NIRMALA BANERJEE, the mother of Nobel laureate Abhijit Vinayak Banerjee, passed away at the RN Tagore International Institute of Cardiac Sciences (RTIICS) on Friday, as confirmed by the hospital authorities. The 87-year-old had suffered a subdural hemorrhage, as reported by hospital sources.
A statement issued by the hospital conveyed the somber news: “We deeply regret to announce that, despite the tireless efforts of the medical team, Nirmala Banerjee passed away today at 12:35 pm. Our heartfelt condolences go out to the family, and we offer our prayers for her soul to find peace.”
Nirmala was admitted to RN Tagore Hospital on November 1 following a fall at her residence, resulting in a head injury. On the same day, a multidisciplinary team of doctors, including neurologists, pulmonologists, and critical care specialists, was involved in her care. Given her critical condition, she was placed on a ventilator and received the necessary medical support.
Previously, on October 26, the former professor had been admitted to the same hospital due to “respiratory distress.” She was subsequently discharged on October 29, as confirmed by hospital sources.
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee paid a visit to the hospital on Thursday to offer her condolences to the economist’s mother. On Friday, she expressed her sympathies in a statement that read: “I am deeply saddened by the passing of Prof. Nirmala Banerjee, a renowned economist and the mother of Nobel laureate Prof. Abhijit Vinayak Banerjee. She breathed her last in Kolkata today. I visited her at the hospital yesterday. Prof. Nirmala Banerjee was trained at the London School of Economics and served as a former Professor of Economics at the Centre for Studies in Social Sciences, Kolkata. She was married to the eminent economist, the late Prof. Dipak Banerjee of the Presidency College. I had the privilege of knowing Nirmala di well and cherish many fond memories of her. Her passing is a significant loss in our public life. My heartfelt condolences go out to Abhijit, Aniruddha, other family members, including Esther Duflo, as well as Nirmala di’s friends and students.”