Swaminathan Aiyar

Swaminathan Aiyar
Born
Swaminathan Shankar Anklesaria Aiyar

(1938-10-12) 12 October 1938 (age 86)
Akola, Bombay Presidency, British India (present day Maharashtra, India)
EducationSt. Stephen's College, Delhi
Magdalen College, Oxford
Occupation(s)Journalist, writer, columnist
Notable creditSwaminomics
Children3, including Pallavi Aiyar

Swaminathan S. Anklesaria Aiyar (born 12 October 1938) is an Indian economist, journalist, and columnist.[1] He is consulting editor for the Economic Times and writes regularly for the Economic Times and The Times of India.[2] He is also a Research Fellow at the Cato Institute. He is the elder brother of Mani Shankar Aiyar, who is a senior Congress leader.

Early life

Aiyar was born to Vaidyanatha Shankar Aiyar, a chartered accountant, and Bhagyalakshmi Shankar. He is the older brother of Mani Shankar Aiyar, a politician who has served as Minister for Panchayati Raj in the Indian government. After the loss of their father in an air crash, Aiyar's mother had to negotiate with Doon to allow her sons to continue their studies with reduced fees and in return she taught at the school.[3]

An alumnus of Welham Boys' School,[4] The Doon School,[5] and St Stephen's College, University of Delhi, he earned a master's degree in economics from Magdalen College, Oxford.[6]

Career

He is a research fellow at the Cato Institute,[7] a libertarian think tank in Washington D.C., and an occasional consultant to the World Bank.

He previously served as editor of The Economic Times (1992–94), The Financial Express (1988–90) and Eastern Economist (1980–82).

Aiyar writes a weekly column titled "Swaminomics" in the Times of India, where he discusses economic and political issues pertaining to India and the world. Aiyar has prepared several reports and papers for the World Bank. In 1976–85 and 1990–98, he was also the India correspondent of The Economist.

He has written two books: Towards Globalisation (1992) and Swaminomics: Escape from the Benevolent Zookeepers (2008).

He is currently consulting editor of The Economic Times, India's leading financial daily that is part of Bennett, Coleman & Co, the same company that owns The Times of India.

Personal life

Aiyar has three children: Pallavi Aiyar and Shekhar Aiyar from his newsreader ex-wife Gitanjali Aiyar[8] (née Ambegaonkar), and Rustam Aiyar from his second marriage with Shahnaz Anklesaria.[9] He is an atheist.[10]

Bibliography

  • Towards Globalisation (1992)
  • Swaminomics: Escape from the Benevolent Zookeepers (2008)

References

  1. ^ Aiyar, S. A. "Time has come for an all-India Muslim party". The Times of India.
  2. ^ "So much for Hindu Rashtra".
  3. ^ "The IB ultimately came to the conclusion that I was indeed a Marxist, but of the Groucho variety". Tete-a-tete. Calcutta, India: The Telegraph – Calcutta (Kolkata). 18 May 2008. Archived from the original on 19 September 2012.
  4. ^ From Its Golden Jubilee To Its Diamond Jubilee (Aiyar, Swaminathan) p.158
  5. ^ The Doon School Old Boys' Society Register (Aiyar, Swaminathan Tata House) p.45
  6. ^ "Sonata Finance « India Microfinance Directory". Archived from the original on 28 February 2012. Retrieved 6 August 2012.
  7. ^ "Swaminathan S. Anklesaria Aiyar". Cato Institute. Retrieved 23 January 2008.
  8. ^ "Gitanjali Aiyar's Cause of Death: Award-Winning Doordarshan Anchor dies at 71". Janbharat Times. 8 June 2023. Retrieved 30 June 2023.
  9. ^ Khadpekar, Nirmala (29 July 2020). "The Name as Family - Forever and Ever". LinkedIn Pulse. Retrieved 30 June 2023.
  10. ^ Aiyar, Swaminathan (12 February 2006). "A liberal atheist demands respect". The Times of India. Retrieved 31 October 2008.