Who Is Amartya Sen? Age, Biography and Wiki
Amartya Sen was born on November 3, 1933, making him 91 years old in 2025. A notable Indian economist and philosopher, Sen is celebrated for his contributions to welfare economics, social choice theory, and the development of human capabilities. He is a Nobel Laureate, having won the Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences in 1998 for his work on the causes of famine and poverty. Sen's extensive career in academia includes prestigious positions at various universities, including Harvard and MIT.
| Occupation | Philosophers |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | November 3, 1933 |
| Age | 91 Years |
| Birth Place | Santiniketan, Bengal, British India |
| Horoscope | Scorpio |
| Country | India |
Popularity
Amartya Sen's Popularity over time
Height, Weight & Measurements
In 2025, at the age of 91, Amartya Sen’s exact height and weight are not widely reported, as he maintains a humble and private lifestyle. However, throughout his life, he has been known to uphold an active lifestyle, which reflects in his overall appearance and vigor, particularly for someone of his age.
Family, Dating & Relationship Status
Amartya Sen was married to Nirmala Sen, with whom he shares a loving bond. He also has three children. As of 2025, he remains a widower, and details about any new relationships or dating status are kept private, in line with his generally reserved nature regarding personal matters.
The first Asian to win a Nobel Prize, the polymath and writer Rabindranath Tagore, gave Amartya Sen his name (, lit. 'immortal or heavenly'). Sen's family was from Wari and Manikganj, Dhaka, both in present-day Bangladesh.
His father, Ashutosh Sen, was a Professor of Chemistry at Dhaka University, then the Development Commissioner in Delhi and then Chairman of the West Bengal Public Service Commission. Sen moved with his family to West Bengal in 1945.
Sen's mother, Amita Sen, was the daughter of Kshiti Mohan Sen, the eminent Sanskritist and scholar of ancient and medieval India. Sen's maternal grandfather was a close associate of Tagore. K. M. Sen served as the second Vice-Chancellor of Visva Bharati University from 1953 to 1954.
Net Worth and Salary
As of 2025, Amartya Sen's estimated net worth is around $15 million. This wealth has primarily stemmed from his successful academic career, lucrative book deals, and consultancy work in international economics and development. Sen continues to be an influential voice in global economic discussions and receives honorariums for speaking engagements and lectures.
In 1999, Sen further advanced and redefined the capability approach in his book Development as Freedom. Sen argued that development should be viewed as an effort to advance the real freedoms that individuals enjoy, rather than simply focusing on metrics such as GDP or income-per-capita.
Career, Business and Investments
Amartya Sen's career spans several decades, marked by his advocacy for social justice and economic equity. In addition to his Nobel Prize-winning research, he has published numerous influential books and papers. His notable works include "Development as Freedom" and "The Idea of Justice." Sen is actively involved in various organizations focused on humanitarian efforts and economic policy. He has also served on boards of international and governmental bodies, advising on global economic issues.
Sen's investments are not publicly disclosed, but being a prominent intellectual figure, his influence extends far and wide in academia, government, and non-profit sectors.
Sen began his school education at St Gregory's School in Dhaka in 1940. In the fall of 1941, he was admitted to Patha Bhavana, Santiniketan, where he completed his school education. The school had many progressive features, such as distaste for examinations or competitive testing.
In addition, the school stressed cultural diversity, and embraced cultural influences from the rest of the world. In 1951, he went to Presidency College, Calcutta, where he earned a BA in economics with First in the First Class, with a minor in Mathematics, as a graduating student of the University of Calcutta.
While at Presidency, Sen was diagnosed with oral cancer, and given a 15 per cent chance of living five years. With radiation treatment, he survived, and in 1953 he moved to Trinity College, Cambridge, where he earned a second BA in economics in 1955 with a first class, topping the list as well.
At this time, he was elected President of the Cambridge Majlis. While Sen was officially a PhD student at Cambridge (though he had finished his research in 1955–56), he was offered the position of First-Professor and First-Head of the Economics Department of the newly created Jadavpur University in Calcutta.
Appointed to the position at age 22, he is still the youngest chairman to have headed the Department of Economics. He served in that position, starting the new Economics Department, from 1956 to 1958.
Social Network
Amartya Sen maintains a limited presence on social media, preferring traditional avenues of communication such as public lectures, seminars, and published work. However, his thoughts and ideas are often shared and discussed across various platforms by academics and enthusiasts alike. In 2025, his engagement in social and economic discourses through academic circles continues to be impactful, further solidifying his legacy.
In Cambridge, there were major debates between supporters of Keynesian economics, and the neo-classical economists who were sceptical of Keynes. Because of a lack of enthusiasm for social choice theory in both Trinity and Cambridge, Sen chose a different subject for his PhD thesis, which was on "The Choice of Techniques" in 1959.
The work had been completed earlier, except for advice from his adjunct supervisor in India, A. K. Dasgupta, given to Sen while teaching and revising his work at Jadavpur, under the supervision of the "brilliant but vigorously intolerant" post-Keynesian Joan Robinson.
Quentin Skinner notes that Sen was a member of the secret society Cambridge Apostles during his time at Cambridge.
Education
Sen's educational journey began at the University of Calcutta, where he earned his bachelor's degree. He later pursued a master's degree at the Delhi School of Economics and completed his doctorate at Cambridge University. His solid academic foundation has enabled him to contribute significantly to the field of economics, shaping modern thought on development and welfare.
Sen is currently the Thomas W. Lamont University Professor, and Professor of Economics and Philosophy at Harvard University. He previously served as Master of Trinity College at the University of Cambridge. In 1999, he received India's highest civilian honour, Bharat Ratna, for his contribution to welfare economics.
The German Publishers and Booksellers Association awarded him the 2020 Peace Prize of the German Book Trade for his pioneering scholarship addressing issues of global justice and combating social inequality in education and healthcare.
