Viral Acharya: Why is RBI’s youngest deputy governor a viral sensation?

 

Viral Acharya is a finance expert as well as a music composer. He was appointed as the Deputy Governor of the Reserve Bank of India recently.

 

If the most talked about ex-governor, Raghuram Rajan gave a flamboyant touch to the RBI, Viral who also comes from a serious academic background may give a musical touch to the otherwise serious financial body. A financial expert also said that Viral's thoughts are similar to Dr Raghuram Rajan's.

 

The 42-year-old Acharya is also the youngest deputy governor to be appointed to the RBI. Previously, he was serving as CV Starr Professor of Economics at the Stern School of Business in New York from 2008.

 

Viral has composed at least ten songs including Yadon Ke Silsile and Yeh Wohi Phir Raat Hai.

 

Acharya completed his computer engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology in Mumbai. He was awarded a President's Medal in 1995. Viral also had secured a doctorate in Finance from New York University’s Stern in 2001.

 

He has been in top positions including Academic Director at the Coller Institute of Private Equity at LBS between 2007- and 2009, and Senior Houblon- Normal Research Fellow at the Bank of England. 

 

As the deputy governor, he will work with R Gandhi, SS Mundra - appointed during Rajan and Vishwanath appointed during current governor's tenure. All of them are working under Governor Urjit Patel.

 

The New Year and new interesting appointments may bring in a  positive change in the face of the Reserve Bank of India, which is being termed as Reverse Bank of India with over a hundred modifications to its own rules post-demonetisation!

 

Seriously it's time to make RBI go viral for the right reasons!