Dr Manmohan Singh: The visionary who changed India forever

Arguably, Dr Manmohan Singh, who passed away at 92 (1932-2024), will go down in history as one of India’s greatest Prime Ministers — the leader who opened up the Indian economy as Finance Minister, dismantling a pernicious licence-quota-permit Raj which allowed official corruption to flourish. Singh, as PM, ended India’s long nuclear winter, gambling his government on the Indo-US nuclear deal in his first term.

As a two-term PM, Dr Singh gave India its best period of growth, pulled 250 million Indians out of abject poverty, and brought in landmark legislation which deepened India’s democracy — the Right to Information Act (RTI), the Right to Education Act (RTE), and the Employment Guarantee Scheme, which guaranteed 100 days of paid work.

A scholar and humble beginnings

Unassuming to a fault, Singh was India’s most scholarly PM, with laurels in economics from both Oxford and Cambridge. Singh’s journey was a testament to his grit, perseverance, and determination.

Losing his mother at the age of six, he was raised by his grandmother in Gah, where he was born, now in Pakistan. The family moved as broke refugees during the partition of India to Haldwani, where Singh studied under the light of lampposts.

His sheer brilliance earned him scholarships to Punjab University and subsequently the Ivy League. Singh had to take odd jobs to make ends meet abroad, often skipping meals or subsisting on a bar of chocolate. Even as PM, his frugality remained — he was a simple eater, with a single chapati made by his devoted wife, Gursharan Kaur, being non-negotiable.

The only request made when he moved into the official PM residence was for the height of the kitchen counter to be lowered to accommodate her. Singh leaves behind his three accomplished daughters, as quiet and unentitled as him.

US President Barack Obama, in high praise of Dr Singh, wrote: “Dr Singh, as PM, proved to be wise, thoughtful and scrupulously honest.” Dr Singh was India’s face to the world, widely respected by world leaders. “Mr Guru” was how Obama greeted him at the Copenhagen Climate Summit in 2010, telling the media, “Your PM is our guru.”

Second-term challenges and vindication

Singh government was bedevilled by corruption allegations in his second term as he presided over an unwieldy coalition, with fantastical numbers being bandied about for the 2G scam, Commonwealth Games scam, and other corruption allegations.

None of these were ever proven in court, and the then Comptroller and Auditor General, Vinod Rai’s figures, were found to be fraudulent and fanciful.

A visionary with grit

Singh was extremely soft-spoken yet gritty where India’s interests were concerned. The unemotional exterior, without any sense of the dramatic, concealed big dreams for India. He once told me, in a rare expression of personal feeling, “I have known poverty. I know how it drains you, grinds you down. I don’t want my country to have any poor people.” The sincerity was palpable.

In 2011, as part of the press delegation to the United States, we wanted to celebrate his birthday. He initially refused the officials, but when he came out to meet us, we prevailed. A blushing Singh said, “You want to celebrate my birthday? Where did you get the cake?” He had a sliver of cake after doing the honours but insisted that a slice be passed around to everyone present.

Singh’s courteousness often led arrogant leaders to mistake his scholarly reticence for a lack of steel — a notion they were quickly disabused of. Singh always had the last word in government policies, particularly in finance and foreign affairs.

A partnership of respect

Sonia Gandhi and Singh shared a rare understanding in politics, which saw the UPA alliance run for two terms. However, Rahul Gandhi did not share his mother’s equation with Singh and undermined his authority by publicly tearing up an ordinance. Gandhi might have benefited from Singh’s counsel by serving as a minister under him to learn the ropes of administration.

Singh was called pejoratives such as “Mute” and “Maun” by his political rivals and sections of the media. Singh responded with deeds.

He was the last PM to hold an open press conference with no questions disallowed. When asked about his legacy, he said, “History will judge me more kindly than the media.”

Yes, sir, history has already spoken — with gratitude and awe. Your quiet strength reshaped a nation and wowed the world. Thank you, Dr Singh, from a citizen.