Tribute to Meghnad Desai: Renowned Economist and Member of the House of Lords Passes Away
Meghnad Desai: A Legacy in Economics
Meghnad Desai, a prominent economist of Indian descent and a member of the UK’s House of Lords, has died at the age of 85.
Originally from Vadodara, Gujarat, Desai pursued his economics studies at the University of Mumbai before earning his PhD from the University of Pennsylvania.
Throughout his career, he authored and edited over 20 books and contributed more than 200 articles to various academic journals.
His initial works were rooted in Marxian economics, starting with his first publication, Marxian Economic Theory in 1973, followed by Applied Econometrics in 1976 and Marxian Economics in 1979.
In 1981, he critiqued monetarism, an economic theory that highlights the significance of money supply in shaping economic activity and price levels.
In 2014, he published Who Wrote The Bhagavadgita?, where he suggested that certain themes in the Hindu scripture promote social inequality and a lack of empathy, labeling the Gita as 'toxic'.
Desai was a faculty member at the London School of Economics from 1965 until 2003, later becoming an emeritus professor.
He was also a member of the House of Lords and a prominent figure in the Labour Party, serving as its chair from 1986 to 2002 and receiving the title of Baron in Westminster in 1991.
In 2020, he resigned from the Labour Party, citing its inadequate response to antisemitic racism within the organization.
In recognition of his contributions, Desai was honored with the Padma Bhushan, India's third-highest civilian award, in 2008.
On the day of his passing, Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended his condolences to Desai’s family, honoring him as a 'distinguished thinker, writer, and economist'.
Modi remarked on social media that Desai maintained a strong connection to India and its culture, contributing to the strengthening of India-UK relations. He expressed his fond memories of their discussions, where Desai shared his invaluable insights.
Anguished by the passing away of Shri Meghnad Desai Ji, a distinguished thinker, writer and economist. He always remained connected to India and Indian culture. He also played a role in deepening India-UK ties. Will fondly recall our discussions, where he shared his valuable… pic.twitter.com/q1cv3DAXaw
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 29, 2025