LSE Establishes Lord Meghnad Desai Student Support Fund and Memorial Lecture
The London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) has paid a significant tribute to the late economist and public intellectual Lord Meghnad Desai by launching a new student support fund in his name alongside a memorial lecture. This initiative commemorates Lord Desai's profound impact on the institution, where he was associated for over five decades as a teacher, scholar, and mentor.
Honoring a Legacy of Intellectual Independence
Lord Desai, who passed away on July 29, 2025, at the age of 85, was celebrated for his intellectual independence and commitment to fostering debate. LSE President and Vice Chancellor Professor Larry Kramer formally inaugurated the Lord Desai Student Support Fund during the memorial event. Professor Kramer emphasized that Lord Desai's unique approach as an educator and thinker made him a catalyst for transformation, inspiring countless students to think differently, argue boldly, and embrace complexity.
The fund is designed to support students whose work aligns with Lord Desai's core beliefs in the power of ideas, dissent, and global engagement. It aims to identify and nurture individuals with the potential to drive meaningful social impact, ensuring that his influence continues through action rather than just memory.
Lord Desai's Illustrious Career at LSE
Lord Meghnad Desai's association with LSE began in 1965 when he joined as a lecturer. His career at the institution was marked by numerous key roles:
- Appointed Professor of Economics in 1983.
- Served as Convenor of the Economics Department from 1987 to 1990.
- Founded the Centre for the Study of Global Governance in 1992.
- Headed the Development Studies Institute between 1990 and 1995.
- Named Emeritus Professor and Honorary Fellow after retiring in 2003.
Colleagues and students remember him for bringing warmth, wit, and humanity to academic life, describing him as a generous and insightful teacher whose mentorship left a lasting impression on generations.
Memorial Lecture on Market Economies
The memorial lecture, titled Power and Profit: Stresses and Futures of Market Economies, brought together leading economists and policymakers to discuss global challenges facing market systems. The event featured notable speakers including Montek Singh Ahluwalia, LSE's Francesco Caselli, Professor David Hendry, and Professor Stephen Nickell, with the session chaired by Professor Mary Kaldor.
Support from the Academic Community
British economist and LSE Emeritus Professor Charles Goodhart, who has supported the new fund, highlighted its significance. He stated that a student support fund is a fitting tribute to Lord Desai's enduring contribution to the intellectual life of the institution and his lifelong commitment to mentoring young scholars. This endorsement underscores the fund's role in perpetuating Lord Desai's legacy of academic excellence and student empowerment.
By establishing this fund and lecture, LSE not only honors Lord Meghnad Desai's memory but also reinforces its commitment to fostering innovative and interdisciplinary ideas among future leaders, ensuring his visionary spirit lives on in the halls of the institution he so profoundly shaped.
