REMEMBERING SHRI MANMOHAN SINGH JI: ARCHETECT OF INDIA'S ECONOMIC REFORMS

     It was in 2010 when I first saw PM Manmohan Singh from close quarters. It was his visit to Brazil to attend the BRICS Summit organized in the capital Brasilia. Prior to the visit I along with the Security team from India interacted with the Security agencies of Brazil apprising them of our requirement as well as the envisaged threats to the PM from various groups. On the arrival day I was part of the Embassy team to receive him. Looking into his eyes during hand shake is a moment still etched in my memory. "This man is so humble, so down to earth, so gentle, so unassuming...."-were some of the thoughts that ran in my head during that brief eye contact. 

    It was in one of the functions held few days after the visit that I realized the stature of Dr. MM Singh in the eyes of the world. I was surrounded by the group, I called Indian watchers, consisting of Chinese, Pakistan, Israel, US and UK Military Advisors. The talk veered on to the recently concluded PM's trip. They all were aware of PM's academic credentials which are never ever likely to be matched by any other political personality. However what surprised me was the statement- made by either  US or Israel DA-but supported unanimously by all. The exact words escape my memory but the sense conveyed was- "Mahatma Gandhi liberated India but it was DR.MM Singh who laid the foundation of modern India."

    Dr.MM will always be remembered for pulling India out of the financial crisis of 1991. He, through his 1991 Union budget introduced liberalization, privatization and globalization.  The second test came in 2008. India sailed through the financial crisis with minimal impact thus establishing him as a prudent economic strategist. His second tenure was, though, marred in allegations of corruptions. But his personal integrity and his contributions as an economist and leader remain unquestioned and unparallel. 

    He, like all public figures, faced harsh criticisms along with accolades . He was often called-a puppet, accidental PM, weak and one who does not speak, Good man in a wrong party--. Post death such divergent views were liberally voiced on SM.  Running India, a country with multiple religions, cultures, languages, is never an easy task. Some of the criticism are, though, not without foundations. He was not treated well towards the end of his second term by his party. He though never lost sight of the larger interest of the nation and never allowed personal egos to clash with the effective functionating of the Government.

    My personal views about the departed Dr.MM are that he was a true gentleman, honest to core and a nationalist. He was a brilliant economist who guided India through some great economic crisis and set India on a path to become leading economies of the world. With all the respect and sadness I raise my right hand in saluting Dr.MM for the third and the last time. The first and the second were while receiving and seeing him off at Brazil.

    

With Dr.MM Singh

    

The Security team at my house