In the world of economists and their “dismal science,” encountering a Dharmik one is infrequent. We are in a void with Bibek Debroy’s passing on November 1. Debroy was one of India’s top economists and well-versed in her history, culture, politics, and spirituality.
Born in Shillong on January 25, 1955, to a Bengali Hindu family, Bibek Debroy went to Ramakrishna Mission Vidyalaya, Narendrapur for schooling. He pursued higher studies at Presidency College (Calcutta), Delhi School of Economics, and the University of Cambridge. Notably, another renowned economist, a Bharat Ratna awardee, has called such a curriculum vitae that Debroy and others triumphed, the “first boys” of the country. These “first boys” benefited from India’s well-intentioned regulatory measures and percolative process leaving behind many “last boys” and “last girls”. However, while most “first boys” including the Bharat Ratna awardee chose to wield their achievements to restrain our civilisational unity, Debroy remained steadfast in his faith. His academics concentrated on the general equilibrium framework and macroeconomics. Beyond academics, he never wavered in his commitment to the Sanskritist roots of Indian civilisation.
An Indelible Mark
PM Narendra Modi aptly described Debroy as a ‘towering scholar’ in his condolence message, recognising his significant contributions to India’s intellectual life. That distinction, however, warrants some unpacking and comparisons.
Compare with Shastri Manmatha Nath Dutt (1855-1912) who stands out as one of India’s greatest translators. Dutt translated from Sanskrit to English and authored numerous works. Notable among them are the Valmiki Ramayana (1892-1894), Markandeya Purana (1896), Bhagavata Purana (1896), Vishnu Purana (1896), Hari Vamsha (1897), Mahanirvana Tantra (1900), Agni Purana (1903-04), Mahabharata (1895-1905), Kamandakiya Nitisara (1896), Samhitas, dharmashastra texts, Garuda Purana (1908), and Rig Veda Samhita (1906-1912). His prolific output was unmatched until Bibek Debroy arrived at the scene.
While Dutt worked intimately with only Keshub Academy and the Royal Asiatic Society, Debroy had a more varied career. He worked for the Rajiv Gandhi Institute for Contemporary Studies (RGICS), several State Governments, and the Centre. In 2017, he was appointed to the NITI Aayog and later the Chairman of the Prime Minister’s Economic Advisory Council (PM-EAC). During this time, he led a committee to restructure the Indian Railways. As an academic, Debroy taught at the Gokhale Institute of Politics and Economics from 1983 to 1987.
These engagements were sometimes not smooth. For instance, at the RGICS, where Debroy served from 1997 to 2005, a report he authored during Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s tenure ranked Gujarat at the top of an economic freedom index. Narendra Modi was then Chief Minister of Gujarat. Amidst Congress unease and heated debate on the Gujarat model, Debroy had to move elsewhere. Speaking truth to power is pricey!
Taking a holy dip in the Ganga of Dharmik literature, Debroy authored more than 50 books including 43 translations of various texts. He aimed at keeping them accessible and relevant for the youth. He translated the unabridged version of the Mahabharata and Ramayana into English. This apart, he also translated different Puranas, the four Vedas, the Bhagavad Gita and eleven major Upanishads. Putting them in numbers is sensible. Think about Mahabharata. Debroy’s translation ran into 10 volumes, which is about 2.25 million words. The 18 Puranas together account for 4,00,000 shlokas, which is about 12 million words. Debroy completed translating most of them. This is a rare feat of love and labour that cannot be just dabbling as a few think. This activity was some serious occupation with no parallels in contemporary history.
In this regard, Debroy also exemplified a tradition of scholarship that dispelled the myths about India that many Westerners and Indians have perpetuated. The first unabridged Bengali translation of the Mahabharata was accomplished by Kaliprasanna Singha. Michael Madhusudan Dutt authored his rendition of the Ramayana. It is important to acknowledge that many of these translations were undertaken by non-Brahmins. In numerous regions of the country, these texts are considered the exclusive domain of Brahmins. Notably, Bengal exhibited a unique characteristic where Debroy persisted in this endeavour, as all three translators—Kaliprasanna Singha, Manmatha Nath Dutt, and Debroy herself—were non-Brahmins.
Economist And Beyond
A thinking Indian could not have missed Debroy in print and television. From writing columns in over a dozen newspapers and periodicals to literary festivals to his TV show called ‘Itihasa’ on Sansad TV, he dedicated himself to making a republic of letters.
Debroy’s untamed intellectual mind manifested in various ways. He championed bold economic reforms, such as advocating for a new Constitution for India, imposing income tax on agricultural income, and recommending a single rate of GST for the country. These proposals sometimes led to controversies. One of his most daring calls was for a new Indian Constitution. He argued that while the existing Constitution had served the nation well, it needed to be updated to align with modern aspirations and socio-economic challenges. His advocacy for a single-rate GST remains a goal for tax reform advocates, and his ideas about taxing agricultural income above a threshold continue to inspire calls for a fairer taxation system. Perhaps his most significant contribution was his 2015 committee report on Railway reforms, which sparked intense debate. The report proposed establishing an independent regulator to oversee the railway sector and advocated for rationalising freight charges.
How will we ensure that his memory lives on? In his final writings, Debroy contemplated the transience of his accomplishments. “What will they mention?” Reflecting on his extensive career spanning several domains, he reminisced about it. “Nothing seminal about such work,” he reflected, with a hint of detachment. The economist was candid about the ephemerality of fame, confessing, “Had a role in the rat race, was temporarily read and passed into oblivion.”
The economist might be forgotten when others of his kind would tear apart his legacy and policy frameworks. The translator, the Indologist, the Sanskritist and the Bhartiya would remain immortal. “There is a world outside that exists. What if I am not there? What indeed?” he wrote in his obituary that he left to a newspaper just days before his demise. In these opening lines, Debroy confronted the prospect of his absence, questioning the significance of a life that, in the end, would leave only traces in memory and perhaps “a few condolences, perhaps even from important people.” We respectfully disagree and propose that his immortality is real, and his loss is irreversible. Om Shanti!
