Amartya Kumar Sen Indian economist Date of Birth: 03.11.1933 Country: India

Biography of Amartya Sen

Amartya Sen was born in 1933 in Santiniketan, West Bengal, India. According to family legend, he was given the name 'Amartya', which translates to 'immortal', by Rabindranath Tagore himself. From a young age, Amartya had various interests, including mathematics, Sanskrit, and physics, but he ultimately became highly fascinated with economics.

He obtained his bachelor's degree in economics from Presidency University, Kolkata in 1953 and then went on to pursue further studies in England. He received a scholarship to study at Trinity College, Cambridge, where he completed his doctoral degree. During his time in England, Amartya returned to Kolkata for two years before resuming his studies. The prestigious Prize fellowship from Trinity College allowed him to engage in independent academic work. During this time, Amartya wrote several works, focusing on epistemology, ethics, and political philosophy.

Throughout his career, Amartya taught at various renowned institutions. He taught in Kolkata from 1956 to 1958, was a member of the faculty at Cambridge University from 1957 to 1963, and worked at the University of Delhi from 1963 to 1971. He later taught at the University of Oxford from 1977 to 1988 and at Harvard University from 1987 to 1998. At the London School of Economics and Oxford, Amartya conducted research on social choice theory and was particularly interested in the topics of inequality and poverty.

In 1981, based on his observations, Amartya published his book "Poverty and Famines: an Essay on Entitlement and Deprivation", in which he argued that famines are often caused by inequality in food distribution rather than a lack of food supply. Throughout his career, Amartya has authored around 35 published works and a vast number of articles.

In addition to his academic contributions, Amartya has held several prestigious positions. He served as the president of the Econometric Society in 1984 and the American Economic Association in 1994. He was also the president of the Indian Economic Association in 1989. In 1989, he actively participated in the development of the United Nations' "Human Development Reports", focusing on measuring inequality and poverty.

In 1998, Amartya Sen was awarded the Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences for his contributions to the economic theory of well-being. He has also received numerous honorary degrees, awards, and accolades, including the International Humanist Award, Leontief Prize, Companions of Honour, and Eisenhower Medal for Leadership and Service USA.

Amartya Sen is currently married to Emma Georgina Rothschild, who is also a renowned economist. He has a daughter, Antara Dev Sen, from his first marriage, who is a well-known Indian journalist.

In his free time, Amartya enjoys cycling, reading, and engaging in discussions with interesting individuals. He is a member of the editorial boards of various economic publications, and his articles and reviews are published in esteemed journals worldwide.