Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh passed away on Thursday. He was admitted to AIIMS in Delhi late in the evening after his health deteriorated, where doctors declared him dead. He was 92 years old and was ill for a long time.
A distinguished economist and statesman, Dr. Manmohan Singh was India’s 13th Prime Minister, serving from 2004 to 2014, as well as Finance Minister when he helped shape the nation’s new economic policy at the dawn of the early 1990s.
प्रख्यात अर्थशास्त्री और देश के पूर्व प्रधानमंत्री श्रद्धेय मनमोहन सिंह जी का निधन भारतीय राजनीति की अपूरणीय क्षति है।
ईश्वर दिवंगत आत्मा को शांति और उनके परिजनों को यह दुख सहन करने की शक्ति प्रदान करें।
दिल्ली कांग्रेस परिवार आदरणीय मनमोहन जी की स्मृतियों को नमन करता है और… pic.twitter.com/nxdQupAXq8---Advertisement---— Delhi Congress (@INCDelhi) December 26, 2024
Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi also expressed his grief on demise of Dr. Manmohan Singh.
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… pic.twitter.com/clW00Yv6oP
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) December 26, 2024
The Former Chief Minister of Haryana Bhupindra Singh Hooda also tweeted on demise of Dr. Manmohan Singh:
दुनिया के महान् अर्थशास्त्री, भारत में आर्थिक सुधारों के पुरोधा और अपने काम के ज़रिये देश को प्रगति पथ पर आगे बढ़ाकर दुनिया भर में अलग पहचान दिलाने वाले पूर्व प्रधानमंत्री डॉ. मनमोहन सिंह जी के निधन की खबर से मन व्यथित है।
— Bhupinder S Hooda (@BhupinderShooda) December 26, 2024
उनके जाने से राजनीतिक जगत् को अपूरणीय क्षति हुई है, जो… pic.twitter.com/MTLZEzbQib
With profound grief, we inform the demise of the former Prime Minister of India, Dr Manmohan Singh, aged 92. He was being treated for age-related medical conditions and had a sudden loss of consciousness at home on 26 December 2024. Resuscitative measures were started immediately… pic.twitter.com/ZX9NakKo7Y
— ANI (@ANI) December 26, 2024
Early Life And Academic Excellence
Dr. Manmohan Singh was born on September 26, 1932, in Gah, which is currently in Pakistan, and education started at Panjab University followed by Oxford and Cambridge where he received his doctoral degree in economics. Dr. Manmohan Singh was an advisor to the Indian government, with several tenures at institutions, such as the Reserve Bank of India and the Planning Commission, that show off a deep understanding of economic theory with a profound basis.
Also Read: Manmohan Singh: ‘A Technocrat with A Vision,’ Remembered As A Master Of Politics And Policy
Role Of Dr. Manmohan Singh And The Economic Reforms Of 1991
His most defining contribution was in 1991, when he, as the Finance Minister under Prime Minister P. V. Narasimha Rao, led India to economic liberalization. Presented with a balance of payments crisis, India was on the verge of default and the future of the economy was quite uncertain. It was during Dr. Manmohan Singh’s visionary policies that India ventured into the new economic world of devaluation of rupees, removal of trade barriers, and promotion of FDI or foreign direct investment.
He dismantled the license raj, which had strangled business growth for decades, ushering in an era of privatization, deregulation, and greater integration with the global economy. His role in shaping these reforms was pivotal in transforming India from a closed, inward-looking economy into one of the world’s fastest-growing markets. Dr. Manmohan Singh’s economic reforms laid the foundation for India’s emergence as a major player in the global economy in the following decades.
Also Read: Manmohan Singh Net Worth: Here’s What We Know About The Former PM And What He Left Behind
Prime Ministership: Navigating India Through Testing Times
Dr. Manmohan Singh’s Prime Ministership, spanning 2004-2014, was characterized by remarkable economic growth on the one hand and grave challenges on the other. He steered India into an average annual GDP growth rate of about 8%, fueled by domestic consumption, a growing middle class, and increased global trade.
He initiated many ambitious programs, including NREGA, a National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, to overcome the problem of rural poverty and unemployment. His initiatives for social welfare programs brought about a change in the lives of millions of Indians, especially the poor and downtrodden section of society. Moreover, his period saw the wonderful expansion of India’s infrastructure, which included the improvement in roads, telecom networks, and power generation capacity.
However, the leadership of Dr. Manmohan Singh was also criticized. His administration was always accused of policy paralysis in the last half of his second term with corruption scandals marring the reputation of his government. Still, there were never questions of personal integrity and a calm measured approach to leadership that characterized Dr. Manmohan Singh. He was known for his humility, honesty, and ability to build consensus in a very diverse and often fractious political landscape.
Foreign Policy And Global Relations
The bright spot of Dr. Manmohan Singh’s foreign policy is visible everywhere. His tenure in the office witnessed a dramatic rise in India’s relations with the United States, reaching its climax in 2008 when the world saw the Indo-US nuclear deal. The deal that opened civilian nuclear technology to India provided a global position for it in geopolitics. He further consolidated relations with other nations and sought to widen the involvement of the country in various international forums, that were being primarily United Nations, G-20, and BRICS.
His diplomacy was useful as it made India an accomplished as well as a reformist democratic society. He did so he could strike a balance that the relationship of power shifts from Western powers towards other developing countries.
Legacy: The Economic Reforms As Well As The Statesmanship Legacy
The legacy of Dr. Manmohan Singh as an economist and a leader is going to be very closely interwoven with India’s progress in the 21st century. While he was the architect of economic reforms, he also believed in inclusive growth and was compassionate. His efforts toward financial inclusion, rural development, and infrastructure modernization are going to influence policy much beyond his lifetime.
He was a leader who epitomized humility, professionalism, and foresight. He was not a politician who was motivated by personal ambition but a statesman who was devoted to the betterment of the nation. His economic reforms created the bedrock on which modern India stands today. His first years were nothing like his last-they remain definitive of India’s economic and political trajectory. His first years proved him a brilliant reformer and strategist; his last years were tumultuous and contested, though.
India has lost a visionary leader, a world-renowned economist, and a statesman who has served the nation with unparalleled dedication. The continued growth of the Indian economy and the progress of its people will be his legacy. His intellect, vision, and unflinching commitment to the service of India are responsible for much of the prosperity that the nation has today.
Also Read: Manmohan Singh: The Man Who Shaped India, And The Family That Carried His Legacy
Updated By
