From Delhi to digital planet: Tufts University’s Bhaskar Chakravorti on technology reshaping economies

Economist and global business expert Bhaskar Chakravorti reflected on his remarkable journey from post-independence India to international academic leadership during a conversation on The Indianness Podcast with host Sanjay Puri. The discussion explored how family values, education, and industry shaped his perspective on business, technology, and nation-building.

Born in Delhi to Bengali parents, Chakravorti grew up in an intellectually vibrant home where discussions on economics, politics, literature, and the works of Rabindranath Tagore were part of everyday life. His father, an economist and public servant, inspired his curiosity about India's history and development from an early age.

A defining chapter of his life began at St. Stephen's College, where he studied alongside future leaders and thinkers. He later pursued economics at the Delhi School of Economics, learning under some of India's most respected economists, an experience he describes as the golden age of higher education.

Chakravorti also shared how joining the Tata Administrative Service transformed his understanding of economic growth. Moving through Tata Group companies exposed him to the role of responsible businesses in driving national progress. He explained that his interactions with leaders such as Ratan Tata strengthened his belief that companies can successfully balance profitability with social responsibility.

The conversation also highlighted the importance of personal relationships, with Chakravorti recalling how he met his future wife before beginning college and how they built their professional journeys together.

Drawing from decades of global experience, Chakravorti emphasized that businesses and nations share common goals, as sustainable economic growth benefits both society and industry. His journey reflects how education, innovation, and ethical leadership can come together to shape meaningful change, offering valuable lessons for future entrepreneurs, policymakers, and business leaders.