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Eminent economist Meghnad Desai passed away at 84. PM Modi expressed condolences, noting Desai’s role in strengthening India-UK ties. Desai was a renowned author and academic.
Born in Gujarat in 1940, Desai built a formidable academic career at the London School of Economics, where he taught for nearly four decades. (Photo: X/NarendraModi)
Eminent economist Meghnad Desai passed away at the age of 84 on Tuesday. Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed condolences over Desai’s death and said he played a role in deepening India-UK ties.
“Anguished by the passing away of Shri Meghnad Desai Ji, a distinguished thinker, writer and economist. He always remained connected to India and Indian culture. He also played a role in deepening India-UK ties. Will fondly recall our discussions, where he shared his valuable insights. Condolences to his family and friends. Om Shanti,” PM Modi wrote in a post on X.
Anguished by the passing away of Shri Meghnad Desai Ji, a distinguished thinker, writer and economist. He always remained connected to India and Indian culture. He also played a role in deepening India-UK ties. Will fondly recall our discussions, where he shared his valuable… pic.twitter.com/q1cv3DAXaw– Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 29, 2025
Sanjeev Sanyal, economist and member of the Prime Minister’s Economic Advisory Council, paid a tribute to Desai and remembered the discussions and debates that he had with him.
“Very sorry to hear that eminent economist Meghnad Desai has passed away. I had known him for over two decades. He was always cheerful and open to new ideas. I will cherish the many long discussions and debates that we had over the years. Om Shanti,” he wrote.
Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said Desai leaves behind a rich body of work, a lasting legacy and very big shoes to fill.
“I first met Lord Desai in 1999 when I was posted as India’s Deputy High Commissioner at
@HCI_London and he led LSE’s Centre for the Study of Global Governance which was also founded by him in 1992. He taught at the London School of Economics for nearly four decades, shaping economic research and inspiring generations of students in addition to authoring several pathbreaking books and more than 200 articles in academic journals,” he wrote on X.
Who Was Meghnad Desai?
Meghnad Desai was a renowned economist, author, and British parliamentarian whose intellectual influence spanned continents. Born in Gujarat in 1940, Desai built a formidable academic career at the London School of Economics, where he taught for nearly four decades and made significant contributions to development economics, Marxian theory, and global governance. A prolific writer, he authored over 200 academic papers and several influential books, including Marx’s Revenge and The Rediscovery of India. His sharp intellect and contrarian thinking made him a respected—often provocative—voice in both scholarly and policy circles.
Desai was appointed a life peer in the UK’s House of Lords in 1991 and remained deeply engaged in public life, using his platform to foster stronger India–UK ties. Despite spending much of his career abroad, he retained a strong connection to India through his writing, commentary, and the establishment of the Meghnad Desai Academy of Economics in Mumbai. Awarded the Padma Bhushan in 2008, Desai remained a steadfast believer in open debate, cultural dialogue, and academic freedom. Until his passing in 2025, he continued to challenge orthodoxies and inspire new generations of economists and thinkers.
Saurabh Verma covers general, national and international day-to-day news for News18.com as a Senior Sub-editor. He keenly observes politics. You can follow him on Twitter –twitter.com/saurabhkverma19
Saurabh Verma covers general, national and international day-to-day news for News18.com as a Senior Sub-editor. He keenly observes politics. You can follow him on Twitter –twitter.com/saurabhkverma19
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