NEW DELHI, (TDI): Former Indian Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh, a renowned economist who served two terms as the country’s leader and played a pivotal role in liberalising its economy, passed away on Thursday at the age of 92.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid tribute, saying, “India mourns the loss of one of its most distinguished leaders, Dr. Manmohan Singh Ji,” and commended his immense contributions as an economist-turned-politician.
Dr. Singh, the first Sikh to hold the office of prime minister, had been undergoing treatment for age-related conditions. He was rushed to AIIMS hospital in Delhi after a sudden loss of consciousness and passed away there.
Having retired from the Rajya Sabha in April 2024, Dr. Singh concluded a parliamentary career spanning 33 years. He had joined the upper house in 1991, soon after being appointed Union Finance Minister under Prime Minister PV Narasimha Rao.
Early Life and Career
Born on September 26, 1932, in a poor family in a village in Punjab, then part of undivided India, Dr. Singh overcame humble beginnings to become a towering figure in Indian politics and economics.
A scholar of exceptional caliber, Singh earned degrees from Cambridge University and Oxford, where he completed a doctorate on the role of exports and free trade in India’s economy.
In his early career, he served as Chief Economic Advisor to the Ministry of Finance in 1972 and later as Governor of the Reserve Bank of India from 1982 to 1985.
Architect of Economic Reforms
Dr. Singh entered politics unexpectedly in 1991, becoming finance minister during a severe economic crisis. In this role, he spearheaded transformative reforms that liberalized India’s economy, deregulated industries, and opened the country to global trade and investment.
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Quoting Victor Hugo in his first budget speech, Singh famously declared, “No power on earth can stop an idea whose time has come,” referring to India’s emergence as a global economic power.
Prime Ministerial Tenure
Dr. Singh became prime minister in 2004, a decision influenced by Sonia Gandhi, leader of the Congress party, who declined the role herself due to fears of backlash over her foreign origin.
Under Singh’s leadership, India experienced unprecedented economic growth, lifting millions out of poverty. His government launched several landmark welfare programs, including a rural employment guarantee scheme.
However, his efforts to deepen economic reforms often faced political resistance within his party and from coalition partners. While he was widely respected internationally, domestically, critics often viewed Sonia Gandhi as the real power behind the government.
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Singh’s second term was marred by corruption scandals involving members of his administration, leading to mass protests and damaging his government’s reputation. Despite this, Singh himself maintained a reputation for integrity and simplicity.
In 2012, political turbulence escalated when the Congress party’s largest coalition ally withdrew support, citing opposition to foreign investment in retail.
Dr. Singh, remembered as a quiet yet transformative leader, reshaped India’s economic trajectory and left an enduring legacy of growth and reform. His passing marks the end of an era for Indian politics.
