Noted Economist Bibek Debroy, PM's Economic Council Chief, Dies At 69. Modi Pays Tribute

Noted economist Bibek Debroy, chairman of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's economic advisory council, passed away at the age of 69 on Friday.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid tribute to noted economist Bibek Debroy who passed away on Friday.

Source : X/@narendramodi

Noted economist and chairman of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's economic advisory council, Bibek Debroy breathed his last on Friday at the age of 69. He was admitted to All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Delhi with subacute intestinal obstruction. 

He also suffered from hypertension and diabetes mellitus, reported PTI quoting an official source at AIIMS. 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi called him a "towering scholar" as he condoled his demise. 

"Dr Bibek Debroy ji was a towering scholar, well-versed in diverse domains like economics, history, culture, politics, spirituality and more," Modi said in a post on X. 

"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. Saddened by his passing away. Condolences to his family and friends. Om Shanti," he said. 

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh also expressed grief on Debroy's demise. "He was a distinguished academic whose contributions to the various spheres of knowledge are invaluable. His work and life reflect his strong commitment to make India a developed nation. His demise has left a big void in scholarly circles," he said in a post on X. 

Debroy was conferred with the Padma Shri award in 2015 in recognition of his contributions. He had been a member of NITI Aayog up to June 5, 2019, and had authored/edited several books, papers and popular articles. He had been a Consulting/Contributing Editor with several newspapers also. 

Debroy had worked with Presidency College, Kolkata; Gokhale Institute of Politics and Economics, Pune; Indian Institute of Foreign Trade, Delhi; and also as the Director of a Ministry of Finance/UNDP project on legal reforms.

In September, he stepped down as the Chancellor of the Gokhale Institute of Politics and Economics (GIPE) following a Bombay High Court order that extended interim relief to Vice-Chancellor Ajit Ranade, who was earlier removed from his post.

He had been appointed as the Chancellor of GIPE, a deemed university, in July. 

Debroy was an alumnus of Ramakrishna Mission School, Narendrapur; Presidency College, Kolkata; Delhi School of Economics; and Trinity College, Cambridge.

'What If I Am Not There?'

During his time at the cardiac care centre at AIIMS, Debroy penned a poignant piece which he sent to the Indian Express with a note: “Unusual Column. Short of a requiem.” Debroy was a columnist for The Indian Express and Financial Express.

In the introspective article, Debroy chronicled his journey and talked about death. "As time goes, a month is fleeting. But being virtually wiped off the face of the earth is not," he wrote in his obituary. 

He recounted his hospital experiences, from counting IV drops to relying on his wife Suparna's care. While being restricted to a "thin sliver of a window", Debroy narrated the world he could see outside. " There is a world outside that exists. What if I am not there? What indeed?" 

Reflecting on personal relationships, Debroy opined that his passing away will be "no social loss, not much." But added "the only personal loss will be Suparna’s. It matters nothing to anyone else."