Friday 2 September 2016

Former Member of the Planning Commission of India and Father of India's Tax Reform Padma Vibhushan Dr Raja Jesudoss Chelliah, M.A, Ph.D [USA} .

Introduction :  Dr. Raja Jesudoss Chelliah, M.A, Ph.D[U.S ] was one of the most outstanding Economists of India with international reputation . He was a multi faceted personality, he was a reputed Economist , Fiscal Policy Expert, Economics Professor , Author of many outstanding books and Founder of  National Institute of Public Finance and Policy and Madras School of Economics.,etc.,. He was called as Father of India's Tax Reform. He served as Member of Planning Commission of India, between 1985-1990 with great distinction.  and Fiscal Adviser to the then Finance Minister of India  . His outstanding service to the nation was  recognized   by the Government of India and the Government of India  honoured him the with prestigious Padma Vibushan Award in 2007.




Dr. Raja Chelliah , M.A [Eco], Ph.D,[USA ]

Raja Chelliah's Birth and Parents:   Fiscal policy Expert Dr Raja  Jesudoss Chelliah, was born on 12th December, 1922 at Kovilpatti  town in Thoothukudi District , Tamil Nadu,  to the lovely couple  Mr Chellaih and Mrs Masillamani Chelliah in an illustrious Christian family.. Dr. Raja J Chelliah's father  Mr. Chelliah was a famous Advocate and his mother was a committed and efficient   School Teacher. Dr. Raja Chelliah's parents were closely related to the famous Christian Tamil Poet H.R Krishna Pillai [ The famous Author of the  well known  Tamil Christian Epic , RetchaniyaYathrikam].

Raja Chelliah's Siblings and their families: Dr. Raja J Chelliah's parents were blessed with four smart children namely:[1] Dr. Raja Jesudoss Chelliah , [2]  Mrs.Dr .Vijayalakshmi Sekar ,[3] Samuel Devadas Chelliah , and  [4] Mrs. Suguna Priyam Durai Raj . It is pertinent here to mention that Ms. Dr. Vijyalakshmi married Dr. Sekar  from Srirangam and Dr Sekar served as a Super Senior grade Medical Doctor in the Government .Mrs Dr.Vijayalekshi  Sekar and Dr. Sekar couple was blessed with two smart sons and one lovely daughter.  Ms Suguna Priyam's husband Mr. Wilson  Durai Raj , IFS {Indian Forest Service ] worked in the Forest Department, Government of Tamil Nadu and retired  as Conservator of Forests , Government of Tamil Nadu . Mrs Suguna Priyam Durai Raj and Mr Durai Raj  couple was blessed with three sons including Dr. Suresh Chelliah. .Dr..Suresh Chelliah has married Ms. Sheela [ daughter of Mr Rev Robert Rajasekaran  and Mrs Johnny Annamuthu Robert Rajasekaran of Nagercoil].and this couple is blessed with two  lovely children namely;[1]Ms. Archana Chelliah, B.E, M.B.A, C.I.I. SCM Pro, and [2] Mr Daniel Chelliah and  now Daniel is doing his MA[English] at the famous Bishop Heber College , Trichy.. Dr Suresh Chelliah is a famous Child Specialist Doctor in Trichy.[ I had the privilege of meeting Dr. Raja Jesudoss Chelliah, when he attended his nephew Dr Suresh Chelliah's wedding with Ms Sheela, at Nagercoil ].

Dr. Raja Chelliah's Wife and Children    : Dr. Raja Chelliah was married to Ms Sita  and this couple gave birth to two daughters namely :[1] Ms. Dr. Masilla Mallika Chelliah and [ 2] this daughter's name will be provided here later .

Dr. Raja Chellaih got Fulbright Scholarship for his Ph.D :: Dr. Raja J Chelliah was a very  brilliant   student  all through his life. After having meritoriously  passed  his M.A in economics {Madras University ] he joined as a Lecturer in the Economics Department, in the prestigious Madras Christian College, Tambaram and after having worked as Lecturer for 5 years in an efficacious manner in Madras Christian College, Tambaram, he got a Fulbright Scholarship to do  his PhD in Economics at the famous University of Pittsburg,  Pennsylvania USA.

His Professional Career after his return from U.S. with a Ph.D  degree   : After having returned from US, Dr Raja Chelliah worked as a Senior Economist at the , "National Council of Applied Economic Research [ NCAER }, New Delhi [ 1958--1960 ]. Then Dr. K. Raja Chelliah got the privilege to work as a Reader and Professor of Economics at the Department of Economics, at the prestigious University of Rajasthan for nearly six years. with distinction  [ 1960-- 1966 ] . After that Dr Raja Chellaiah served as Professor  of Economics at the famous Osmania University, Hydrabad  for nearly four years [ 1966--1969 ]. 

Dr. Raja Chelliah  worked In I.M.F   : Dr. Raja Chelliah got the privilege to work as Chief of  the  Fiscal Analysis Department of IMF for nearly seven years  between 1969-- 1975. with great efficacy and proved himself as a great Economic and Fiscal Analyst and Thinker  

He Founded the National Institute of Public Finance and Policy     ; As an innovative Economic thinker and an expert in the  field of Public Finance Dr Raja Chelliah founded the famous National Institute of Public Finance and Policy in 1976 and served as its Founding Director with great commitment between 1976-- 1985  and during this period he built this Institution into a full fledged Research Institution in fiscal matters..
 
Dr. Raja Chelliah served as a Member of Planning Commission [ 1987--1989 ]  : The  Government of India appointed Dr. Raja Chellaih as a Member of Planning of India in  1987 and he worked as a Member of Planning Commission during  the period  from 1987 to 1989 with great  efficiency , vision , brain storming economic ideas and efficacy .

Dr. Raja Chelliah Served as Chairman of the Tax Reforms Committee [ 1991-  1993]  ; The then Government of India rightly recognised his economic wisdom and appointed Dr. Raja Chelliah  as the Chairman of the Tax Reforms Committee of the  Government of India. And as Chairman of the Tax Reforms Committee, Dr. Raja Chelliah introduced many notable and note worthy recommendations and reforms  and he was appreciated both by the Government and countrymen. And aptly he was called as the Father of Tax Reform in India .  As Chairman  of Tax Reforms Committee he set up the the basement  for reducing Import Duties and  paved the way for the economic liberalisation in India 
 

Conclusion   : Dr. Raja Chelliah  served as the Chairman of the Tax Reforms and Revenue Augmentation Commission of Govt of Tamil Nadu during 2002 -- 2003 with great expertise and efficacy  Dr. Raja Chelliah was a remarkable Institution builder   He was the Founder of the prestigious Madras School of Economics and there he served as a Professor Emeritus . He also had the privilege to serve as a Member in the 9th Finance Commission, Govt of India  and also to serve  as Fiscal Adviser in the Ministry of Finance , Govt of India [1993-- 1995 ] . He had authored some famous books namely :[1] Towards Sustainable Growth : Essays in Fiscal and Financial Sector Reforms in India [1996], [2] Eco Taxes on Polluting inputs and outputs [2007 ], [3] Income - Poverty and Beyond [2002], [4] Reports on India's Reforms with Vijay  l. Kelkara-[2003] , etc,.  The Government of India honoured Dr. Raja Chelliah with the prestigious Padma Vibhushan Award in 2007.  Dr. Raja Chelliah died on 7th April , 2009 and on his death Mother India had lost a great Iconic Economist and a Patriotic Son  . 
END.
By P. Babu Manoharan .[ Rights reserved . this Article will be enlarged , modified and corrected later if needed ].

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