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Can you tell which Nobel Prize winner named Nobel Laureate Amartya Sen?

Nobel Prize Committee took to their official Instagram account to share this bit of information.

Published on: Jul 2, 2020, 14:25:35 IST
Hindustan Times, New Delhi | By
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Amartya Sen is a world renowned Nobel Laureate who was awarded the Prize in Economic Sciences in 1998 “for his contributions to welfare economics”. However, did you know that his name was given by another Nobel Laureate who received the award 85 years ago for his contributions to the world of literature? There may be some who must be knowingly nodding their heads as they may have guessed the answer. If not, chances are you’re eager to know the answer – it’s Literature Laureate Rabindranath Tagore.

The image of Nobel Laureate Amartya Sen was captured at his home in Cambridge. (Instagram/@ nobelprize_org)
The image of Nobel Laureate Amartya Sen was captured at his home in Cambridge. (Instagram/@ nobelprize_org)

The Nobel Prize Committee took to their official Instagram account to share this bit *trivia*and now it has sparked tons of comments among people.

In the caption, they mentioned that Tagore suggested the name to Sen’s mother when he was born. The word ‘Amartya’ means immortal in Bengali. The post further reveals that Sen also attended Tagore’s experimental school at Santiniketan, West Bengal.

They also shared an image of Sen clicked at his home in Cambridge. What makes the picture even more interesting is that Sen is standing in front of two photographs. One picture shows Rabindranath Tagore sitting in from of a window on a lounge chair. The other image shows Sen’s grandfather Kshitimohan Sen with Mahatma Gandhi. The post also mentions that the image was taken by Stephanie Mitchell of Harvard University.

Since being shared some 22 hours ago, the post has already gathered over 4,400 likes and also several comments from people. While some wrote about Sen, others were amazed to know that Tagore named him.

“I love this brilliant economist,” wrote an Instagram user. “I had no idea Tagore named him. What an honour,” expressed another. “He is very admirable and unique,” wrote a third.

  • Trisha Sengupta
    ABOUT THE AUTHOR
    Trisha Sengupta

    Trisha Sengupta works as Chief Content Producer at Hindustan Times with over six years of experience in the digital newsroom. Known for her ability to decode the internet’s most talked-about moments, she specialises in high-engagement storytelling that bridges the gap between viral trends and traditional journalism. Throughout her tenure, Trisha has focused on the intersection of technology, finance, and human emotion. She frequently covers personal finance and real estate struggles in hubs like Gurgaon, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad, while also documenting the unique challenges of the NRI experience. Her work often highlights the movements and philosophies of global newsmakers and personalities like Elon Musk, Mukesh Ambani, Nikhil Kamath, Dubai crown prince, and MrBeast. From reporting on Amazon or Meta layoffs and startup culture to the emergence of AI-driven platforms like Grok and xAI, she provides a grounded and empathetic perspective on the stories shaping our world. When not decoding the internet, Trisha is likely offline: lost in a book, exploring a historical ruin, or navigating the world as a solo traveler. She balances her fast-paced career with family time and a healthy dose of curiosity, currently trading her "human" sources for silicon ones as she masters AI to future-proof her storytelling.Read More

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