Omkar Dattatray
Let me begin this tribute with an Urdu Couplet which reads as,”Khamoshi Hai Guftugu ,Beyzabani Hai Zaban” which roughly translates in English as silence is more than talks and this fits very well in case of our former beloved Prime Minister ,leader ,politician and above all an economists of repute Dr Manmohan Sing who breathed his last on the evening of 26th of December just after his admission in AIIMS Delhi. The characteristic feature of his multifaceted personality was his silence and speaking less even on important issues of national and political importance but his few words served as the words of wisdom and even can be called nectar .The death of our former Prime Minister is very sad and his passing away created a big void in our political and economic life which can hardly be filled or bridged .Whole nation mourns the death of their beloved leader and ex prime minister .The economist turned politician Dr Manmohan Sing took the reins of the prime minister of the country when the then Congress president Mrs Sonia Gandhi declined the offer to become the head of Congress legislature Party in Lok Sabha and she recommended the name of Congress leader Manmohan Singh for the coveted post of prime minister .A member of the Indian National Congress Manmohan Singh was born on 26th September 1932 and passed away on 24th December 2024 was an Indian politician ,economist prime minister ,academician ,and bureaucrat, who served as the 13th prime minister of India from 2004 to 2014.He was the fourth longest -serving prime minister after Jawaharlal Nehru ,Indira Gandhi and Narendra Modi .The Congress and its UPA won the general elections in 2004 and 2009 ,Manmohan Singh served as the Prime minister between 2004 and 2014.Singh was the first and the only sikh to hold the office and the only prime minister of India to never win a direct popular election .Manmohan Singh is best remembered for his remarkable contributions as Finance Minister under PM Narasimha Rao in 1991 and is aptly called the father of economic reforms in India and during his tenure Indian economy grew by 8% to 9% and this can be squarely attributed to the vision of Manmohan Singh .As the 14th Prime minister of India ,Dr Manmohan Singh made a lasting impact on the country’s political and economic landscape .He was the first Sikh to hold the position of Prime Minister .Dr Manmohan Singh is also remembered for his remarkable contributions as the Finance Minister under PM PV Narasimha Rao in 1991 when he spearheaded groundbreaking economic reforms that opened Indian economy to the world .As the nation mourns his loss ,here is a glimpse at the key moments from Dr Manmohan Singh ‘s extra-ordinary life and career .In 1932 the former PM was born in the small town of Gah ,a part of undivided Punjab in British India .This area later became part of Pakistan after the partition in 1947.In 1947,his family ,like millions of others ,migrated to India after partition .In 1948,he completed his matriculation in India .In 1952-54,he completed both his Bachelors and Masters degrees from Punjab university ,where he developed a deep interest in economics .In 1957,he moved to England and completed his Honor’s degree in Economics from university of Cambridge .There he was influenced by economists like Nicholas Kaldor ,Joan Robinson and Amritya Sen .In 1957 upon returning to India ,he joined Punjab university as a teacher .In 1962,he moved to Oxford University to pursue a doctorate in Philosophy -DPhil in economics .His time in Oxford provided him with an international perspective on economic policies and theory .In 1963,after completing his D.phil ,he returned to Punjab university ,where he became a professor in Economics .In 1976,he was appointed as an Honorary professor at JNU .From 1982 to 85,he served as the Governor of Reserve Bank of India .In 1985-87,he served as the deputy chairman of the planning Commission .He was also honored with the Paddma Vibhushan ,the India’s second -highest civilian award in recognition of his contribution in the field of economics and public life.Manmohan Singh also served as the Economic Advisor to the prime minister of India in 1990-91.He also became the Chairman of UGC in 1991.He was appointed as the FM under the PM Niarasimha Rao in 1991.Singh was elected to Rajya Sabha in 1995 and re-elected several times -2001,2007,2013 and 2019.In 1991 -96 during his tenure as the Finance Minister ,he introduced landmark economic reforms ,including the liberalization of India’s economy and the removal of the ”Permit Raj ”system ,which transformed the country’s economic landscape .HIS 1991 Union Budget was a game-changer ,rescuing India from a financial crisis and paving the way for its rise as a global power .In 2014,he became the 14th Prime Minister of India ,taking office after leading the Indian National Congress to victory in the general elections .He signed the historic Indo-US Civil Nuclear Deal with the US president George W Bush .In 2007,India under his leadership achieved a GDP growth rate of 9 percent ,positioning country as the second -fastest growing major economy globally .In 2009,he won a second consecutive term as the PM ,making him the first PM since Nehru in 1962to be reelected after completing a full term .His second term in 2012 ,however was marred by controversy ,with allegations surrounding the spectrum allocation scam ,the coal scam .After an illustrious 33-year long career in parliament ,he died on December 26,2024 after a brief illness and he will be remembered for his simple living and high thinking as well as for his unimpeachable integrity and honesty .Prime Minister Narendra Modi remembered his predecessor ,Manmohan Singh ,as the ‘most distinguished leader .’PM Modi and Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Congress president Kharge were among the top leaders who paid homage to former PM Manmohan Singh at his residence in the national capital on Friday .The union cabinet also condoled Singh’s death and hailed him as an eminent statesman and a distinguished leader who left an imprint on the national life .At a meeting chaired by Modi ,the cabinet observed a two-minute silence in honor of the departed soul and adopted a Condolence Resolution in memory of Singh .He died at the age of 92 years .Leaders cutting across party lines also paid their last respects to the former PM in the presence of his wife Gursharan Kaur and other family members .Congress MP Rahul Gandhi said he ,”lost a mentor and guide’ .Condolences also poured in from across the globe ,including from the US ,Canada ,France and Shri Lanka .In short the country has lost a distinguished leader ,economist and top bureaucrat and he will be remembered for his simplicity ,honesty and for his remarkable contribution as the father of economic reforms in India .The void created by his death will take many years to fill and his vision will continue to inspire generations to come.
(The author is a columnist, social, KP activist and a freelancer)