'History Will Be Kinder To Me Than Contemporary Media': Remembering Manmohan Singh, The Resilient Technocrat

One of Singh’s landmark achievements as Prime Minister was the 2008 Indo-US civil nuclear deal. Despite facing immense political challenges, he successfully navigated the agreement.

Manmohan Singh became Prime Minister after the Congress-led UPA's surprise victory in 2004.

Source : X/@raghav_chadha

Manmohan Singh Death: “I honestly believe that history will be kinder to me than the contemporary media, or for that matter, the Opposition parties in Parliament,” the late former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh said in his last press conference as a PM back in 2014. A celebrated economist and a technocrat in the true sense of the word, Singh passed away at 92 on Thursday. As we remember him, perhaps it is time we consider his aforementioned quote, and take a look back at how he headed India's economic liberalisation with a clever focus on science and technology.

Singh was pivotal in reshaping India's economic landscape during the 1991 balance of payments crisis. His reforms laid the groundwork for sustained economic growth, with the country achieving an average growth rate of 8.5 per cent in subsequent years.

Humble Beginning To Academic Excellence

Born on September 26, 1932, in Gah, Punjab (now in Pakistan), Singh overcame humble beginnings to excel academically, earning a first-class degree in Economics from Cambridge and a doctorate from Oxford.

His distinguished career included roles as Chief Economic Advisor, Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission, and Union Finance Secretary, before being chosen by PV Narasimha Rao as Finance Minister during a critical period in India's history.

Often described as a reluctant politician, Singh became Prime Minister after the Congress-led UPA's surprise victory in 2004. Sonia Gandhi, who opted out of the role, saw him as the ideal candidate due to his impeccable credentials, including stints as RBI Governor and Finance Minister.

Indo-US Civil Nuclear Deal

One of Singh’s landmark achievements as Prime Minister was the 2008 Indo-US civil nuclear deal. Despite facing immense political challenges, including losing the Left Front's support, he successfully navigated the agreement, which ended years of international sanctions and positioned India as a key player in global nuclear diplomacy.

'Accidental Prime Minister'

While Singh’s integrity remained unquestioned, his tenure as Prime Minister saw allegations of corruption, including controversies surrounding the 2G spectrum, Commonwealth Games, and coal block allocations. Critics also highlighted concerns over perceived dual power centres in his government, with Sonia Gandhi playing a significant behind-the-scenes role. These issues led some to label him the "Accidental Prime Minister."

Despite everything, Singh remained confident in his legacy. Hence his statement, "history will be kinder to me than the contemporary media."

Despite political differences, Singh was widely respected across party lines, a rarity in today’s political climate. His contributions to India’s economic and diplomatic standing remain indelible.