C. Rangarajan

1. 🌟 In 1947, young Chakravarthi Rangarajan studied at National College, Tiruchirappalli, a period shadowed by India's independence, setting the stage for his future in economics. 2. In 1964, he earned his PhD from the University of Pennsylvania with a thesis titled "Variability of Demand Deposits," diving deep into banking behavior at a time when India was redefining its economic policies. 3. From 1982 to 1991, Rangarajan served as Deputy Governor of the Reserve Bank of India, navigating the country through volatile financial years before becoming its 19th Governor in 1992. 4. 🎓 Between 1997 and 2003, he held the unique post of Governor of Andhra Pradesh, while simultaneously managing gubernatorial responsibilities for Odisha and Tamil Nadu on additional charges, a rare administrative triad. 5. 🏛️ In 2003, he chaired the Twelfth Finance Commission, directly influencing fiscal federalism and resource distribution during a crucial economic phase in India. 6. Awarded the Padma Vibhushan in 2002, Rangarajan's work bridged economic theory and policy, shaping India’s macroeconomic framework during the liberalization era. 7. 🔍 As chairman of the Prime Minister’s Economic Advisory Council between 2005–2008 and 2009–2014, he resigned immediately after the UPA government’s defeat in 2014, signaling his principled stance on political economy. 8. ❓ How did Rangarajan’s experience at the crossroads of academia, central banking, and state governance influence India’s approach to balancing economic growth with social equity?