Lord Meghnad Desai, distinguished British Indian economist, author, and member of the UK House of Lords, passed away on Tuesday at the age of 85. He reportedly died at a hospital in Gurugram due to a health complication.
His wife, writer Lady Kishwar Desai, mourned his loss, saying, “I am devastated, as he was my rockstar husband — larger than life, indestructible. I adored him.”
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed grief on social media, calling Lord Desai a “distinguished thinker, writer and economist” who remained deeply connected to India and contributed significantly to India-UK relations.
Born in Gujarat, Desai taught at the London School of Economics (LSE) from 1965 to 2003, eventually becoming Emeritus Professor of Economics. He founded the Centre for the Study of Global Governance in 1992 and played a key role in developing LSE’s Development Studies Institute.
He was made a life peer in 1991 as Lord Desai of St Clement Danes and joined the House of Lords as a Labour member. He resigned from the Labour Party in 2020 over concerns about its handling of antisemitism and became a crossbench peer.
Among his many contributions, Lord Desai helped install the statue of Mahatma Gandhi at Parliament Square in London in 2015. He authored several books, including Nehru’s Hero: Dilip Kumar, praising the legendary actor as the greatest performer not only in Indian cinema but globally.
Tributes poured in from political and academic circles. Professor Larry Kramer, President of LSE, called him an “inspiring teacher and dear friend.” Fellow peers like Lord Karan Bilimoria, Lord Rami Ranger, and Baroness Usha Prashar remembered him as an intellectual force with a distinct voice and a kind heart.
The High Commission of India in London called him a “teacher, scholar, and great advocate of India-UK friendship.” The 1928 Institute also honoured him as a “towering intellect” and mentor whose legacy will shape generations.
Lord Meghnad Desai leaves behind a rich legacy of scholarship, public service, and cultural bridge-building between India and the UK.
