Meaning: The quote refers to a significant event in the life and career of Amartya Sen, a renowned Indian economist and philosopher. In 1971, Sen left Delhi, the capital city of India, shortly after the publication of his influential book, "Collective Choice and Social Welfare," which was published in 1970. This departure marked a pivotal moment in Sen's life and career, as it coincided with the increasing recognition of his work in the fields of welfare economics and social choice theory.

Amartya Sen's "Collective Choice and Social Welfare" is a seminal work that significantly impacted the fields of economics, political science, and philosophy. In this book, Sen introduced and developed the concept of social choice theory, which explores the ways in which individual preferences and societal values can be aggregated to make collective decisions. The book delves into the complexities of social welfare and the challenges of making choices that reflect the diverse needs and preferences of a society.

One of the key contributions of "Collective Choice and Social Welfare" is Sen's formulation of the "impossibility theorem," which challenges the notion of a perfect social welfare function that can consistently and fairly represent the preferences of all individuals in a society. Sen's theorem demonstrated the inherent difficulties in achieving a universally acceptable and consistent method of aggregating individual preferences into a coherent social choice.

In addition to his theoretical contributions, Sen's work in "Collective Choice and Social Welfare" has had practical implications for policy-making and development economics. His emphasis on the importance of considering the capabilities and freedoms of individuals in assessing social welfare has influenced approaches to poverty alleviation, human development, and the measurement of well-being.

The publication of "Collective Choice and Social Welfare" in 1970 marked a significant milestone in Sen's academic career, solidifying his reputation as a leading thinker in the fields of social choice theory and welfare economics. The timing of his departure from Delhi in 1971, shortly after the book's publication, suggests that this period was a critical juncture in Sen's professional trajectory.

Sen's decision to leave Delhi in 1971 may have been influenced by various factors, including academic opportunities, personal reasons, or broader geopolitical developments. It is worth noting that Sen's career subsequently took him to prestigious academic institutions such as the London School of Economics, the University of Oxford, and Harvard University, where he continued to make groundbreaking contributions to economics, ethics, and social justice.

Overall, the quote encapsulates a significant moment in the life of Amartya Sen, highlighting the publication of "Collective Choice and Social Welfare" and his departure from Delhi in 1971. This period marked a crucial phase in Sen's career, during which his scholarly contributions and intellectual influence continued to grow, shaping the fields of economics and philosophy in profound ways.

In conclusion, the quote serves as a reminder of the impact of Amartya Sen's seminal work, "Collective Choice and Social Welfare," and the pivotal moments in his career that have left a lasting legacy in the realms of social choice theory, welfare economics, and the pursuit of human well-being.