Yesterday when Mr. Swagata Nandi informed me that our respected Professor Barun Kanjilal Sir, Eminent Health Economist and Independent Consultant specializing in Health Economics and Financing, departed us – a saddened darkness grasped me.
Prof. Kanjilal, from Bardhaman and originally from Noakhali, Undivided Bengal, did his MA in Economics at Bardhaman University. Then after a brief stint of teaching in CU he conducted PhD at Louisiana State University, the USA and then joined as Sr. Associate, Department of International Health, Bloomberg School of Public Health, John Hopkins University, the USA. Then he returned to India and joined IIHMR, Jaipur as Prof. (HE). He had several publications and led over 50 research programmes in India including developmental economics of Sundarban. He was also attached with IPH, Kalyani.
In 1999, after some good performances by our hospitals in SHSDP2 criteria Late Dr. Subir Bhowmik (Superintendent, Kalimpong SD Hospital at that time), Late Dr. Mrinmoy Nandi (Super, Durgapur SDH) and myself from Ranaghat SDH were sent by the GoWB to IIHMR for some advance training where we first time met Prof. Kanjilal.
After several years when I joined as Dean at IPHK, again I met Prof Kanjilal where he used to teach HE and Programme Evaluation. His classes were superb where he simplified the complicated subjects and delivered to the students in an excellent interactive way. I attended his classes with our MPH students. He was very responsible, sincere, disciplined, punctual, particular and energetic which should be learning for others. Even in his death bed he completed university papers as an examiner. We interacted on several issues which enriched me a lot. On my request he sent article for SSU on ‘Universal Health Coverage’. He also wrote an important article in ABP after Tilottama’s death.
He was a doyen of Health Economics and Developmental Economics and his demise created an emptiness difficult to fulfill. Our heart full regards and homage to Professor Barun Kanjilal.
Inspired!