Renowned British-Indian Economist Meghnad Desai Passes Away at 85

Eminent British-Indian economist and political commentator Lord Meghnad Desai has passed away at the age of 85, marking the end of an illustrious career spanning several decades across economics, politics, and public discourse. His death has been widely mourned by scholars, politicians, and global institutions alike.

ब्रिटिश-भारतीय अर्थशास्त्री मेघनाद देसाई का 85 साल की उम्र में निधन हुआ#MeghnadDesai | Baron Desai | #BaronDesai | Meghnad Desai pic.twitter.com/kYSixq7tcl

— News24 (@news24tvchannel) July 30, 2025

Born in Vadodara, India, in 1940, Meghnad Desai was a towering figure in the field of economics, known for his candid opinions, Marxist scholarship in early years, and later his centrist economic views. He moved to the United Kingdom in the 1960s and soon became a professor at the London School of Economics (LSE), where he taught for over 40 years.

 A Life Dedicated to Ideas and India

Desai was not just a celebrated academic; he was also a member of the British House of Lords since 1991 and was conferred the title of Baron Desai of St Clement Danes. He wrote extensively on global economics, Indian development, and political ideologies. His works such as Marx’s Revenge, Development and Nationhood, and Hubris: Why Economists Failed to Predict the Crisis and How to Avoid the Next One remain key texts in modern economics.

Though based in the UK, he remained a strong voice in Indian political and economic debates. Desai was also the founding chairman of the LSE Global Governance and a regular contributor to Indian media.

 Tributes Pour In

Indian leaders and international figures have expressed condolences over his demise. Many praised his contributions to economic thought and his efforts to bridge academic insights with public policy in India and the UK.

His legacy continues through his numerous writings, policy contributions, and the many students and policymakers he mentored during his lifetime.