Why in News?
Manmohan Singh, the former Prime Minister of India, has died at the age of 92. He was renowned for his role in shaping India’s economic reforms. He served as Prime Minister and Finance Minister.
Introduction: Dr. Manmohan Singh (A Legacy of Leadership)
- Manmohan Singh served as the 14th Prime Minister of India from 2004 to 2014, leading the country through significant political and economic transitions.
- He was widely regarded as the architect of India’s economic reforms, which helped open up the economy and foster growth.
- His tenure marked a period of liberalization, with key policy decisions that reshaped India’s economic landscape, including the privatization of industries and attracting foreign investments.
- Singh always emphasized pragmatism over populism.
- His leadership was instrumental in advancing India’s global standing, particularly through strategic foreign policy initiatives, like the India-US nuclear deal.
- Despite facing political challenges and corruption allegations, he remains an iconic figure in India’s history for his contributions to both economic growth and governance.
Early Life and Education
- Manmohan Singh was born on September 26, 1932, in Gah, Punjab (now in Pakistan) to a Punjabi Sikh merchant family. His father was Gurmukh Singh Kohli, and his mother was Amrit Kaur.
- Singh’s early childhood was marked by the loss of his mother, after which his maternal grandmother, Jamna Devi, played a central role in raising him.
- He began his schooling in Urdu medium, continuing his education until the age of 10. Later, he moved to Peshawar, where he attended an elite primary school.
- After the Partition of India, Singh’s family relocated to Haldwani, and later to Amritsar in 1948. Here, he continued his education at Hindu College.
- Singh completed his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Economics from Punjab University in Hoshiarpur.
- In 1957, he earned his Economics Tripos from St. John’s College, Cambridge University.
Career as Public Service: Singh’s Transition to Politics
- After completing his D.Phil. from Oxford, Manmohan Singh returned to India and began his career as an academic.
- From 1957 to 1959, he served as a Senior Lecturer in Economics at Punjab University.
- His international exposure began in 1966, when he joined the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), where he worked until 1969.
- Recognizing his expertise, Lalit Narayan Mishra, then Minister of Commerce, appointed Singh as a consultant to the Ministry of Foreign Trade.
- Singh held various key roles, including serving as a Professor of International Trade, Chief Economic Advisor, and Secretary of the Finance Ministry during his distinguished career.
- In 1982, Singh became the Governor of the Reserve Bank of India under Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee and served until 1985. Following this, he became the Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission from 1985 to 1987.
- In 1990, he was appointed as an Economic Advisor to Prime Minister Chandra Shekhar.
- In 1991, during the economic crisis, Prime Minister P.V. Narasimha Rao appointed Singh as Finance Minister. His unique economic reforms transformed the nation’s economic landscape.
- In 1991, Singh first became a member of the Rajya Sabha. In 1999, Singh continued his political journey, serving as the Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha from 1998 to 2004.
Economic Reforms and India’s Growth
- In 1991, India faced a severe economic crisis, with a fiscal deficit of 8.5% of GDP and a large current account deficit.
- As Finance Minister, Manmohan Singh led crucial economic reforms. He convinced Prime Minister P.V. Narasimha Rao and the party moved away from a heavily regulated economy, recognizing that liberalization was vital to avoid collapse.
- Singh reduced import tariffs, and eased regulations, shifting India from a socialist economy to a more market-driven one. He also encouraged foreign direct investment (FDI) and began the process of privatizing state-owned enterprises.
- Despite opposition, his reforms helped transform India’s economy, though challenges persisted, leading to the government’s fall in 1996. Singh’s efforts to push India towards a market economy were praised by leaders like P. Chidambaram.
Becoming Prime Minister
- In the 2004 general elections, the Indian National Congress emerged as the largest party, ending the tenure of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA).
- Congress claimed the mandate to form the government. In a surprising move, Sonia Gandhi, UPA’s president, nominated Manmohan Singh as the New Prime Ministerial candidate.
- Despite never having contested a direct election, Singh was widely admired for his integrity and was seen as a politician untouched by the corruption that plagued many Indian administrations.
- On May 22, 2004, Singh took office as India’s Prime Minister, marking an unexpected but significant political shift.
The UPA Government and Key Initiatives
During Manmohan Singh’s tenure as Prime Minister, his government focused on significant reforms and initiatives:
- Economic Growth: In 2007, India achieved a 9% GDP growth, becoming the second fastest-growing major economy.
- Poverty Alleviation: The National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) was implemented in 2005, aiming to provide employment and reduce poverty.
- Social Welfare: The Right to Information Act was passed in 2005, ensuring transparency, while the Right to Education Act (RTE) was enacted in 2009, guaranteeing free education for children aged 6-14.
- Infrastructure Development: Singh continued the Golden Quadrilateral project and modernized highways, alongside reforms in banking and public sector companies.
- Nuclear Deal: In July 2005, Manmohan Singh visited the United States to initiate discussions on the India-US Civil Nuclear Agreement. In 2006, the deal was announced. After over two years of negotiations and approvals from the IAEA, NSG, and US Congress, the agreement was signed on October 10, 2008.
- Foreign Relations: Singh maintained peace efforts with Pakistan and China, including key visits and agreements
His Style of Governance: A Quiet Leader
- Manmohan Singh’s leadership style was often described as calm, intellectual, and measured. He was not known for fiery speeches or grand gestures. Instead, he preferred to lead through thoughtful, strategic decision-making, focusing on long-term growth over short-term gains.
- His quiet demeanor often concealed the depth of his knowledge and experience, allowing him to make bold economic reforms without the need for populist appeal.
- He was a man of integrity and humility, two qualities that earned him respect not only within India but also globally. Singh’s personal life was marked by simplicity, and he was often seen as a man of principle who avoided the trappings of power.
- Beyond politics, Singh contributed immensely to society through his academic career, shaping the economic landscape of India for decades. While his leadership was quiet, its impact was profound.
Awards Received by Manmohan Singh
- National Honors
- University Medal (1952), Punjab University – For securing the first position in BA Honors (Economics)
- Uttar Chand Kapoor Medal (1954) – For securing the first position in MA (Economics)
- Padma Vibhushan (1987) – 2nd-highest civilian honor in India
- Foreign Honors
- Order of Abdulaziz Al Saud (2010), Saudi Arabia – Special Class, Saudi Arabia’s second-highest civilian honor
- Order of the Paulownia Flowers (2014), Japan – Grand Cordon, Japan’s second-highest civilian honor
Manmohan Singh’s Lasting Legacy
Manmohan Singh’s role in driving India through economic liberalization in the 1990s and his leadership during critical times shaped India’s growth into a global economic power. His passing on December 26, 2024, at the age of 92, after a prolonged illness, leaves a void in the nation’s leadership.
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