Barack Obama felicitates Amartya Sen

Washington, Feb 15 (IBNS): Acclaimed Indian economist and Nobel Laureate Amartya Sen, who is best known for his work on the causes of famine, was felicitated by US President Barack Obama at the White House on Monday night with the U.S National Medal for Humanities.

Acknowledging Sen’s presence, who has earlier been bestowed with the Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences in 1998, Obama said that it’s a very unusual and rare occasion when they have an economist on stage.

The White House citation for Sen described him as an economist with ‘philosophical thinking to questions of policy’ with which ‘he has changed how standards of living are measured and led to an increased understanding of how to fight hunger’.

The 77-year academician, who is currently the Professor at Thomas W. Lamont University and Professor of Economics and Philosophy at Harvard University, was felicitated with this award ‘for his insights into the causes of poverty, famine, and injustice’.

The award has been typically awarded to US nationals through its 16-year history and Amartya has become the first Indian to be felicitated with this honor.

The basic objective behind presenting this award is to honor individuals or groups whose work has deepened the nation’s understanding of the humanities along with broadening citizens’ engagement in the subject.

Sen also attended a White House reception hosted by President and his wife on this occasion.

Apart from Sen, the National Humanities Medal for 2011 were also given to other noted personalities in the field including philosopher Kwame Anthony Appiah, poet John Ashbery, historian Robert Darnton, writer Andrew Delbanco, scientist Charles Rosen and historian Teofilo Ruiz.