French-American economist Esther Duflo and Indian-American economist Abhijit Banerjee received Nobel Prize for their “experimental approach to alleviating global poverty” on Tuesday in Sweden, along with their American co-winner Michael Kremer.
The economist-duo, affiliated with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), received their medal and diploma from Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden. Dr. Duflo was dressed in simple two-tone sari, complete with a red bindi, while Dr. Banerjee chose to wear a white dhoti with a gold border, draped in Bengali style, a cream colour kurta and a dapper bandhgala black jacket.
Associated with the Harvard University, Dr. Kremer, too accepted his award. Prize money of 9 million Swedish krona (₹6.53 crore) will equally be shared among the three who had been conducting research together,” The Hindu reported.
Twitter had a mixed reactions to them getting Nobel Prize and as well as the way they were dressed. Thousands congratulated the trio for their work, while many had reservations. They said it was ironical that an Indian was getting Nobel Prize in economics, while Indian economy is facing a major distress.
Though many twitter users said they were happy because the economists gave a desi twist to Nobel Prize ceremony, some said that what use of a Nobel Prize when Dr. Banerjee could not give up dhoti, which signifies caste supremacy.