Remembering B B Bhattacharya

Known to be a gentle, composed, benevolent, pious yet firm person, Barid Baran Bhattacharya breathed his last on 14 February 2017 after a brief illness. It brought a wave of shock to all those who knew him. He was gifted with a creative mind and an in-depth knowledge and understanding that spread far and wide, from macroeconomics to literature, education, art, music, and spirituality. His presence of mind and sharp ability to comment and disseminate knowledge on any subject made him extremely popular among the academic fraternity, policymakers and media. Having worked closely with him as a colleague in the Institute of Economic Growth and having completed my doctoral research under his able co-guidance in Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), New Delhi, I have always perceived the deep admiration and respect held by his colleagues and students.

B B Bhattacharya completed his education from the University of Allahabad and Delhi School of Economics. After teaching in Delhi University for a brief period, he joined the Institute of Economic Growth, University of Delhi in 1970. He worked as a full-time professor for almost 20 years, and subsequently became the institute’s director in 2000. His contributions towards teaching and research in the field of economics have been well-acknowledged and he received immense recognition for carrying out a rigorous econometric analysis on the macroeconomic problems of India during the last 40 years based on various economic theories and policy prescriptions. His hard work, intelligence, and perseverance made him India’s leading macromodel builder and forecaster, with many forecasts on the Indian economy being used in policymaking. He was a frequent commentator in the print and electronic media on economic and education policies.