Bhabatosh Datta

Bhabatosh Datta (21 February 1911 – 11 January 1997) was a noted Indian economist, academic and writer. He taught at Chittagong College and later became Professor of Economics, Presidency College, Kolkata, where he later became an Emeritus Professor.

In 1990, he was awarded the Padma Vibhushan, the second highest civilian award, by Government of India.

Early life and background Datta was born in Patna, Bihar to Hemendra Kishore Datta and Jogmaya Datta. At the time, his father was a professor of Chemistry at Bihar National College, Patna. Thereafter, he did his schooling at various places, including Daulatpur in Khulna District, Mymensingh followed by Dhaka, now in Bangladesh. At his Dhaka school, he edited the school magazine along with fellow student Buddhadeb Bose, who went on to become a noted poet. He completed his schooling from Jagannath College Dhaka, and went on to earn B.A. (Hons.) in Economics and Political Science and M.A. Economics from Presidency College, Kolkata.

He also remained a member of Fourth Finance Commission of India formed in 1964, and also remained a member of the first working committee of Paschimbanga Bangla Akademi, Kolkata.

Personal life He married Amala Basu in 1939, she died in 1989.