In Memoriam
Pradeep Mitra (1947-2024)
Pradeep Mitra, 77, passed away on November 9th, 2024 following a brief illness.
The son of Himanshu Kumar Mitra and Karuna Mitra (Chaudhury), he was born on September 2nd, 1947, in the steel town of Jamshedpur, India. He graduated from Delhi University in 1968, and went on to Balliol College in Oxford as one of only two Rhodes scholars selected from India in his year. After receiving his PhD in economics he spent short stints in London and Vienna, and then moved to the US, spending nearly the next four decades at the World Bank in Washington, D.C.
One of Pradeep’s most important roles at the Bank was as Chief Economist for the Europe and Central Asia region during the difficult transition from a command to a market economy, and his writings focused on deriving lessons from the successes and failures of these countries over time. He made major efforts to disseminate those lessons to a broad audience, including policy makers in those countries. He notably also mentored young economists, collaborated with them, and encouraged them to explore new areas of analysis.
Pradeep traveled widely and often, particularly in Southeast Asia. He was a great fan of the music of Rabindranath Tagore, once visiting the poet’s property in Shantiniketan. He loved classical music, Indian desserts, and British comedy (Yes Minister, My Word, and all things John Cleese).
Despite having no special affinity for cats, he acquiesced to having two in his life, much to the delight of his family. Family was of enormous importance to him, and he unfailingly appeared for events of the extended Mitra clan.
He was preceded in death by his parents, and his elder sister Rita Subramanian. He is survived by his wife, Vijaya, and their sons Romit and Tarit.
He will be greatly missed.
Submitted by: Tarit Mitra
