Economics is too important a subject to remain confined to economists. But Professor Misra’s style of writings largely represent a model of how an economist can effectively communicate with the wider public on issues that affect the life of the entire society, writes Prof. Raj Kishore Panda while remembering the Dr Baidyanath Misra school of thought.
Professor Baidyanath Misra passed away in his residence at 17, Saheed Nagar, Bhubaneswar on May 07, 2019. He was 99. His was a multi-faceted personality: an outstanding teacher, extremely popular with students; an exceptionally good research guide, produced a record number of Ph.D Scholars in Economics; a well-liked Vice-chancellor, Deputy Chairman Odisha State Planning Board, Chairman First State Finance Commission.
Prof. Misra was a successful Institution Builder who created a number of institutions of higher learning and research to lift higher education to a new height in the state. Above all he was a good human being who respected human dignity and showed exemplary courtesy to all irrespective of their status in society.
He was a great believer in ‘work is worship’. I have known Professor Misra since 1980 first as his research scholar and later as a colleague in Naba Krushna Choudhury Centre for Development Studies. In all these years I have seen him deeply involved in scholarly pursuits, used to spend most of his time in reading and writing. He was not confined to economics only but to a lot of other fields of social sciences. As a true socialist thinker, his pen was active dwelling on various issues of common interest happening in day to day life. Even though he crossed the age of ninety his pen was still active. He was regularly contributing to different dailies and magazines.
Above and beyond teaching and research Professor Misra advised Government of India and State Government on economic policy in his various capacities as Professor, Member of the Economic Advisory Council of the Prime Minister, Deputy Chairman, Odisha State Planning Board and Chairman State Finance Commission.
He was of the firm view that theoretical underpinnings in any plan and policy is indispensable. But not everything that is theoretically sound can be put into practice. Much of what is seen as failure and non-implementation of laws is due the fact that they are not feasible because the proposition was not theoretically valid.
Professor Misra’s contribution to Economics is immense. Among his books, ‘Capitalism, Socialism and Planning’ is widely referred by the students, teachers and researchers. Besides his book ‘Fiscal Policy in the Context of Planning’ is widely prescribed as a text book for post-graduate study in the Indian Universities.
His latest book on ‘Sustainable Development Administration – An Analysis of Problems of Economy, environment and Equity’, a collection of essays published in 2012, covers a number of diverse problems on India’s economic growth, economic development and social ethics, sustainable development, financing higher education, urbanization in India etc.
Professor Misra has published a number research papers in various distinguished journals and the themes cover a vast range of economic and social issues. Economics is too important a subject to remain confined to economists. But Professor Misra’s style of writings largely represent a model of how an economist can effectively communicate with the wider public on issues that affect the life of the entire society.
One who is born is to die. Professor Misra took life as a ‘mission to work’ and enjoyed every bit of his life keeping busy in scholarly pursuits. The demise of Professor Misra is a great loss for the State as it lost an eminent academician. It is a deeper loss for his students and associates who will remain deprived of his wisdom. For me passing away of Professor Misra is an irreparable loss and I shall cherish his memory till the end of my life.