Start
January 14, 2022 - 3:30 pm
End
January 14, 2022 - 5:00 pm
THE STORY OF PROFESSOR P J THOMAS: AN UNSUNG ECONOMIST
Dr. P. J. Thomas was one of the rare breeds of economists who made a difference in modern India’s history. A product of University of Oxford, he served as economic advisor to the governments of both, British India Government (1942-1947) and independent India led by India’s first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, and represented India to sign the United Nations charter invites inaugural session held in San Francisco in 1945. He served with great distinction as Professor of Economics at the University of Madras during 1927-1942.
He strode like a colossus in economic thinking on the eve of India’s independence. His observations in the sphere of general sales tax, population growth, rural employment guarantee, land reforms, green revolution, local self government, co-operatives and rural indebtedness turned out to be prophetic. Independent India saw most of his innovative ideas becoming a reality. The much touted MGNREGA (Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme) was originally the brain child of Thomas, who mooted it in one of his works during early 1930s.
This lecture is based on life and contribution of Dr. P. J. Thomas covers his monumental contributions as an academic, teacher, economist, administrator, author and parliamentarian.
About the Speaker:
Dr. E M Thomas is Visiting Professor at Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam. Formerly he was the co-ordinator and faculty of Interuniversity Centre for Financial Economics and Financial Engineering, University of Calicut at Dr John Matthai Centre, Thrissur, Kerala and he was also an Associate Professor of Economics at Christ College, Irinjalakuda, Thrissur.
He has authored more than 50 professional publications including 12 books. He obtained his BA and MA Degree in Economics from University of Kerala and PhD from University of Calicut. He did his specialisation course on decentralised planning in the University of Belgrade.