Lord Meghnad Desai, a prominent British Indian economist, author, and member of the UK House of Lords, passed away on Tuesday at the age of 85. He reportedly died in a Gurugram hospital due to a health issue.

His wife, writer Lady Kishwar Desai, expressed her sorrow, stating, “I am devastated, as he was my rockstar husband — larger than life, indestructible. I adored him.”

Prime Minister Narendra Modi shared his condolences on social media, referring to Lord Desai as a “distinguished thinker, writer and economist” who maintained a strong connection to India and made significant contributions to India-UK relations.

Born in Gujarat, Desai served as a faculty member at the London School of Economics (LSE) from 1965 until 2003, ultimately becoming Emeritus Professor of Economics. In 1992, he established the Centre for the Study of Global Governance and was instrumental in the development of LSE’s Development Studies Institute.

He was appointed a life peer in 1991 as Lord Desai of St Clement Danes and became a Labour member of the House of Lords. In 2020, he resigned from the Labour Party due to concerns regarding its approach to antisemitism and transitioned to a crossbench peer.

Among his numerous contributions, Lord Desai was pivotal in the installation of the Mahatma Gandhi statue at Parliament Square in London in 2015. He wrote several books, including Nehru’s Hero: Dilip Kumar, in which he celebrated the legendary actor as the greatest performer not just in Indian cinema but worldwide.

Tributes have flooded in from both political and academic communities. Professor Larry Kramer, President of LSE, described him as an “inspiring teacher and dear friend.” Fellow peers such as Lord Karan Bilimoria, Lord Rami Ranger, and Baroness Usha Prashar remembered him as an intellectual powerhouse with a unique voice and a compassionate heart.

The High Commission of India in London referred to him as a “teacher, scholar, and great advocate of India-UK friendship.” The 1928 Institute also recognized him as a “towering intellect” and mentor whose legacy will influence future generations.