By Shubham Ghosh
Dr Manmohan Singh, India’s 13th prime minister, said after demitting office in 2014 that history would be kinder to him than either the opposition in parliament or the contemporary media outside. “Given the political compulsions, I have done the best I could do,” he remarked.
The Sikh leader passed away on December 26 at the age of 92 and it seems his prediction was prophetic. While Dr Singh was not the cameramen’s favorite for his ‘expressionless’ demeanor and his silent method was often perceived as a weakness and he was considered second-fiddle to the ‘real’ power center, there was a big gap between the perception and reality.
While perception and bragging matter in Indian political affairs, Singh was a silent performer and never failed in carrying out his duties. His career was unique since he donned different hats at different times, including the hat of all hats, when he became the PM. From a teacher to a bureaucrat to a minister, Singh’s mobility in the elite circles of Delhi showed that he was a valuable resource that departments looked for.
One of the most qualified leaders in a country where finding enough educated politicians is still some task, he belonged to a different league. But he remained a ‘loner’ in Indian politics.
FM Manmohan over PM Manmohan? Not exactly
People often put Singh, the finance minister, on a higher pedestal than Singh, the prime minister. His act of liberalizing the Indian economy, which virtually gave the country a fresh lease of life for the second time after the political independence of 1947, will remain a golden moment.
While liberalization was the need of the hour as the economic model that India had pursued in the first four years after independence had pushed it to the brink, Singh, under the patronage of his political boss PV Narasimha Rao, had taken the right decision at the right time. His decisive move earned him the name of a relentless reformer.
But it doesn’t mean that Singh was less successful as the prime minister. History shows that there are leaders who landed in the PM’s hot seat by chance and amid chaos and it would be disrespectful to call Singh the only ‘accidental prime minister’. As an erudite man with experience who was no newcomer to governance, Singh was among a few men who Sonia Gandhi could have picked for the top job after she refused to become the PM herself in 2004.
After he became the PM, pipping stalwarts like Pranab Mukherjee, Singh did a good job, particularly in his first stint from 2004 and 2009, and got the reward of a renewed mandate. Irrespective of what critics allege about Singh surrendering the prestige of the prime minister’s office before the Gandhi family, the power center of the Congress party, the former PM did exhibit that he could be firm on his decisions.
One such example was going ahead with the Civil Nuclear Agreement with the United States even by risking his government’s survival since the Left pulled out. Singh was particularly thoughtful about India’s foreign policy and made the country’s development a key foundation to shape external affairs. While New Delhi under PM Narendra Modi has improved its ties with the Gulf nations, it was Singh who had launched the “Look West” Policy to improve ties with those countries.
(Graphic courtesy: INC India)
Dr Singh’s flexible economic policies
Manmohan Singh also showed that he could be flexible with economic policies. While his liberalization in the early 1990s was more about inviting the market economy, he pursued a more social agenda as the PM a decade later. His government enacted the game-changing Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, providing a safety net to millions.
Dr Singh’s second term was less memorable, thanks to endless charges of corruption. The man himself was always clean and respected even though he never was a charismatic superman like some of the other Indian prime ministers. But as the late leader predicted, history would be kinder to him and the obituaries suggest that he was right.
(The writer is a senior journalist and political analyst based in Bengaluru, India. The views expressed are his own)
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi
"India mourns the loss of one of its most distinguished leaders, Dr Manmohan Singh Ji. Rising from humble origins, he rose to become a respected economist. He served in various government positions as well, including as Finance Minister, leaving a strong imprint on our economic policy over the years... His service to India will always be cherished."
PM Narendra Modi pays his last respects to Manmohan Singh. (Photo courtesy: X@narendramodi)
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US President Joe Biden
The unprecedented level of cooperation between the United States and India today would not have been possible without the Prime Minister’s strategic vision and political courage. From forging the US-India Civil Nuclear Agreement to helping launch the first Quad between Indo-Pacific partners, he charted pathbreaking progress that will continue to strengthen our nations—and the world—for generations to come. He was a true statesman. A dedicated public servant. And above all, he was a kind and humble person.
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US Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi
“I mourn the loss of former Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh who played a key role in both modernizing India’s economy and strengthening ties with the United States. His vision for a better India and a better world will continue.”
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Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau
"Manmohan Singh’s passing is a loss for India and the world. As one of its longest-serving leaders, he transformed the country’s economy, lifted millions out of poverty, and built strong bridges with the world — including Canada."
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Russian President Vladimir Putin met then PM Manmohan Singh in New Delhi on December 24, 2012. (Photo courtesy: Wikimedia Commons)
Russian President Vladimir Putin
“An outstanding statesman. (He had) accomplished a lot in promoting India’s economic development and asserting its interests on the world stage... I had the occasion of talking with this remarkable man several times. We will cherish the memory of him.”
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Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva
“We were contemporaries in government in the first decade of the 21st century and worked together to strengthen relations between our countries and build a fairer world. Singh was involved in the creation of IBSA, bringing together Brazil, South Africa, and India, and in the founding of BRICS".
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The architect of Indo-US nuclear deal
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