VIJAYENDRA RAO

1977-81 - Siwalik Boys

Profession/position - Senior Economist with Research Department of the World

PH.D in Economics from University of Pennsylvania and has worked with Universities of Chicago and Williams College. Research involves understanding how economic behavior, in conjunction with social and cultural factors, affects poverty, inequality and discrimination in the developing world. Some examples of the work include determinants of dowries and wedding celebrations in India, domestic violence, and role of social networks in the lives of slum dwellers

"My Sanawar experience was mixed in that I rebelled against what I saw as the excessively regimented, elitist and British Rajist orientation of the school at the time. However, I will forever be grateful for the truly great teachers I had. In particular Mrs Manjari Khan taught me all I know about good writing and more importantly helped me realize the value of creative thinking. Mr. Mathew Parel gave me an understanding of Political Philosophy and Logic that in some ways laid the foundation towards how I now approach problems in Social Science. I also have very fond memories of Mr KJ Parel and the hikes that he led, our housemaster Mr Joshi, Mr Malviya and Dr Dhillion who supervised the School Newsletter that I helped edit."