Sharp mind, generous spirit, quiet loss

Dr Radhika Pandey, one of India's very promising economists whom I had the privilege of knowing, passed away in the early hours of Saturday, June 28 in the prime of her career.

- SUDIPTO MUNDLE

It was a sad end to a struggle that started about a month ago.

When I called a few weeks ago, I was surprised to learn that she was in the hospital. She first got typhoid, which must have affected her liver because she was in hospital with jaundice. On checking a few days later, her husband told me the jaundice had gotten worse and high temperature was persisting. The next time I called I was stunned. He said the liver transplant was over and mother and son, the donor, were both in the ICU. Her son was subsequently sent home to recuperate but Radhika was put on ventilator to help her breathe. Her oxygen dependence kept rising and by Saturday morning she was gone.