Quick Facts
Indian Celebrities Born In November
Also Known As: Amartya Kumar Sen
Age: 91 Years, 91 Year Old Males
Family:
Spouse/Ex-: Emma Georgina Rothschild (m. 1991), Eva Colorni (m. 1971–1985), Nabaneeta Dev Sen (m. 1959–1971)
father: Ashutosh Sen
mother: Amita Sen
children: Antara Dev Sen, Nandana Sen
Economists Philosophers
Ancestry: Indian American
More Facts
education: Trinity College, Cambridge, University Of Calcutta
awards: 1998 – Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences for his work
1999 – Bharat Ratna Award
2000 – Leontief Prize for his outstanding contribution to economic theory
2000 – He was awarded the Eisenhower Medal for Leadership and Service USA
2002 – International Humanist Award from the International Humanist and Ethical Union
2003 – Lifetime Achievement Award from the Indian Chamber of Commerce
2011 – The National Humanities Medal
– Life Time Achievement award from UNESCAP
Childhood & Early Life
Amartya Sen was born in Santiniketan, West Bengal, India to Ashutosh Sen, a Professor, who later served as the Chairman of the West Bengal Public Service Commission, and Amita Sen.
In 1941, he was enrolled at the St Gregory’s School, Dhaka and after the partition of India, his family moved to India, where he attended the Visva-Bharati University School.
In 1953, he graduated from Presidency College, Kolkata with a First Class Honours in B.A Economics. That year, he attended Trinity College, Cambridge, where he earned another B.A.
In 1956, at the age of 23, he was appointed as the Professor and head of the Economics Department at the Jadavpur University, Calcutta. After two years, he went back to Cambridge University to pursue his Ph.D.
In 1959, he submitted his Ph.D. thesis titled ‘the choice of techniques’, after which he was a visiting Professor at Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
From 1961 to 1972, he was a Professor at the Delhi School of Economics, after which he was a Professor of Economics at the London School of Economics. He also taught at the University of Calcutta.
Career
In 1970, his first book titled ‘Collective Choice and Social Welfare’, which is considered as one of his most influential monographs that addressed the issues of basic welfare, justice, equality and individual rights.
Published in the year 1973, his book ‘On Economic Inequality’, was a study of the theory of welfare economics in relation to the study of economic inequality.
His 1982 essay, ‘Poverty and Famines: An Essay on Entitlements and Deprivation’, highlighted the cause of lack of food supply, malnutrition and an analysis of famines.
In 1984, his work development economies, ‘Resources, Values, and Development’ was published. The publication focussed on the investment design, shadow rating, employment policy, and welfare economics.
His 1987 publication ‘On Ethics and Economics’, was a critical piece of writing that argued that welfare economics and modern ethical studies can benefit from each other.
In 1990, he authored a controversial essay for the The New York Review of Books, titled ‘More Than 100 Million Women Are Missing’. The essay throws light on the gender imbalance and the reasons for it.
In 1992, his book ‘Inequality Reexamined’ was published by the Harvard University Press. The book examined the notion of inequality and focussed mainly on the ‘capability approach’.
In 1998, his Nobel Prize Lecture publication titled ‘The Possibility of Social Choice’, in which he declared that welfare economics was a core theme in social change theory.
In 1999, he came out with the publication titled ‘Development as Freedom’, in the book he focussed on the concept of ‘international development’ and ‘developmental economics’.
In 2002, he came out with his book titled ‘Rationality and Freedom’, which is divided into two volumes on rationality, freedom, and justice. He brings a clear, clarified insight into each of these concepts.
In 2005, his popular book, ‘The Argumentative Indian’ was published. The book is a collection of essays on history and identity of India and the need to understand contemporary India and its argumentative tradition.
In 2009, his book ‘The Idea of Justice’ was published by Allen Lane and Harvard University Press. The book was a highlight on economic reasoning and a critique of John Rawls book, ‘A Theory of Justice’.
In his 2011 publication, ‘Peace and Democratic Society’, he explores the relationship between violence, peace and democracy. He delves into the concept of ‘organised violence’ and war, genocide and terrorism.
He is currently working as a Professor of Economics and Philosophy at Harvard University and also the Thomas W. Lamont University Professor.
Major Works
His publication ‘Development as Freedom’ was recognised by the Nobel Prize committee as an important contribution in the field of economic development theory.
One of his seminal 1992 works ‘Inequality Reexamined’, is an acclaimed book that brought together all the important themes of his work from over a decade. In this book he addresses some of the most important concerns of inequality.
Awards & Achievements
In 1954, he was awarded the Adam Smith Prize.
In 1998, he was the recipient of the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences that he received for his contribution to the field of ‘welfare economics’.
In 1999, he was awarded the Bharat Ratna, which is ‘the highest civilian award in India’.
In 2011, he was awarded National Humanities Medal.
Personal Life & Legacy
His first wife was Nabaneeta Dev Sen with whom he had two children, Antara Sen and Nandana Sen. The marriage ended in 1971.
In 1973, he married Eva Colorni and they had two children together. She died of stomach cancer in 1985.
In 1991, he married Emma Georgina Rothschild. The couple often vacation in their Cambridge home in Massachusetts.
Facts About Amartya Sen
Amartya Sen is known for his love of cricket. He has often spoken about his passion for the sport in various interviews and writings.
Sen is not just an economist but also a talented writer. He has authored several books on a wide range of topics, including economics, philosophy, and social issues.
In addition to his academic achievements, Sen is also a skilled pianist. He has been known to play the piano in private settings and enjoys music as a form of relaxation.
Sen is a strong advocate for social justice and has been actively involved in various humanitarian causes throughout his career.
He has used his platform to raise awareness about issues such as poverty, inequality, and human rights.
He is known for his approachable demeanor and willingness to engage with people from all walks of life.
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