Bibek Debroy, a prominent economist and author who served as the chairman of the Prime Minister’s Economic Advisory Council since 2017, passed away at the age of 69 on Friday.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences on Debroy’s passing, recalling the depth of his insights and his passion for a wide range of subjects.
“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. I have known Dr. Debroy for many years. I will fondly remember his insights and passion for academic discourse. I am saddened by his passing. Condolences to his family and friends. Om Shanti,” PM Modi posted on X.
Debroy was also a member of Niti Aayog, which succeeded the Planning Commission, until mid-2019. His interests extended beyond economics; he was a noted Sanskrit scholar who translated ancient texts, including the Bhagavad Gita, Vedas, Puranas, and Upanishads into English.
A recipient of the Padma Shri award, Debroy previously served as the chancellor of the Gokhale Institute of Politics and Economics in Pune. He was also a prolific author and editor, contributing to various books and articles, and served as a consulting and contributing editor for several newspapers.
Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh also paid tribute to Debroy, emphasizing his achievements and impact.
“A man of unusually wide-ranging interests, Bibek Debroy was first and foremost a fine theoretical and empirical economist who worked and wrote on various aspects of the Indian economy. He had a special skill for lucid exposition, making complex economic issues easily understandable for laypersons. Over the years, he had numerous institutional affiliations and left his mark everywhere. Bibek was also a very prolific and always thought-provoking commentator on public issues that went well beyond economics. He will be missed for his scholarship as well as for his dry sense of humour,” Ramesh tweeted.
