Professor Kakkadan Nandanath Raj, popularly known as K. N. Raj, was born in Thrissur on May 13, 1924. After graduating with a BA (Hons.) in Economics from Madras Christian College (MCC), Chennai, in 1944, Raj pursued an MSc in Economics at the London School of Economics (LSE). He was awarded a PhD from LSE for his work on the monetary policy of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).
Professor K. N. Raj was not only an inspiring teacher and a distinguished economist but also a master builder of institutions and a visionary who recognized the need for well-trained economists in the emerging Indian economy. Beyond founding CDS, he made significant contributions to national economic planning, served as an economic advisor to several Prime Ministers and played a pivotal role in computing India’s Balance of Payments for the first time during his tenure at the RBI. He was awarded the Padma Vibhushan in 2000, the second-highest civilian award of the Republic of India.
As part of the centennial celebrations, we are organizing four main events:
CDS Alumni Meet (19 – 20 October 2024)
Conference (20-22 October 2024)
Launching a Souvenir that highlights the life and contributions of Professor Raj
K. N. Raj Memorial Lectures: A series of lectures across colleges and universities in Kerala by CDS faculty members.
As we embark on this journey to celebrate the centenary year of Prof. K.N. Raj, let us honor his legacy by reaffirming our commitment to academic excellence, development, and social change.
