Prithvi Nath Dhar (P.N. Dhar, 1 March 1919 – 19 July 2012) was an Indian

economist An economist is a professional and practitioner in the social science discipline of economics. The individual may also study, develop, and apply theories and concepts from economics and write about economic policy. Within this field there are ...

and the head of Indira Gandhi's secretariat and one of her closest advisers.

Early life and career

P. N. Dhar was born into a

Kashmiri Pandit The Kashmiri Pandits (also known as Kashmiri Brahmins) are a group of Kashmiri Hindus and a part of the larger Saraswat Brahmin community of India. They belong to the Pancha-Gauda, Pancha Gauda Brahmin group from the Kashmir Valley, a mountai ...

family on 1919 to Dr. Vishnu Hakim and Radha Hakim. His wife was the singer-writer

Sheila Dhar Sheila Dhar (1929 – 26 July 2001) was an Indian author and singer of Kirana gharana. She is known for her writings about music and musicians, which included three books. She also taught English literature and language at Delhi University. She w ...

. He attended

Tyndale Biscoe School Tyndale Biscoe School is a school in the Sheikh Bagh neighbourhood, in the Lal Chowk area of Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, India. The school was founded in 1880 CE and is one of the oldest schools in Jammu and Kashmir, the oldest being S.P sc ...

in Srinagar, India, and then studied economics at the

Hindu College Hindu College may refers to several colleges around the world, including: India * Dharmamurthi Rao Bhahadur Calavala Cunnan Chetty's Hindu College, Chennai, Tamil Nadu *Gobardanga Hindu College, West Bengal *Gokul Das Hindu Girls College, Moradaba ...

of the

University of Delhi Delhi University (DU), formally the University of Delhi, is a collegiate central university located in New Delhi, India. It was founded in 1922 by an Act of the Central Legislative Assembly and is recognized as an Institute of Eminence (IoE ...

. Dhar served as Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister Indira Gandhi during the tumultuous days of the Emergency (1973–1977). He was one of her close advisors, who were collectively known as the "Kashmiri Mafia". He was also a professor of economics at

Delhi University Delhi University (DU), formally the University of Delhi, is a collegiate university, collegiate Central university (India), central university located in New Delhi, India. It was founded in 1922 by an Act of the Central Legislative Assembly and ...

for many years and the Director and Emeritus Professor of the

Institute of Economic Growth The Institute of Economic Growth (IEG) is an autonomous, multidisciplinary Centre for advanced research and training. Widely recognized as a Centre of excellence, it is one of India's leading academic institutions in the fields of economic and soci ...

New Delhi New Delhi (, , ''Naī Dillī'') is the Capital city, capital of India and a part of the NCT Delhi, National Capital Territory of Delhi (NCT). New Delhi is the seat of all three branches of the government of India, hosting the Rashtrapati B ...

. He was one of the founders of the

Delhi School of Economics Delhi School of Economics (DSE), popularly referred to as "D School", is a Higher Educational Institution within the University of Delhi. The Delhi School of Economics is situated in University of Delhi's North Campus in Maurice Nagar. Establ ...

. He served as the

United Nations The United Nations (UN) is an intergovernmental organization whose stated purposes are to maintain international peace and security, develop friendly relations among nations, achieve international cooperation, and be a centre for harmonizi ...

Assistant Secretary General, Research and Policy Analysis, in New York from 1978 to 1986. He was awarded the

Padma Vibushan The Padma Vibhushan ("Lotus Decoration") is the second-highest civilian award of the Republic of India, after the Bharat Ratna. Instituted on 2 January 1954, the award is given for "exceptional and distinguished service". All persons without ...

, India's second highest civilian award in 2008. His memoir, ''Indira Gandhi, the Emergency, and Indian Democracy'' was published in 2000.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Dhar, P. N. 1919 births 2012 deaths 20th-century Indian economists Delhi University faculty Delhi University alumni Delhi School of Economics alumni Indian officials of the United Nations Writers from Jammu and Kashmir Recipients of the Padma Vibhushan in civil service 20th-century Indian biographers Indian male writers Indira Gandhi Scientists from Jammu and Kashmir