Mrinal Datta Chaudhuri, MDC to his students, was beyond compare -- the stuff of tales and legends at the Delhi School of Economics. He was also a good intuitive economist.
What stood out in his 15-year journey as a member of the political executive at the Centre was his glowing record as India's most successful and effective finance minister. Both as prime minister and finance minister, he understood the importance of gradualism, except when the economy or the polity was in a crisis.