Baidyanath Misra

{{Short description|Indian economist, educationist, author, and administrator (1920–2019)}}

{{Infobox person

| name = Baidyanath Misra

| image = Dr. (Prof.) Baidyanath Misra.jpg

| image_size = 150px

| birth_date = {{Birth date|1920|11|22|df=yes}}

| birth_place = Khordha, Bihar and Orissa Province, British India

| death_date = {{death date and age|2019|05|08|1920|11|22|df=yes}}

| death_place = Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India

| nationality = Indian

| education = Ravenshaw University
University of Allahabad
University of Pennsylvania
Utkal University

| occupation = Economist
Educationist
Author
Administrator

| employer = Government of Odisha

| spouse = Basanti Misra

| children = Basant, Jayant, Sukant, Bijayalaxmi

| parents = Mahadev Misra (Father)
Manika Devi (Mother)

| awards = Odisha Sahitya Academy Award

}}

Baidyanath Misra (22 November 1920 – 8 May 2019) was an Indian economist, educator, author, and administrator from the state of Odisha.{{Cite press release|url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/renowned-economist-baidyanath-mishra-dies-119050800751_1.html|title=Renowned economist Baidyanath Mishra dies|newspaper=Business Standard India |date=8 May 2019|via=Business Standard|agency=Press Trust of India }}{{Cite press release|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/odisha/2019/may/09/baidyanath-misra-passes-away-at-99-1974600.html|title=Baidyanath Misra passes away at 99 |date=9 May 2019 |agency=Press Trust of India |via=The New Indian Express}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/odisha/there-are-only-traders-no-entrepreneurs/cid/408787|title=There are only traders, no entrepreneurs|website=www.telegraphindia.com}} He served as the Vice-Chancellor of the Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology, Deputy-Chairman of Odisha State Planning Board, Chairman of Odisha's First State Finance Commission,{{Cite web |date=2013 |title=EVALUATION OF STATE FINANCES WITH REFERENCE TO STATE OF ODISHA (REPORT SUBMITTED TO THE FOURTEENTH FINANCE COMMISSION) |url=https://fincomindia.nic.in/writereaddata/html_en_files/oldcommission_html/fincom14/others/19.pdf |publisher=NABAKRUSHNA CHOUDHURY CENTRE FOR DEVELOPMENT STUDIES, ODISHA}} Secretary of Odisha State Welfare Board, founder Secretary and President of Orissa Economics Association,{{Cite web|url=https://www.orissapost.com/orissa-economics-association-celebrates-golden-jubilee/|title=Orissa Economics Association celebrates golden jubilee — OrissaPOST|date=10 February 2018}}{{Cite web|date=2019-05-13 |title=Prof. Baidyanath Misra — An Economist and Social Scientist of Repute |url=https://www.odisha.plus/2019/05/a-tribute-to-prof-baidyanath-misra-an-economist-and-social-scientist-of-repute/ |access-date=2023-02-08 |website=OdishaPlus |language=en-GB}} and the founder Director and Chairman of Nabakrushna Choudhury Centre for Development Studies.{{Cite web|url=https://ncds.nic.in/?q=node/507|title = Centenary in honour of Professor Baidyanath Misra (22.Nov.2020) | Nabakrushna Choudhury Centre for Development Studies}}{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=13IGivvvOt8C&pg=PA279 |title=Agro-industries and Economic Development: A Vision for the 21st Century|first1=Baidyanath|last1=Misra|first2=Gyana Chandra|last2=Kar|first3=Surendra Nath|last3=Misra|year=2002

|publisher=Deep & Deep|isbn=9788176293693|via=Google Books}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.odisha.plus/2019/05/a-tribute-to-prof-baidyanath-misra-an-economist-and-social-scientist-of-repute/|title=Prof. Baidyanath Misra — An Economist and Social Scientist of Repute|date=13 May 2019|website=OdishaPlus}} He wrote 16 books in English and 20 in Odia. He was also a columnist in several leading Odia journals and newspapers. He organised several camps across Odisha, for helping the cause of the poor and downtrodden.{{fact|date=May 2023}}

Education

Misra received his Bachelor of Arts degree in economics from Ravenshaw University, followed by a Master of Arts degree from the University of Allahabad in 1948, and was the topper at both the institutions. He was also the first Odia topper of the Faculty of Arts and the Department of Economics of Allahabad University. He received two gold medals from Sarojini Naidu (the then ex officio Chancellor of the University of Allahabad, being the Governor of the United Provinces) during the convocation, one each from the Arts faculty and the Economics department.{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6-kz5_Y2Wb4C&q=sahitya&pg=PR14|title=Indian Economy and Socio-economic Transformation: Emerging Issues and Problems : Essays in Honour of Professor Baidyanath Misra|first=Surendra Nath|last=Misra|date=27 August 2004|publisher=Deep & Deep|isbn=9788176295253|via=Google Books}} He completed another master's degree in economics from Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania on a Fulbright Scholarship, where he studied under the Nobel laureate, Simon Kuznets. After returning to India, he did a PhD from Utkal University.{{Cite web|url=https://pragativadi.com/an-institution-builder-passes-away/|title=An Institution Builder Passes Away|work=Pragativadi: Leading Odia Dailly |date=9 May 2019}}

Career

File:45th annual conference of the Orissa Economics Association.jpg

Having started his career as a lecturer in Ravenshaw College, he moved to Utkal University as a professor and the head of the department of Analytical & Applied Economics, where he instituted two academic chairs, funded by the Reserve Bank of India and the State Bank of India. He served as the Vice-Chancellor of the Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology from 1981 to 1985. During his tenure as the VC of OUAT, he established the College of Engineering and Technology, Bhubaneswar, College of Agriculture, Sambalpur, College of Home Science, Bhubaneswar, and the College of Fisheries, Ganjam. He headed the Odisha State Planning Board from 1985 to 1990. In 1987, he founded the Nabakrushna Choudhury Centre for Development Studies (NCDS), in Bhubaneswar, which is jointly funded by the Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR), Government of India, and the Government of Odisha.{{Cite web|url=https://ncds.nic.in/?q=About+Us|title=About Us | Nabakrushna Choudhury Centre for Development Studies|website=ncds.nic.in}} He was also a member of the panel of economists of the Planning Commission of India and the Odisha Pay Commission.

