Lord Desai was a towering intellect and cherished friend

On Thursday, the cremation of Professor Meghnad Desai took place, marking the end of an extraordinary life devoted to thought, teaching and tireless public service.

- SAHIL HANSRANI

Lord Desai was a towering intellect, a generous mentor and a treasured friend to me. He died in India, the country of his birth, but his impact - particularly in the world of politics and economics - came in his adopted home, Britain. He moved to the UK 60 years ago to join the London School of Economics as a lecturer. Over the years, he became one of Britain's most distinguished economists.

A passionate internationalist, he played a significant role in shaping economic thinking in postcolonial nations. In 1992, he founded the LSE's Centre for the Study of Global Governance, and in 2003, became professor emeritus, remaining closely involved with the university for the rest of his life.

From being born as a colonial subject to becoming a British parliamentarian, he not only understood but lived through the changing political and economic tides of the Commonwealth. Such diverse and often seemingly contradictory experiences engendered his nonconformist and analytical approach and created fertile ground for his books, such as 2002's Marx's Revenge.