Dr Manmohan Singh, the former Prime Minister of India, passed away in New Delhi. He was 92. Singh was admitted to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in the national capital after his health deteriorated on Thursday.
Manmohan Singh was born on September 26, 1932 in Gah village, located in present-day Pakistan’s Punjab province. Known for his economic expertise, Singh’s career spanned academia, civil service, and politics.
He obtained a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Economics from Panjab University in 1952 and 1954, respectively, followed by the Economic Tripos at Cambridge University in 1957 and a D.Phil in Economics from Oxford University in 1962. He taught at Punjab University and the Delhi School of Economics before joining the Government of India as an Economic Advisor in 1971, eventually serving as Chief Economic Advisor in 1972.
Singh held various significant positions, including Secretary General of the South Commission in Geneva (1987-1990), Secretary in the Finance Ministry, Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission, Governor of the Reserve Bank of India (1982-1985), and Chairman of the University Grants Commission.
The Architect of Liberalised Economy
His pivotal role in shaping India’s economic policy began as Finance Minister under Prime Minister PV Narasimha Rao from 1991-1996, where he introduced sweeping liberalisation reforms that opened India’s economy to foreign investment and reduced government control.
Dr Singh served as the 13th Prime Minister of India from 2004 to 2014, making him the country’s third longest-serving Prime Minister after Jawaharlal Nehru and Indira Gandhi. During his tenure, landmark legislations such as the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (later MGNREGA) and the Right to Information Act were enacted.
He also championed inclusive growth through measures like the Right to Food, Right to Education, and Right to Work.
In Parliament, Singh famously declared during his 1991 budget speech, “No power on earth can stop an idea whose time has come,” reflecting his vision of India’s emergence as a global economic power.
Despite his achievements, his tenure as Prime Minister faced criticism over corruption allegations, with the opposition dubbing him “MaunMohan Singh” for his perceived silence on such issues. He responded in 2014, saying, “I honestly hope history would be kinder to me than the media, or for that matter, the opposition parties in Parliament.”
Singh retired from the Rajya Sabha in April 2024, marking the end of a political journey that began with his first term in the upper house in October 1991. Though he contested a Lok Sabha election in 1999 from South Delhi, he was defeated and remained a Rajya Sabha member for six terms, representing Assam and later Rajasthan.
He served as Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha from 1998 to 2004 and as Leader of the House during his Prime Ministership.
Known for his soft-spoken and humble demeanour, Singh once recounted studying under kerosene lamps in a village without electricity, a testament to his modest beginnings. Despite his physical frailty in recent years, he continued attending crucial Rajya Sabha sessions in a wheelchair.
Dr Manmohan Singh leaves behind a legacy of economic reforms, legislative milestones, and a vision of inclusive growth that shaped modern India. His contributions as a scholar, economist, and leader remain etched in the nation’s history.
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