Recognition

File:Dr. (Prof.) Baidyanath Misra being felicitated by the Governor of Odisha, S C Jamir.jpg, S C Jamir]]

He received an honorary doctorate from KIIT University in 2012, for his contributions to Economics.{{Cite web|url=https://kiit.ac.in/convocation/8th-annual-convocation/|title=8th Annual Convocation|date=9 September 2012}}
The Chief Minister of Odisha, Naveen Patnaik, conferred on him the Think Odisha Leadership Award in 2010, jointly with the AICTE Chairman and the Director of IIT Kharagpur, Damodar Acharya, for their contributions in the field of education.{{Cite news|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/orissa-cm-gives-away-think-odisha-leadership-awards-2010/articleshow/6326991.cms?from=mdr|title=Orissa CM gives away Think Odisha Leadership Awards, 2010|first=Nageshwar|last=Patnaik|date=17 August 2010|newspaper=The Economic Times}}
He was also awarded the Odisha Sahitya Academy Award in 1996, for his contributions to Odia literature, in addition to the Nandighosh award and Vishub Milan award.[http://magazines.odisha.gov.in/orissaannualreference/ORA-2004/pdf/orissa_sahitya_akademi_awarded-books-and_writers.pdf Orissa Sahitya Academy awarded books and writers] odisha.gov.in

Family

File:Dr. (Prof.) Baidyanath Misra Memorial.jpg

He was born to Mahadev Misra and Manika Devi, in Khordha. He was married to Basanti Misra, a homemaker and a post-graduate in arts. The couple's children include a daughter, Bijayalaxmi, who is married to Ajatsatru Tripathy, an ophthalmologist; and three sons, Basant, who did his MS general surgery from Delhi University and MCh in neurosurgery from AIIMS, New Delhi, and is the Chief of Surgery and the Chairman of Neurosurgery at Hinduja Hospitals;{{Cite web|url=https://neurosocietyindia.com/|title=Neurological Society of India – The Neurological Society of India is the apex body representing neuroscientists in India.|accessdate=15 January 2024}} Jayant, who did graduation in electrical engineering from IIT Roorkee and MEP from IIM Ahmedabad, and is currently Director & Chief Operating Officer of Indian Metals & Ferro Alloys;{{Cite web|url=http://www.imfa.in/about-us/BoardOfDirectors.htm|title=IMFA|website=www.imfa.in}} and Sukant, who did post-graduation and doctorate in economics from Utkal University and Mississippi State University, and is currently dean and vice-provost at Texas Technical University.[https://www.depts.ttu.edu/international/statements/bio_misra.php Bio Misra] depts.ttu.edu{{Dead link|date=December 2023}}

Legacy

The Orissa Economics Association annually organises the Prof. Baidyanath Misra Lecture in his memory.{{Cite web|url=https://m.rbi.org.in//scripts/BS_SpeechesView.aspx?Id=481|title=Reserve Bank of India — Speeches}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.orissaea.in/Special_Lecture_Series.html|title=Orissa Economics Association | Odisha | India|website=www.orissaea.in}} The association also presents the Professor Baidyanath Misra Best Paper Award.[https://cuo.ac.in/Events-Images/210.pdf CUO Scholar receives "Professor Baidyanath Mishra Best Paper Award- 2023"] cuo.ac.in
His eldest son and a noted neurosurgeon, Basant Misra, started the Baidyanath Neurosurgery Charitable Trust, in his honour.{{cite web |title=Dr. Sarang Rote |url=https://drsarangrote.com/sarangrotecv.pdf |website=Neurosurgeon in Pune , Neurologist , Specialist , Doctor in Pune}}

Bibliography

= English =

Economic Profile of India
Economic Liberalisation and Regional Disparities in India
Economics of Public Finance
Capitalism, Socialism and Planning
Development, Deprivation, and Welfare Policy
Poverty, Unemployment and Rural Development
Population Stabilisation and Development
Growth and Governance
Structural Change
Fiscal Policy in the Context of Planning: An Analysis of Keynesian Economics in Relation to Economic Development
Reference Orissa: An Indian State of Eastern Region
Cooperative Movement in India: A Case Study of an Indian State
Studies in the Economics of Farm Management in Cuttack District, Orissa
Socialism and Market Economy: Proceedings of Seminar on Socialism and Market Economy
Agro-industries and Economic Development: A Vision for the 21st Century
Seminar Papers on Rural Development
Agricultural Development: Problems and Prospects
Economic Development of Orissa
Political Economy of Development
Strategy of Development Planning
Contemporary Economic System
Pursuit of Destiny (Autobiography){{cite book|author=Baidyanath Misra|title=Pursuit of Destiny|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DzQMnwEACAAJ|year=2013|publisher=Har-Anand Publications|isbn=978-81-241-1739-2}}