Former prime minister Dr Manmohan Singh, who was the architect of the country’s landmark economic reforms of 1991, passed away in New Delhi on Thursday night. He was 92. Singh, who was being treated for “age-related medical conditions”, was rushed to the emergency ward of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) after he lost consciousness, the hospital said in its bulletin.
Singh was twice prime minister in the Congress-led UPA governments of 2004 and 2009, and was the finance minister in the Narasimha Rao government of 1991 which opened up the Indian economy and ushered in the era of economic liberalisation.
Born on September 26, 1932, in Punjab, Dr Manmohan Singh has been a towering figure in Indian politics and economics as he was celebrated for his intellect and dedication to public service. Dr Singh’s academic journey began at Panjab University, where he earned his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Economics in 1952 and 1954, respectively.
He furthered his studies at Cambridge University, completing his Economic Tripos in 1957, and later received a D.Phil in Economics from Oxford University in 1962. His professional career took root in academia with teaching stints at Panjab University and the Delhi School of Economics.
Transitioning to public service, Singh joined the Government of India as an Economic Advisor in the Commerce Ministry in 1971 and was soon promoted to Chief Economic Advisor in the Finance Ministry in 1972.
Dr Singh’s expertise was globally recognised during his tenure at the UNCTAD Secretariat and as Secretary General of the South Commission in Geneva from 1987 to 1990. Over the years, he has held a range of influential positions, including Secretary in the Finance Ministry, Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission, Governor of the Reserve Bank of India, Advisor to the Prime Minister, and Chairman of the University Grants Commission.
President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi led the nation in paying rich tribute to former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh. President Murmu said Singh was “one of those rare politicians who also straddled the worlds of academia and administration with equal ease”.
“In his various roles in public offices, he made critical contributions to reforming the Indian economy. He will always be remembered for his service to the nation, his unblemished political life and his utmost humility. His passing is a great loss to all of us. I pay my respectful homage to one of the greatest sons of Bharat and convey my heartfelt condolences to his family, friends and admirers,” she said.
Prime Minister Modi said, “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 policy over the years. His interventions in Parliament were also insightful. As our Prime Minister, he made extensive efforts to improve people’s lives.”
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge had lauded Singh’s contributions and outlined his key role in shaping modern India’s economic landscape. As the finance minister in the PV Narasimha Rao-led government from 1991-1996, Singh spearheaded transformative economic reforms, steering India away from socialist-era policies toward a liberalized economy.
