NEW DELHI: Bibek Debroy, a distinguished economist and chairman of the Prime Minister’s Economic Advisory Council, passed away at AIIMS Delhi early Friday morning, November1, 2024 at the age of 69. Hospital sources reported that he was admitted to the emergency department at 10 p.m. on Thursday, October 31 and succumbed to subacute intestinal obstruction at 7 a.m. Debroy, who also had diabetes, hypertension, and a heart blockage requiring a pacemaker, was under medical care at the time of his passing.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences, calling Debroy a “towering scholar” whose contributions spanned various fields including economics, history, politics, spirituality, and culture. “Through his works, he left an indelible mark on India’s intellectual landscape,” PM Modi wrote on X (formerly Twitter). Modi highlighted Debroy’s dedication to making India’s ancient texts accessible to younger generations and praised his unique approach to public policy and academia. “I will fondly remember his insights and passion for academic discourse,” he added.
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
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) November 1, 2024
Debroy’s career was marked by significant contributions to economic policy, literature, and scholarship. A recipient of the Padma Shri in 2015, he translated the unabridged version of the Mahabharata into English, a 10-volume series that gained widespread acclaim. Most recently, he was appointed as chancellor of the Gokhale Institute of Politics and Economics, though he had recently resigned from the position.
Born on January 25 in a Bengali family in Shillong, Debroy’s educational journey began at Ramakrishna Mission School, Narendrapur, followed by studies at Presidency College, Kolkata, Delhi School of Economics, and Trinity College, Cambridge. His teaching career included stints at Presidency College, Kolkata (1979-83), Gokhale Institute of Politics and Economics, Pune (1983-87), and the Indian Institute of Foreign Trade, Delhi (1987-93).
From 1993 to 1998, he served as Director of a Ministry of Finance and UNDP project on legal reforms, and in 1994-95, he worked with the Department of Economic Affairs. Since its inception, Debroy was an integral part of NITI Aayog, the government’s primary think tank.
Debroy leaves behind a legacy as a thought leader who profoundly impacted India’s intellectual and economic landscape.
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