Remembering Dr Bibek Debroy

Dr. Bibek Debroy was so much more than just a mentor. I remember meeting him right before the world changed in March 2020, as lockdowns began. I had just joined the EAC-PM as a young, eager researcher, and I was assigned to work with Dr. Debroy’s office. I was nervous but excited, stepping into the office of someone I’d looked up to for years.

He didn’t waste time on small talk. Instead, he wanted to know what I liked to read, what I was hoping to accomplish. It was intense but encouraging—he genuinely wanted to know what drove me. And then, with a directness that was unmistakably his, he set down two rules: “I won’t tolerate two things. The first is plagiarism, and the second is missing deadlines. That was Dr. Debroy—blunt, to the point, but always pushing you to be better. In this first meeting itself, after asking about my publications, he said plainly, “I want you to write—not just internally, but publicly too.” I owe my entire writing career to that moment and to him. 

He was a remarkable mentor. Within two months of joining EAC-PM, he had me presenting on regional trade agreements before three Union Cabinet ministers. He demanded rigorous, original research and ensured I received full credit for my work—something rare in government, where younger professionals at the start of their careers, often find it challenging to earn the recognition.

For Businessworld, we co-authored about 13 columns along with Dr. Amit Kapoor, focusing on urbanization—a topic he was deeply passionate about. One of his primary concerns was the incomplete decentralization agenda, where both rural and urban local bodies lack sufficient financial autonomy. Decentralization without financial empowerment is fundamentally flawed. We also highlighted issues with the definitions of “urban” and “rural” themselves, noting how these arbitrary classifications have led to suboptimal development in areas that are effectively urban but aren’t officially recognized as such.

Apart from this, Dr. Bibek Debroy was an avid fountain pen collector. His collection, over 1,500 pens strong, wasn’t built through fancy auctions or glossy catalogues. He found his treasures in the forgotten corners of old markets and the humble stalls tucked away in small cities, places where no one else would bother to look. Most people walked right past, but he saw something in each pen’s wear and weight, a story from a time gone by. Most of these pens were Indian. He has India’s first fountain pen which was manufactured around 1905 by Radhika Nath Saha.

One afternoon in his last days at AIIMS, he shared a story that felt like a piece of his soul. He spoke about his rarest find: a Gooptu’s Perfection Pen from the late 1920s. It is difficult to find the Gooptu’s as there are only few such pens left and they are in high demand with the collectors.

It wasn’t easy to come by. Dr. Debroy had tracked down a lone, somewhat mysterious dealer from Sonagachi, a man who spent his days roaming fairs across Bengal. They met when Dr. Debroy was in Kolkata. He asked this dealer, almost as a passing thought, to keep an eye out for any truly old Indian fountain pens. Two months later, the call came. The dealer had found the pen.

Dr. Bibek Debroy’s love for fountain pens led him to pen Inked in India alongside Sovan Roy, a book that is as much about policy as it is about the charm of these handcrafted instruments. Beyond the nostalgia for fountain pens, Dr. Debroy delves into the economic history of India’s pen industry, weaving together stories of pioneering manufacturers like Radhika Nath Saha and FN Gooptu with a critique of the post-Independence “license-permit” regime. He argues that these restrictive policies, intended to protect local industries, ultimately constrained Indian pen makers, preventing them from thriving internationally. The book highlights how policy decisions profoundly shaped—and often hindered—India’s industrial capabilities, making it not just a tribute to the artistry of fountain pens but also a reflection on economic policy and its long-lasting impact on craftsmanship. Through Inked in India, Dr. Debroy brings to light the broader narrative of India’s industrial journey, linking his personal passion with a compelling analysis of the policy environment that shaped it.

Needless to say, Dr Debroy was a polymath and a true Renaissance man. Apart from his work as an economist, he has left behind a glorious Indic legacy. Dr. Bibek Debroy’s extensive work in Indology and Sanskrit translation has brought timeless Indian scriptures and epics closer to contemporary audiences. His translations of foundational texts, such as the Mahabharata in multiple volumes, The Ramayana, and numerous Puranas, make these ancient Sanskrit compositions accessible in modern English without compromising their authenticity. Through his translations, Dr. Debroy has opened a gateway for readers to explore Indian mythology, spirituality, and the philosophies embedded within these texts.

It’s truly remarkable that he achieved this, considering he only began learning Sanskrit in his early 40s. His late start didn’t deter him; instead, it fuelled an extraordinary commitment and discipline that allowed him to master the language and make significant contributions.

In addition to his translations, Dr. Debroy has authored works that delve into unique aspects of Indian mythology and tradition, including Sarama and Her Children, which explores the role of dogs in Indian mythology, and Manmatha Nath Dutt, Translator Extraordinaire, which honours one of India’s most prolific early translators.

His more recent titles, such as The Bhagavad Gita for Millennials and Life, Death and the Ashtavakra Gita, showcase his effort to reinterpret classical texts for younger generations.

Dr. Bibek Debroy’s passing is a profound loss for the nation, stripping India of a visionary economist, a dedicated scholar, and a cultural ambassador.

Aditya Sinha was Dr Bibek Debroy’s Mentee and an OSD, Research at EAC-PM