In collaboration with Penguin Random House

A year after the passing of Sri Bibek Debroy, one of India’s most respected economists and pioneering Sanskrit scholars, this special conversation brings together voices in reflection on his remarkable intellectual legacy.

Known for his wide-ranging contributions across Sanskrit literature, mythology, Indian knowledge systems, and public thought, Debroy’s work moved fluidly between classical traditions and contemporary discourse. Beyond academia, his writing reflected a rare ability to engage with complexity while remaining accessible, shaping conversations across literature, policy, and cultural inquiry.

This talk reflects on the breadth of his contributions, from his engagement with Sanskriti and Indian literary traditions to his lesser-known creative expressions, including limericks, offering a moment to revisit a life and mind that remained deeply curious and ahead of its time.

About the Speakers

Moutushi Mukherjee is Senior Commissioning Editor for Penguin Classics, Fiction, and Translations at Penguin Random House India. She has previously worked with leading publishers including Oxford University Press, Orient Blackswan, and Pearson Education. Alongside leading Penguin’s Classics and Translations list, she also works on a joint list with Zubaan Books. Her writing has appeared in The Hindu, Indian Express, and Sociological Bulletin. She is also the editor of Heart Lamp, winner of the International Booker Prize 2025.

Hindol Sengupta is an award-winning historian and author of twelve books, including the national bestseller Sing, Dance and Pray. His book Being Hindu won the Wilbur Award from the Religion Communicators Council of America. He is Professor of International Relations at O. P. Jindal Global University and has received several honours, including the Valley of Words Award, Kalinga Literature Festival Prize, and SKOCH Award. He has also been shortlisted for the Hayek Prize.

Suparna Banerjee Debroy is a public policy and communications professional with extensive experience across government affairs and leadership roles. A strong advocate for women’s empowerment, education, and health initiatives, she currently serves as Patron of the Ekka Foundation, which promotes women’s empowerment through Indian culture and arts. She is also a member of the ethics committee at CSIR–Institute of Genomics & Integrative Biology. She holds postgraduate degrees in Management Studies and Clinical Ethics and has contributed to publications in collaboration with TCS and Indicus Analytics.

While you’re here, explore KNMA’s ongoing exhibition
TYEB MEHTA Bearing Weight (with the lightness of being)