Dr Manmohan Singh

Manmohan Singh was India's fourteenth prime minister. He was an excellent scholar, economist, and thinker. Before he was deeply involved in politics, he worked for a number of prominent government institutions.

He received numerous accolades and acknowledgments for his outstanding efforts. Later in life, he turned from bureaucrat to politician. India's economic inflation underwent a dramatic change during his rule. He is recognized as having played a key role in the economic revival of India.

Respected for his morality, integrity, and humility, he is a capable leader. The Indian people recognized Manmohan Singh's leadership qualities and aptitude, casting their vote for him to be prime minister for the second year in a row.

Early Life

Manmohan Singh was born in Gah, located in Punjab, British India, on Monday, September 26, 1932.

At the Panja Sahib, which is located fifty kilometers from Rawalpindi, he was given the name Manmohan Singh; this was inspired by the letter "M," which was the first word to appear on the page of the revered Guru Granth Sahib.

Educational Qualifications

At the Khalsa High School for Boys in Peshawar, British India, he received his education in Urdu. His family moved to Amritsar following the partition, and he enrolled in Punjab's "Hindu College Amritsar" to begin his education. He began to grasp political concepts at the age of thirteen.

He enjoyed playing football and hockey, as well as participating in debate tournaments during his school years.

At Government College, Punjab University, Hoshiarpur (now in Chandigarh), he earned his bachelor's and master's degrees in economics in 1952 and 1954, respectively.

At the University of Cambridge, Singh finished his thesis in economics in 1957. His professors at college made him aware of the influential role politics plays in influencing human affairs. In 1955 and 1957, Singh was a superb scholar who was awarded the Wright's Prize.

While affiliated with Nuffield College at the University of Oxford, he earned his doctoral degree in philosophy in 1962. Subsequently, he authored a book titled "India's Export Trends and Prospects for Self-Sustained Growth," drawing from his doctoral dissertation entitled "India's Export Performance, 1951-1960, Export Prospects and Policy Implications."

Early Career

Singh served as an employee of UNCTAD (the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development) from 1966 to 1969. In 1969, he served as an advisor to Lalit Narayan Mishra, the then-Cabinet Minister of Foreign Trade.

Singh taught international trade at the University of Delhi's Delhi School of Economics from 1969 to 1971. He joined the Ministry of Finance in 1972 as the Chief Economic Adviser, and in 1976 he was appointed Secretary.

He was appointed to the Planning Commission and served as a member from 1980 to 1982. Singh became the Reserve Bank of India's governor in 1982 and held the position until 1985.

As a result, he was appointed Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission of India from 1985 to 1987. He served as the South Commission's Secretary-General in Geneva, Switzerland, from 1987 to 1990.

Singh was recruited by Vishwanath Pratap Singh, the Indian prime minister at the time, as an advisor on economic affairs in 1990. He was appointed University Grants Commission Chairman in 1991.

Family and Caste

Gurmukh Singh, Manmohan Singh's father, and Amrit Kaur, his mother, were members of the Kohli Sikh family in Khakra. His father was employed as a clerical agent, involved in the importation of dry fruits from Afghanistan and their subsequent distribution throughout India.

During his childhood, Manmohan's father was seldom home and frequently spent time away from the family. At a very young age, he lost his mother, and Jamna Devi, his paternal grandmother, reared him. One of his brothers passed away quite young. Sant Singh is his paternal grandfather.

Sitawanti Kaur was Manmohan's stepmother. His three half-brothers are politicians Surinder Singh Kohli, Daljit Singh Kohli (who joined the BJP in 2014), and Surjeet Singh Kohli.

Additionally, Singh has six half-sisters. He quickly formed a strong relationship with his stepmother because of her extreme fondness for him. His family had rented homes for many years until he acquired a house in Peshawar in 1946. Dr Singh enjoyed taking bicycles and foot tours around the city.

Manmohan tied the knot with Gursharan Kaur on September 14, 1958. The couple is fortunate to have three daughters: historian Upinder Singh, writer Daman Singh, and human rights lawyer Amrit Singh.

Career Beginning

From 1957 until 1959, he worked as a senior Economics instructor at Punjab University, where he began his career. He began working as a reader at Punjab University's Department of Economics in 1959.

In 1963, he went back to work as a lecturer, a position he held until 1965. He collaborated with UNCTAD, an organization established by the U.N. in 1964, from 1966 to 1969 to ensure that developing nations had fair access to economic progress.

