NEW DELHI, Dec 6: Dr Yoginder K. Alagh, a well-known economist and a former union minister died at his Ahmedabad residence on Tuesday due to age-related illness. He was 83.
An emeritus professor at Ahmedabad-based Sardar Patel Institute of Economic and Social Research (SPIESR), Dr Alagh was connected with many organisations in the city and other parts of the country in various capacities.
“He was not keeping well for the last couple of months. But his condition deteriorated in the last 20-25 days. He passed away at home,” said his son Professor Munish Alagh. During his morning walks, Professor Alagh had injured his femur, which had led to medical complications.
Born in Chakwal (in present-day Pakistan) in 1939, Dr Alagh had studied at the University of Rajasthan and later got a doctorate degree in economics from the University of Pennsylvania. He taught economics at prestigious Indian and foreign universities, including IIM-Calcutta, and also functioned as the vice-chancellor of Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), Delhi.
From 1996-98, he functioned as minister of power, planning and programme implementation in the Government of India. He was also a member of the Planning Commission. He also functioned as the chairman of the Institute of Rural Management Anand (IRMA) from 2006-2012 and as chancellor of the Central University of Gujarat, Gandhinagar.
“Professor Alagh has been ailing for the last few months. He has not been coming to the institute,” said Priti Mehta, director of SPISER. “He was the founder director of this institute and has been associated with it since its inception,” Mehta added.
(Manas Dasgupta)
