Bibek Debroy, eminent economist & chairman of PM's Economic Advisory Council, passes away at 69

NEW DELHI: Bibek Debroy, a prominent economist and the chairman of the Prime Minister's Economic Advisory Council (PMEAC) since 2017, passed away early on Friday morning at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Delhi.

He was 69. Known for his vast contributions to economic theory, public policy, and Indian classical literature, Debroy's death marks the end of a prolific career that bridged academia, policy-making, and literature.

According to AIIMS officials, Debroy was admitted to the emergency department on October 31 with complications arising from subacute intestinal obstruction. He had long been managing diabetes, hypertension, and heart issues, for which he had a pacemaker. The esteemed economist passed away at approximately 7 am on Friday. "He was admitted with subacute intestinal obstruction. He also suffered from hypertension and diabetes mellitus," an AIIMS source said.

In his last days, Debroy's reflections on life were deeply poignant. Just days before his death, he submitted an article to The Indian Express, titled "Unusual Column. Short of a requiem," in which he pondered life's fleeting nature and the significance of one's work and legacy. Referring to a world beyond his presence, he wrote, "What if I am not there? What indeed?"

His reflections, as shared in the newspaper, reveal a man who contemplated mortality even as he continued contributing to intellectual discourse.