Accidental politician who changed destiny of India

India’s first Prime Minister from the Sikh minority Dr. Manmohan Singh passed away last week at the age of 92. An erudite and accomplished scholar in economics, the bureaucrat-turned politician held high-profile posts in the Government of India – an Advisor to the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Chief Economic Advisor, Governor of the RBI, and Head of the Planning Commission. 

Interestingly though, the shining moment of the professional economist, who had a doctorate in his chosen field from the University of Oxford, came when he got into politics by a twist of fate in 1991 with his appointment as Finance Minister by the then Indian Premier Narasimha Rao during a period in which the neighbouring state’s economy was experiencing a severe crisis, driven by a deficit in the Balance of Payments. Singh is universally acknowledged as the Father of India’s economic reforms.

In his capacity as Minister of Finance, the unassuming Punjabi undertook critical structural economic reforms that paved the way for the South Asian State to liberalise its economy. His reformist policies reduced government control, initiated divestment of public enterprises, and encouraged foreign investments. Such changes established the foundation for sustained economic growth and low inflation. Today, the world’s most populous country is the fifth-largest economy in the globe and would become the third-largest soon. Despite the political power changing hands between Congress and the BJP over the last three decades, the Asian giant’s continuous reliance on market-friendly economic policies has resulted in millions of Indians escaping the miserable state of poverty.

As a politician though, Singh never inspired the masses. He had a weak and frail voice apart from lacking charisma. He was not an impressive orator like India’s incumbent premier who can galvanise crowds at political rallies. India’s fourth longest-serving Prime Minister never won an election on his own and he represented India’s Parliament through Rajya Sabha. His only attempt to win a Lok Sabha seat from South Delhi in 1999 was unsuccessful. In 2004, the economist who became Finance Minister unexpectedly, accidentally became Prime Minister when Sonia Gandhi refused premiership. The gracious Singh did not harbour political ambitions and never wanted to take over the leadership of the Congress Party. Hence, the Gandhi family had no hesitation in nominating him for the premiership.

India’s economy grew at near double-digit rates during the first few years of Singh’s tenure. However, attempts to reform the economy and attract foreign investments by opening up the South Asian nation’s retail sector to international investors were met with fierce political resistance from the Leftist parties of the Congress-led political coalition. In terms of foreign policy, Singh’s administration was characterised by notable developments. India’s ties with the US broadened during this period and New Delhi and Washington signed a civilian nuclear agreement ending India’s nuclear isolation. The former Rajya Sabha MP described the conclusion of the pact as the best moment of his premiership. As per political commentators, the decade of Oxford-educated economist’s leadership is hailed for the unprecedented broadening and deepening of India’s relationship with the world superpower.

Nevertheless, there was criticism Singh was overly influenced and controlled by the Gandhi Family. The Accidental Prime Minister – the memoir written by Sanjaya Baru, Singh’s media advisor at the Prime Minister Office from 2004 to 2008 – accused Sonia and her son of exerting undue pressure on the gentlemanly, suave individual. Singh’s second term was marred by numerous corruption scandals and what observers called policy paralysis due to complications arising from different political views and regional factionalism.

At the end of his premiership, the illustrious Indian stated: “I honestly believe that history will be kinder to me than the contemporary media, or for that matter, the opposition parties in the Parliament.” The Father of Modern India will undoubtedly occupy a cherished place in the annals of India’s history.