Abhijit Banerjee, an Indian American economist, has been granted the Tagore Prize for Social Achievement 2023 during the sixth Rabindranath Tagore Literary Prize ceremony at the India International Centre in New Delhi. This accolade acknowledges his significant contributions to social welfare. In expressing his gratitude, Banerjee emphasized the vital role of addressing societal issues collectively for a better world. Currently serving as the Ford Foundation International professor of economics at MIT and a Nobel laureate since 2019, Banerjee’s work in development economics and the establishment of the Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab (J-PAL) in 2003 underscore his commitment to global impact.
Banerjee, born in Mumbai and now 62 years old, holds a BSc honors degree in economics from Presidency College, a master’s from Jawaharlal Nehru University, and a PhD from Harvard University. Recognized among Foreign Policy magazine’s top 100 global thinkers in 2011, Banerjee has received various fellowships, including the Guggenheim Fellowship and the Alfred P. Sloan Fellowship. His expertise extends to teaching at prestigious institutions like Harvard and Princeton University.
Alongside Banerjee, poet Sukrita Paul Kumar also received the Rabindranath Tagore Literary Prize at the ceremony. The Tagore awarding committee, represented by Peter Bundalo based in Copenhagen, praised both Banerjee and Kumar for embodying mastery in their respective fields and enriching the world with their distinct visions and contributions.
