The untimely demise of Padma Shri awardee Shri Bibek Debroy at the age of 69 has left an irreplaceable void in India’s intellectual and economic landscape. A polymath whose erudition spanned economics, Sanskrit, and Indian epics, Debroy was a quintessential public intellectual who blended scholarly rigour with an indomitable passion for India’s developmental narrative.
As Chairman of the Prime Minister’s Economic Advisory Council (PM-EAC), Debroy’s influence on shaping India’s economic policies was unparalleled. His tenure was marked by his astute guidance during critical moments of India’s economic journey, particularly in navigating global uncertainties, advocating structural reforms, and catalysing long-term growth strategies. His remarkable ability to distil complex economic ideas into actionable policies endeared him to policymakers and academicians alike. His pivotal role in crafting the voluminous recommendations of the Bibek Debroy Committee on restructuring Indian Railways stand testament to his visionary foresight. He was a tireless advocate for the liberalisation of labour laws, rationalisation of subsidies, and the creation of a more competitive market structure that could serve as the bedrock of India’s long-term growth. Under his stewardship, the PM-EAC produced insightful reports that stressed the need for fiscal prudence, inclusive growth, and fostering innovation.
Beyond the domain of economics, Debroy was a prolific translator and author, celebrated for his remarkable English translations of the Mahabharata and the Ramayana. His translations remain revered for their accessibility while maintaining the gravitas of the original texts. In an age where India’s cultural and economic histories are often viewed in silos, Debroy embodied a rare synthesis – an intellectual bridge between the ancient and the modern, the spiritual and the material.
His vision of a self-reliant India was deeply anchored in both modern economic theories and India’s civilisational ethos. Debroy’s scholarship extended far beyond the limits of academic economics; he was equally comfortable dissecting economic growth as he was explaining the intricacies of Dharma and Karma. His work fostered a nuanced understanding of India’s economic potential, not merely as a function of GDP growth, but as a quest for holistic well-being.
As a mentor, Debroy inspired a generation of economists, writers, and thinkers. His demise is not only a monumental loss for India’s economic fraternity but also for its cultural and intellectual circles. His towering legacy, however, will endure through the countless lives he touched, the policies he helped shape, and the wisdom embedded in his writings. Bibek Debroy will be remembered not only as an economist but as a renaissance man who stood at the confluence of knowledge, tradition, and progress.
