LONDON (Diya TV) — Cheistha Kochhar, a 33-year-old Indian student pursuing her PhD at the London School of Economics (LSE), lost her life in London last week after being hit by a truck while cycling home. The accident occurred on March 19, leaving her family and friends devastated.
Cheistha Kochhar was from Gurgaon, India and had moved to London in September 2023 with her husband, Prashant, to pursue her doctoral studies in Behavioral Science on a full scholarship. Before her move to the UK, Cheistha had made significant contributions in India’s public sector. She worked as a Senior Advisor at NITI Aayog, where she played a pivotal role in setting up the behavioral sciences unit, also known as the Nudge unit. She had also collaborated with renowned organizations like the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation at the Centre for Social and Behaviour Change.
The news of Cheistha’s tragic demise was shared by Amitabh Kant, former CEO of NITI Aayog, on the social media platform X. Kant described Cheistha as bright, brilliant, brave, and always full of life. The accident occurred while she was cycling home, with her husband, Prashant, a software engineer, a few yards ahead of her. Prashant heard a loud thud and rushed back to help Cheistha. Despite the best efforts of her husband and emergency responders, Cheistha succumbed to her injuries at the scene.
Cheistha’s father, Lieutenant General Dr. S.P. Kochhar, expressed his profound grief and anguish in a heartfelt post on LinkedIn, where he revealed the harrowing task of trying to arrange for her remains to be brought back to India. Born in Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, Cheistha was described by her father as not only intelligent and hard-working but also compassionate and patriotic. Her father emphasized her infectious good nature, popularity, and helpfulness, highlighting her significant achievements at a young age.
Cheistha Kochhar’s academic journey was marked by excellence. She studied economics at Delhi University before pursuing further studies at prestigious institutions such as Ashoka University and the Universities of Chicago and Pennsylvania. Her father stressed her determination to return to India after completing her education in the UK to serve her country.
