Deepak Lal: Profound philosopher in all travails & joys of life and living

Mani Shankar Aiyar remembers economist Deepak Lal, who remained for 65 years one of his closest friends, as a deeply empathetic confidante and a mentor on everything 'civilised'

I knew little of the Deepak the world knew: renowned right-wing economist; eccentric defender of Empire; impassioned advocate of The Hindu Equilibrium; author of 16 best-selling academic works, many that were as easy reading as novels.

We disagreed about almost everything and many of our arguments would end as shouting matches. But, despite our differences, he remained through at least 65 of his 80 years one of my closest friends, a deeply empathetic confidante, a mentor on everything “civilised”, something of a bon vivant, and a wise guide and profound philosopher in all the travails and joys of life and