Eminent economist K N Raj passes away at 85

Renowned economist Kakkadan Nandanath Raj, who had helped draft India's first Five Year Plan and acquired a formidable reputation as an institution builder, died in Thiruvananthapuram today.

He was 85. He is survived by two sons, including journalist Gopal Raj. He had been undergoing treatment for some time for health problems related to old age.

Known as K N Raj, the alumnus of the London School of Economics was just 27 when he was invited by India's first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru to help draft the first Five-Year Plan. In later, he was a moving force behind the establishment of the Delhi School of Economics (DSE) and the Centre for Development Studies, Thiruvananthapuram.

In Delhi University, he served as Head of the Department of Economics and later as Vice-Chancellor.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was among those who condoled his death. "It is with great sorrow and a profound sense of personal loss that I learnt of the passing away of your father Prof. K.N. Raj," he said in a condolence message.

Dr Singh said he had known Prof Raj for over four decades and described him as a very close friend and a great economist. "His contributions to the science of economics as a teacher, a researcher and an institution builder are immense," he said.

The Prime Minister said Prof Raj had, in his long and illustrious career, served the Government and many institutions with great distinction.

"The work that Prof. Raj and his colleagues did for the United Nations in the early days of the Centre for Development Studies helped shape the contours of what later came to be called the 'Kerala model' of development (the co-existence of low per capita income and very high physical quality of life indicators).  The numerous awards that he received are a testimony to his exceptional talent." he said.

Dr Singh said Prof Raj was also a very fine human being who devoted his life to serving the country and the cause of social justice. "He will be deeply missed by all those whose lives he touched," he added.

Apart from the several awards he received during his career, Prof Raj was honoured by the Government with the Padma Vibhushan in 2000.

NNN