About Dr. Karunamoy Mukerji
A Glimpse into his Life & Work
Professor Dr. Karunamoy Mukerji (1911-1995) was born in undivided Jessore district in 1911 in village Akaipur (now in the North 24 Parganas, West Bengal). His father was Shri Satyacharan Mukhopadhyay and mother was Smt. Nagendrabala Mukhopadhyay. He had three older brothers and two elder sisters.
Professor Mukerji obtained his M.A degree in Economics from Calcutta University in 1938 and secured a First Class. In 1938, he was awarded the Cobden medal and became Griffith Prizeman twice in 1943 and 1947. He also obtained the prestigious Premchand Raichand Scholar (PRS) award in 1948. He was a Mouat Gold Medalist and obtained his D. Phil degree from the University of Calcutta in 1949.
Professor Mukerji taught in the Economics Department of J.I. College of Dacca during 1938-39 and later on served in the Economics and Commerce Department of Bangabasi College affiliated to the University of Calcutta.
He joined the Department of Economics and Politics in Vidya Bhavana of Visva-Bharati as Bata Professor in 1954 and worked there till his retirement in 1975. Between 1976 and 1979 he served in the Bidhan Chandra Agricultural University of Kalyani, West Bengal as Professor and Head of the Department of Agricultural Economics. He was associated with Jadavpur University, Calcutta as Emeritus Scientist of Indian Council of Agricultural Research, New Delhi (1979-1983).
Professor Mukerji was a member of Indian and International Economic Associations and a Non-official consultant of Central Planning Commission, Delhi. He became the seventh President of the Bangiya Arthaniti Parisad and delivered the Presidential address in 1987.
Dr. Karunamoy Mukerji also represented Visva-Bharati as delegate in several National and International Conferences and official visits including visits to The People’s Republic of China (1955), participated in various conferences, seminars, symposiums including International conferences on Agricultural Economics and Co-operative Economics held in Australia, Austria and later Mexico. His various lecture tours took him to different parts of the world including Fiji Island, Hawai Island, San Francisco city, City of Sacramento, London, etc.
Author of numerous research articles, essays and books, Prof. Mukerji did pioneering researches on different aspects of Agricultural Economics including subjects like peasant’s indebtedness, land transfers and famines in South Asia. Some of his major books are – The Problems of Land Transfer (Santiniketan-1957), Socio Economic Survey of 49 Villages, Agriculture, Famine and Rehabilitation in South Asia (Santiniketan, 1963), Rabindranather jamidari, Rabindranath o Santiniketan (in Bengali), etc.
The Spiritual Dimension
Apart from his academic achievements, Dr. Karunamoy Mukerji was a devotee of Swami Sivanand Maharaj (Mahapurush Maharaj) , second President of Ramakrishna Math & Mission. He was associated with various activities of Belur Math whenever he came to Calcutta.
Under his influence and wish, we have set up Karuna Mindcare Foundation to serve the Senior Citizens, in various ways. This is one of the initiatives which we have named “Spiritual Day Out” .
We know that he is guiding and blessing us for our mission.
We believe that he is in Ramakrishna-Lok showering his blessings on us!