2005 Articles

Remembering Charlie

Bhagwati, Jagdish N.

In remembering Charlie, my mind goes back to 1956. I arrived in that year from Cambridge, England, to Cambridge, Massachusetts, to study at MIT. I must confess that I had been seduced into crossing the ocean by the theoretical reputation of Paul Samuelson and Bob Solow, both already legends worldwide. Imagine then my surprise, indeed astonishment, at discovering Charlie. He proved to be an extra, indeed a huge, dividend, every bit as rewarding intellectually as his theorist colleagues. Of his brilliant and indulgent presence in the classroom, one could say: when Charlie came into the room, the sun came out. We were all charmed, captivated forever. Not one of his students, and he had many of the greatest distinction, would have anything but the fondest memories of Charlie.