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Jeemol
Prof. Rakesh Basant <rakesh@iima.ac.in>
This is really sad and a big loss for all of us. He was my MPhil supervisor and also taught a lot of courses to our batch. He taught me a lot about analysing data and writing. And as Jeemol mentioned, to ask the right research questions. In fact, my initiation into research is due to him. His scribbles on our assignments and thesis drafts were legendary that only a few could decipher! By the time I graduated, I was one of the privileged few who could. This was also the phase when he was getting out of smoking using cloves as a substitute. Jeemol and I have very fond memories of our association with him and his family.
May his soul rest in peace. Rakesh
Dr. D Rajasekhar <raja@isec.ac.in>
Great teacher. He took classes on Indian economy for the entire first semester of our batch (1983-84). As Rakesh mentioned, he gave up smoking by then; but clove smell would announce his arrival into the class, corridor ...
He was one of the few teachers who would sit in his chair (sometimes leaning back) in the class; yet make classes interesting, absorbing. His sharp questions used to keep us on toes.
He used to attend all the seminars, particularly those by M.Phil students. He used to gently persuade the other faculty members to join him in his long walk from his room to the M.Phil class room. We did not like this persuasion then as more faculty means more questions to us. But, now realise how important this participation was in shaping our academic careers.
I met him several times as he was in the Board of Governors of ISEC for a long time.
As a teacher he left a lasting impact on me. Indebted to him forever. May his soul rest in peace. Deep condolences to his family.
Rajasekhar
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