28 Facts About Bibek Debroy

Bibek Debroy was an Indian economist, who served as the chairman of the Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister of India.

Bibek Debroy was the Chairman of the Finance Ministry's 'Expert Committee for Infrastructure Classification and Financing Framework for Amrit Kaal'.

From its inception in January 2015 until June 2019, Mr Bibek Debroy was a member of the NITI Aayog, the think tank of the Indian Government.

Bibek Debroy's recent co-authored magnum opus, Inked in India, stands distinguished as the premier comprehensive documentation, capturing the entirety of recognized fountain pen, nib, and ink manufacturers in India.

In January 2025, Shri Bibek Debroy is conferred with India's third-highest civilian award, the Padma Bhushan.

In February 2024, Bibek Debroy was conferred Insolvency Law Academy Emeritus Fellowship, in recognition of his distinguished leadership, public service, work and contributions in the field of insolvency.

Bibek Debroy died on 1 November 2024, at the age of 69.

Bibek Debroy had been admitted to All India Institutes of Medical Sciences in New Delhi one month prior.

Bibek Debroy was born in Shillong, now in Meghalaya, on 25 January 1955 to a Bengali Hindu family.

Bibek Debroy's grandparents had migrated from Sylhet, now in Bangladesh; his paternal grandfather and his father migrating as late as 1948.

Bibek Debroy's father went on to join the Indian Audit and Accounts Service.

Bibek Debroy started his school education at Ramakrishna Mission Vidyalaya, Narendrapur.

Later on, Bibek Debroy went to the University of Cambridge on a Trinity College scholarship, where he met his then supervisor, Frank Hahn, a noted British economist.

Bibek Debroy has authored several books, papers and popular articles, has been the Consulting Editor of Indian financial and other newspapers.

Bibek Debroy has been a member of the National Manufacturing Competitive Council from November 2004 to December 2009.

Bibek Debroy was the Chairman of a Committee set up by the Chief Minister of Jharkhand to recommend a development plan for the State.

Bibek Debroy has been a Member of the Chief Minister's Economic Advisory Council in Rajasthan.

Bibek Debroy served as a Member of Niti Aayog till June 2019.

In July 2024, Bibek Debroy was appointed the Chancellor of the Gokhale Institute of Politics and Economics where he served till September 2024.

Incidentally, Bibek Debroy was a Reader in Economics at Centre for the Study of East European Economies, Gokhale Institute of Politics and Economics, University of Poona, from March 1983 to March 1987.

Bibek Debroy has translated the unabridged version of the Mahabharata into English, in a series of 10 volumes.

Bibek Debroy has translated the Bhagavata Purana, the Markandeya Purana, the Brahma Purana, the Vishnu Purana, the Shiva Purana and the Brahmanda Purana.

Arshia Sattar, reviewing the same work for The Indian Express, applauded his remarkable feat of translating the two major Sanskrit epics and praised his introduction to the text as well as literal translation; notwithstanding the relatively poor scholarly apparatus vis-a-vis Goldman, Bibek Debroy's was held to be more compact and accessible.

Bibek Debroy's work is not just a translation but an intellectual bridge that connects contemporary India with its rich spiritual heritage.

Bibek Debroy masterfully conveys the intricate philosophies, narratives, and spiritual insights of the Shiva Purana, presenting them in a way that's comprehensive yet deeply impactful.

Bibek Debroy anchored Itihasa, a show telecasted on Sansad TV, the official channel of Parliament of India.

Bibek Debroy had been admitted to All India Institutes of Medical Sciences in New Delhi one month prior.

Bibek Debroy is working on a translation of Kurma Purana.