India Cheers For Abhijit Banerjee, Esther Duflo As They Wear Desi Attire To Nobel Ceremony

It was an extremely proud moment for India, especially Bengalis, when Indian-American economist Abhijit Banerjee along with French-American economist Esther Duflo and American development economist Michael Kremer were declared to be awarded the Nobel Prize in Economics for their “Experimental Approach To Alleviating Global Poverty” back in October.

The ceremony took place in Stockholm, Sweden, yesterday and the trio was awarded the 2019 Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel, reports News18.

However, what caught the attention of Indians was how Abhijit Banerjee and Esther Duflo, who also happens to be his wife, chose to wear traditional Indian attire for the formal ceremony.

This stands in stark contrast to the already mentioned and strict dress-code of the ceremony which mentions that the male attendees are expected to wear “white tie and tails”, while the female attendees are expected to wear evening gowns. Kremer stuck to the dress code and was seen in a formal black suit.

Abhijit Banerjee looked like the quintessential ‘Bangali Bhadralok’ (Bengali Gentleman) in his white dhoti with golden border paired with a black ‘bandhgala’. Esther Duflo chose to wear a green saree with a red bindi, reports The Indian Express.

Speaking to ABP Ananda Editor, Suman De, Abhijit Ganguly opened up about going against the dress code. When Suman De said that Banerjee has made history by wearing a Bengali attire to the Nobel ceremony, he replied:

“If I have to wear formals, why should I wear their formals? I don’t see any reason behind it. It should be our formals!”

Watch the video here:

First reaction after receiving #NobelPrize . ABP ananda Editor @IamSumanDe asked why Dhoti and Kurta? Why denied the customary tail coat? He said, Why should I? If I have to wear formals, it should be our formals! #WestVsEast#AbhijitBanerjee https://t.co/nLidB1ydqf

— Mayukh Ranjan Ghosh (@mayukhrghosh) December 11, 2019

Desi Twitter was mightly impressed with the husband and wife and cheered for them!

How good does he look! A Bengali man in a dhoti kurta at such a huge platform. Congratulations and thank you! #AbhijitBanerjee #NobelPrize https://t.co/izwFhIiQ0t

— Pashmi Dutta (@pashmidutta) December 11, 2019

#AbhijitBanerjee and #EstherDuflo paying homage to India, in dhoti and saree, at the #nobelprize2019 ceremony. India celebrates them as they celebrate India. pic.twitter.com/vSzJ1csH7X

— Kasturi Shankar (@KasthuriShankar) December 11, 2019

#NobelPrize
👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼 pic.twitter.com/keRKiY5rUf

— Rema Rajeshwari IPS (@rama_rajeswari) December 11, 2019

The Dhoti and Saree are most impressive 👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👏👏👏 https://t.co/iTYCLWxZjW

— Dr Arvind Virmani (@dravirmani) December 10, 2019

The first #NobelPrize winner to collect her prize wearing a sari? https://t.co/GMY2zCkBlg

— Karuna Ganesh (@KarunaMDPhD) December 11, 2019

Also #AbhijitBanerjee's Punjabi Bandhgala , Bong Dhoti , and Ms #EstherDuflo ' saree , were moments of pride reflecting plurality of our traditions and inseparable socio-cultural milieu👍👏👌✍️

— Rao Virendra Singh (@raovsingh) December 11, 2019

#NobelPrize Heartwarming to see Prof Banerjee being introduced as "husband of" co- Nobel Laureate Prof Duflo !! Plus both dressed in traditional Indian attire on this special day! 🙌🙌 So inspirational! #breakingstereotypes https://t.co/HD5Xe0auB0

— Agrima Mian (@AgrimaMianMD) December 10, 2019

And sari!

Also I love how he turned to put down his prize so he could clap for Esther. I would probably keep holding on and try to clap through it (not that I'd ever win a Nobel Prize, but you know) https://t.co/OdvkxGdQJh

— a traveller (@a_traveller) December 10, 2019

Keeping the culture alive…even at the highest stage. Kudos 👏🙌 https://t.co/25YB65dlPW

— Rohit Passi, MD (@passiMD) December 11, 2019

Proud ! This is the contribution of India to the world – I'd love to acknowledge and celebrate. Progressive academics that are rooted and unfraid to wear their culture and embrace that of their partner's. Banerjee, Duflo and Kremer! Powerful image of our times. https://t.co/Ovqstrm8zc

— Ketaki Golatkar (@Golty) December 11, 2019

Dhoti & Saree is a swag ❣️#NobelPrize #AbhijitBanerjee https://t.co/FDP8TQuz89

— Abhijit Karande (@abhiasks) December 11, 2019

The three economists received medals, a diploma each, and total prize money of 9 million Swedish kronor (Rs 6.7 crore) which will be shared among them.

Watch the video of the ceremony here:

Congratulations to the trio!