Eminent Economist Meghnad Desai Passes Away at 85
Why in News ?
Meghnad Desai, India-born British economist and House of Lords member, passed away at 85. A renowned academic, columnist, and political thinker, Desai significantly contributed to economic policy, India-UK ties, and public discourse on economics, society, and politics.
About Life and Academic Journey of Meghnad Desai:
● Born in 1940 in Vadodara, Gujarat.
● Earned BA (1958) and MA (1960) in Economics from University of Bombay.
● Completed PhD in Economics (1963) from University of Pennsylvania.
● Joined London School of Economics (LSE) in 1965, became Professor of Economics in 1983.
● Headed LSE’s Development Studies Institute and founded its Centre for Global Governance.
● Conferred Padma Bhushan in 2008, India’s third-highest civilian award.
Career, Writings and Contributions:
● Authored 25+ books and over 200 academic articles.
● Known for interdisciplinary work across economics, political economy, sociology, and even cinema.
● Some key works include:
○ The Rediscovery of India
○ Marx’s Revenge
○ Rethinking Islamism
○ The Poverty of Political Economy (2022)
● Passionate about old Hindi films and cooking.
● Considered his book on Dilip Kumar a personal favourite.
| Public Life and Legacy of Meghnad Desai : |
| ● Joined British Labour Party (1971), became a life peer in House of Lords (1991). |
| ● Left Labour in 2020 over concerns of anti-Semitism. |
| ● Chaired Gandhi Memorial Statue Trust, helped install Gandhi’s statue in London’s Parliament Square. |
| ● Prime Minister Narendra Modi and economist Sanjeev Sanyal expressed deep condolences. |