Noted economist B. M. Bhatia, known for his works on famines in India and problems of the agriculture sector, died here last night after a brief illness.
The 94-year old Bhatia is survived by three daughters and a son. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia were among the students of Mr. Bhatia, who started his academic career in Lahore in 1938 where he also taught in the DAV College.
After Partition, Mr. Bhatia came to Delhi and joined as a lecturer in Hindu College. He rose to become the college principal, a post he held for almost 25 years. He also worked as the Head of the Economics Department of BITS, Pilani.
He worked in several UN committees and wrote about 20 books and hundreds of articles on the agrarian situation in the country.
Mr. Bhatia was hospitalised on August 15 following a lung infection and breathed his last around Wednesday midnight, family sources said.
