How does one describe Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia? With his education at the Delhi Scool of Economics and Oxford, coupled with stints in the government and IMF, one would presume he can be called an economist, policymaker and banker.
But at the diaspora convention, Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh said Ahluwalia can be best called a “practical man” and even managed to make Lord Meghnad Desai describe him as such.
Ahluwalia himself was more circumspect. “With age catching up, I am now a defunct economist,” the 66-year-old retorted, evoking chuckles among the audience, largely comprising overseas Indians.
