Economist Meghnad Desai dies at 85, PM recalls his role in boosting India-UK ties

India Today

29-07-2025

Lord Meghnad Desai, a renowned India-born British economist, academic, and member of the UK's House of Lords, passed away on Tuesday at the age of 85 after a brief illness in Gurugram.Known for his sharp intellect, bold opinions, and deep-rooted connections to both India and the UK, Desai leaves behind a legacy that spans decades of impactful contributions to economics, politics, and public discourse.advertisementBorn in Gujarat, Desai completed his master's degree at the University of Bombay before earning his PhD from the University of Pennsylvania in just three years.
He went on to teach at the London School of Economics (LSE) from 1965 to 2003, eventually becoming an emeritus professor. During his long academic tenure, he founded the Centre for the Study of Global Governance in 1992 and played a pivotal role in establishing LSE's Development Studies Institute, mentoring generations of students.Desai was appointed to the House of Lords in 1991, taking the title Lord Desai of St Clement Danes. Initially joining as a Labour peer, he later resigned from the party in 2020 over its handling of antisemitism and continued his work as an independent voice. He was widely respected across political lines for his originality and independence of thought.Tributes poured in from across the globe. Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences on X, calling Desai a 'distinguished thinker, writer, and economist' who remained deeply connected to India and helped strengthen India-UK ties.Desai's wife, writer and columnist Lady Kishwar Desai, said, 'I am devastated, as he was my rockstar husband, larger than life. Indestructible. I adored him.'Lord Karan Bilimoria remembered him as 'truly iconic,' while the High Commission of India in London praised him as a 'thought leader' and a lifelong advocate of India-UK friendship. Among his many cultural contributions, Desai played a key role in the installation of Mahatma Gandhi's statue at London's Parliament Square.Beyond academia and politics, Desai was also a prolific writer whose works explored the intersections of economics, cinema, and culture. His books include Nehru's Hero: Dilip Kumar, in which he described the actor as one of the greatest talents in world cinema.Desai was known not just as a scholar and statesman but as a fearless and independent voice who challenged conventions, defied political orthodoxies, and shaped critical dialogue across continents.- EndsWith inputs from PTI