroy, a renowned economist, scholar, philosopher, historian and culturalist amongst several other things was not only a polymath but a true interdisciplinarian of sorts. His wide ranging interests have transcended all fields and disciplines culminating into his personality being an epitome of what India and its values have truly stood for, making him one of the contemporaries who have been vocal for the new transformed india - immensely proud of its rich culture and heritage.
The genius who left an indelible mark on the Indian economy and the intellectual landscape passed away aged 69 on 1st of November, 2024.
His deep and intrinsic interest in spirituality and politics alike made him an indispensable treasure who was credited not only for his contributions to the economy and public policy but his translations of the ten volume unit of Mahabharata and the Ramayana that have been significantly noteworthy as treasure troves for the generations to come. He also became the only other person in India to translate both the Ramayana and the Mahabharata in his lifetime, second to Manmatha Nath Dutt. This came after he learnt Sanskrit as a language (despite his Bengali roots) only once he turned 35. All of his accolades were ultimately honoured with a Padma shri- the fourth highest civilian award in the year - 2015.
Chairman of the Economic Advisory Council (EAC) to the Prime minister, Chairman of the finance ministry’s ‘Expert committee for infrastructure classification and financing framework for Amrit Kaal’ and member of the NITI Aayog since its inception in 2015, started his academic journey trailblazing through the Presidency college, Kolkata, the Delhi school of economics, and the Trinity college at Cambridge. All this while teaching economics at Presidency and the Indian Institute of Foreign Trade at Delhi, while also having served in the Union ministry of finance.
He was an admirer of Adam Smith and the invisible hand of the market to spin magic and yield wealth. He believed that a free market economy with well thought-out regulations could be equated to a cosmic force. His erudition of mythology to macroeconomics came carefully and scholarly wrapped.
The literary contributions manifested itself in augmenting the columns of the Indian Express and the Financial Express.
His authored columns found within themselves an eclectic blend from his magnum opus- Inked in India (a book on the history of fountain pens) to remarks on the absurdities of Indian laws, and from ‘DNA and RNA of corruption in India’ to dogs in Indian mythology. This was supplemented by a piece of obituary that he penned down for himself merely 4 days before his death.
His time in the hospital battling with the ailments were monotonous and barely conducive. In light of it all, his visits to the cardiac centre and prolonged stay at AIIMS were ceased with “a thin silver window through which he could see a pipe in the building outside”. His obituary read as-
Not only as a commentary on his own life, but Debroy left a commentary with his last words on paper earmarking the transience of all living beings. Having taken up the mammoth task of resolving to write 12 books in a year post his “brush with death” or the misdiagnosed heart attack in January 2004, he wrote 15 books. Further repurposing his faith in a higher power or destiny.
A true economist who never feared to speak his mind, he stirred several controversies with his call to rework- or bring about a new constitution in the call for the past one having become outdated. This call for overhaul was however seen as a violation of protocol , but the argument- relevant, interesting and inviting.
This coupled with the railway reforms of the Debroy committee, and the budget transformations made a strong case for taxing agricultural income of rich farmers, arguing that tax-free treatment of farm income had become a growing source of tax evasion. All this was seen as an intellectual discourse , that unfortunately however weren’t brought about much into action.
His interest however in inter alia work was met with much respect ranging from 50 authored books, to anchoring a history based show on Sansad TV, to writing limericks on current events every now and then. Empirical and theoretical economic work on the game theory, income inequality, poverty , legal reforms and railway policy are few of the many other fields he indulged in , alongside all his other passions.
His legacy however, shall prevail and a stalwart intellectual that the civilisation bore shall not merely turn to dust, but be etched in history.
Edited by:
Mr. Mridul Paul
Head, Content & Research Wing
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