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Kolkata, 1 November (Hindustan Reporter). Vivek Debroy, the country's well-known economist and Chairman of the Economic Advisory Council of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, died today (November 1) in Delhi. He is not only considered among the experts in economics, but is also especially known for his keen interest in and contribution to Indian epics and culture. His life was filled with significant contributions in the economic, social and cultural fields, which established him as a distinguished scholar and economist.
Vivek Debroy was born on 25 January 1955 in a Bengali Hindu family in Shillong, Meghalaya. His grandparents migrated to India in 1948 from Payal village in Sylhet district of East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) after partition. His father was an officer in the Indian Accounts and Audit Service. Debroy's education began at Ramakrishna Mission Vidyalaya, Narendrapur, located in the South 24 Parganas district of West Bengal. He then studied at the prestigious Presidency College, Kolkata and Delhi School of Economics. He then went on to study under Frank Hahn at Trinity College, Cambridge, where he conducted research on integrating information into general equilibrium frameworks. However, due to not getting the expected success in his research, he obtained a master's degree and returned to India.
Debroy served as a member of NITI Aayog from 2015 to 2019. Recognizing his contribution, he was awarded the Padma Shri in 2015. After being appointed as the Chairman of the Economic Advisory Council of Prime Minister Modi in the year 2017, he worked on various measures to improve and develop the Indian economy. He also led an expert committee for the infrastructure classification and financing framework, which was guiding India's economic growth journey in the 'Amritkaal'.
Debroy was an expert not only in economics but also in Indian epic literature. He translated the epics like Mahabharata, Ramayana and Bhagavad Gita into English, which not only symbolized wide and deep study but also became a means of transmitting Indian cultural heritage to new generations. His Mahabharata translation, notably in 10 volumes, is considered the most comprehensive translation of the entire epic into English. Apart from this, he also translated Harivansh and Bhagwat Purana. Translating these epics was a spiritual and intellectual journey for him. This contribution earned him fame as a scholar of Indian culture.
Debroy gained fame not only in India but also internationally. In the year 2016, he was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award by the US-India Business Summit and in 2022, he was also given the Lifetime Achievement Award by the Australia-India Chamber of Commerce. In February 2024, he was awarded the Insolvency Law Academy Emeritus Fellowship for his contributions to the field of insolvency law. His major achievements include work done towards law reforms, railway reforms and poverty alleviation.
Debroy was married to Suparna Banerjee, who has been a figure of stability in his life. His support of her studies and writing is particularly notable. Debroy had a keen interest in travelling, reading and translating Indian epics. He also had a keen interest in Sanskrit and Hindi languages and often used them in his writings.
Debroy's demise has caused an irreparable loss to the economic and cultural sectors of India. Expressing deep condolences on his demise, Prime Minister Modi said that Debroy's contribution will always be remembered. His life journey and work will remain a source of inspiration for future generations. His absence will be felt for a long time in the field of Indian economics and cultural studies.
Debroy's work and his scholarship established him not only as an economist but also as a cultural ambassador. His life and contribution will always be remembered as a symbol of Indian cultural and economic renaissance.