New Delhi: Renowned economist Bibek Debroy, known for his remarkable academic contributions and a deep command of classical Sanskrit has passed away at the age of 69. The Shillong-born scholar was admitted to the emergency department of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Delhi. The chairman of the Prime Minister’s Economic Advisory Council died of 'subacute intestinal obstruction,' a condition that causes recurrent blockage of the intestines. He had a history of diabetes, hypertension, and a heart condition that required a pacemaker.
Expressing grief over Bibek Debroy's death, Prime Minister Narendra Modi took to social media to pay tribute to the scholar. "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 working on our ancient texts, making them accessible to the youth," the Prime Minister tweeted on X.
Bibek Debroy had earlier served as the chancellor of the Gokhale Institute of Politics and Economics (GIPE) in Pune. The Sanskrit scholar is remembered for translating the Mahabharata, Valmiki’s Ramayana, and numerous Puranas into English. Apart from economics, Debroy had a wide range of intellectual interests. His diverse pursuits included railway reforms, fountain pens, and unique research topics such as the role of dogs in Hindu culture, which he explored in his book Sarama and Her Children. His career spanned both governmental and independent roles, covering critical topics like economic theory, income disparity, and infrastructure development.
Bibek Debroy's Achievements
Bibek Debroy's contributions to economics were recognised through several prestigious awards. He won the Padma Shri in 2015 for his significant contributions to literature and education, a Lifetime Achievement Award from the US-India Business Summit in 2016 and again from The Australia-India Chamber of Commerce in 2022. The eminent economist, was also honoured with the Insolvency Law Academy Emeritus Fellowship in February 2024 for his leadership and contributions to insolvency law.
Bibek Debroy has authored numerous books, research papers, and articles on economics, law reforms, and Indology, making significant impacts across these fields.
Bibek Debroy, an alumnus of Presidency College, Kolkata, and the Delhi School of Economics, went on to study at Trinity College, Cambridge. Over his career, he held prestigious positions in institutions such as the Gokhale Institute of Politics and Economics, the Indian Institute of Foreign Trade, and NITI Aayog, where he was a member until June 2019.
In the early 2000s, he attracted attention when his research at the Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Contemporary Studies rated Gujarat as India's top state for economic freedom. This paper, sponsored by Germany's Friedrich-Naumann Stiftung, stirred controversy and reportedly led to his reassignment.
Beyond economics, Bibek Debroy made significant contributions to Indian railways. His 2016 report, recommending the merger of the Rail Budget with the Union Budget, led to a historic change implemented from the 2017-18 budget cycle.
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