PROF. K.N.RAJ

Prof. Dr. K.N Raj, a doyen in the field of economics and planning, passed away on Wednesday the 10th of February, of heart attack at a hospital in Trivandrum. He was in his late eighties.

Being part of the professional and management scenario of the state for some time, I have been hearing of Prof. K.N. Raj and his contributions to the state and the country. Though I did not get an opportunity to meet him and talk to him, in my mind I had always nurtured a very high respect for him. And I was always deeply impressed by the way he kept himself off the limelight. In a state where everyone tries to act as God (is that why Kerala is called as God’s Own Country?), in his qualities, here is one person who was God like; to his students, fraternity and the fellow beings.

Around ten years back, I had attended a Rotary club sponsored seminar on Science, Technology and Information and the main speaker was Prof. MGK Menon who, at every step of his speech was reminding the audience of his role in building India (may be, as a non resident Keralite, he might had thought that the resident Malayalis do not know much about him and that would have led him to blow his own trumpet!). The ‘I’ factor of his speech was so annoying that I couldn’t resist walking out. When I was telling this experience to a past president of Kerala Management Association who had been part of the industrial development of the state for long time, he said that may be Prof. MGK could learn a thing or two from Prof. K N Raj. That said it all and my respect for Prof. Raj doubled instantly.

Yesterday and today, I had read many obituaries and memoirs on Prof. K N Raj that had appeared in the news papers. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh (who is no less an Economist of world repute), Defence Minister AK Antony, students, colleagues, son, newspaper editors, state Finance Minister Thomas Isaac and Nobel laureate Amartya Sen; all had written in glowing terms about his contributions to the state and country. Briefly putting it, K N Raj did his post graduation and doctorate in Economics in London School of Economics. After working for a news paper in Colombo, Sri Lanka for a while, he joined Reserve Bank of India in its research. It was soon after India had undergone its ‘tryst with destiny’ (independence of the country, as beautifully put by Pundit Nehru). As an RBI professional, KN Raj got plenty of opportunity to be part of Indian Economy build up. He had had many interactions with the then Prime Minister Nehru and that landed him in the country’s Planning commission as its first Economist. It is said that he was the originator of India’s five year plans. Later, he moved to Delhi School of Economics as its head and converted it into a world famous institution. Then he became the Vice Chancellor of Delhi University. It was when Achutha Menon was the Chief Minister of Kerala. On his invitation, Prof. Raj moved to Trivandrum to build up another world famous institution; the Centre for Development Studies (CDS). He had been economic advisor for all Prime Ministers of the country (except for AB Vajpayee).

The most important element of his career was that of an excellent teacher and that stood out in all memoirs written by all eminent people. When we have Gurus like him, it is only natural that quality students will get developed. His students dwell all over the world in very important positions, both in corporate and in government. He was a true Guru.

Another very pertinent aspect of his character has been him shunning publicity at all costs. The earlier example mentioned will give an indication of the ego that people carry. Personalities of one tenth of importance of KN Raj must be dwelling in cloud nine with head held high. They would be dropping the names of people in power that they have helped (?) to carry out their functions. Here is a person; the originator of India’s Five Year plan, Excellent Institution Builder (DSE,DU & CDS), Trusted Advisor (to the Prime Ministers and world leaders) and yet wanting not to be known around. Never wanting to carry his weight around! In our scriptures, it is described about people who are Stita Prajna (permanent equanimity of the mind) and Prof. K N Raj is an absolute example of the same. It has been said that he never accepted any award or recognition. When the Nation bestowed him its second highest civilian honour of Padma Vibhushan, he was unwilling to accept it. It required the personal persuasion of the then President of India for Prof. Raj to receive it. Is there anybody like him?

Prof. KN Raj was not only a great Economist, he was very good individual too. Seldom have we come to know of personalities of this rare combination, such as Prof. K N Raj.

May his soul rest in peace!