Acknowledging his proficiency in Economics, he was designated as a consultant to the Ministry of Foreign Trade. In the interim, he worked at the University of Delhi as a Professor of International Trade.

He was named Chief Economic Advisor in the Ministry of Finance in 1972. He assumed leadership as the Finance Ministry's Secretary in 1976.

His professional advancement subsequently demonstrated his unparalleled proficiency and understanding in the field of economics. He collaborated with the Planning Commission, which created the Five Year Plans up to 1982. He served as the Reserve Bank of India's governor for the following three years after being appointed to the position in 1982.

He rejoined the Planning Commission in 1985 and served as its deputy chairman until 1987. After that, he was employed at South Commission, a Geneva-based think group focused on economic policy, until November 1990.

He served as a counselor on economic affairs to Chandra Shekhar, the Indian prime minister at the time, after his return to the country in 1990. In 1991, he was appointed Chairman of the University Grants Commission (UGC).

Career in Politics

When he received an invitation to become the finance minister in the government of P.V. Narasimha Rao, the Indian prime minister at the time, his professional life took an unexpected turn.

In addition to being a turning moment in his professional life, it was also one in Independent India's economic history. He has made a remarkable and immeasurable contribution to the Indian economy, which is teetering on the brink of collapse.

Tenure as India's Minister of Finance

The Pre-Liberalization Financial Crisis

Since gaining independence in 1991, India has seen the worst economic catastrophe. Remittances from Indians employed overseas decreased as a result of the Gulf War (1990-1991), which also raised oil costs.

With a fiscal imbalance of about 8% of GDP, India was clearly experiencing a balance of payments crisis. Around 3.5% of the GDP was the current account deficit, and the foreign reserves dropped to $1 billion.

India received financial support from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) subject to a number of restrictions. The government decided to implement economic reforms and remove Licence Raj in response to the extraordinary crisis.

Liberalization

Under Manmohan Singh, the federal government lowered import taxes and limited governmental influence over the economy as part of the economic deregulation. Furthermore, in order to increase the competitiveness of Indian exports, the Reserve Bank of India and the Government devalued the Indian currency.

In order to ensure a smooth transition from a socialistic to a capitalist economic model, Manmohan Singh put in place a variety of policies. He lowered tariffs, taxes, and fees, relaxed licensing requirements, and took down obstacles to foreign investment and trade.

The economy grew significantly as a result of the public sector being privatized and prohibitions on foreign direct investment being lifted. Prior to liberalization, the rate of economic growth was 3%; with liberalization, it rose to 8-9%.

Even with the favorable outcomes of economic liberalization, the Narasimha Rao administration was ousted from office in 1996 due to poor performance in key areas. P. Chidambaram. Chidambaram praised Manmohan Singh for bringing about the market economy in India.

Rajya Sabha Member

After serving five consecutive terms in the Assam assembly, Manmohan Singh was elected to the Rajya Sabha in 1991, 1995, 2001, 2007 and 2013.

During the Bharatiya Janata Party's rule in the Rajya Sabha from 1998 to 2004, he led the opposition. In 1999, he ran for the Lok Sabha from the South Delhi Constituency but was unsuccessful.

Tenure as India's Prime Minister

The United Progressive Alliance (UPA) was founded by the Indian National Congress and its partners after the party secured the most seats in the Lok Sabha after the 2004 parliamentary elections.

To many's surprise, Sonia Gandhi selected Manmohan Singh, the UPA candidate for prime minister, because of his strong economic credentials.

According to BBC reporting, his popularity with the public and his clean political record are the main reasons he has not been elected to any Lok Sabha seats. His first term as India's prime minister began on May 22, 2004.

Policies Related to the Economy

Continuing on his path of historic accomplishments as India's prime minister, he cleared the path for liberalization, accelerated economic expansion, and greater foreign investment. During his tenure as prime minister, he encouraged the encouragement of economic growth.

Economic Growth

He collaborated with P. Chidambaram, the finance minister at the time, to accelerate the growth rate from 8 to 9%. As a result, India's GDP grew at a rate of 9% in 2007 and rose to the second quickest in the world.

Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act

The Ministry of Rural Development, led by Manmohan Singh, enacted the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act in 2005 with the goal of fostering job creation and offering every household at least 100 days of guaranteed employment.

This social security program was effective in providing rural communities with a stable income and means of subsistence.

People-Centred and Pro-Market Policies

Manmohan Singh carried on with the Highway Modernization Program and the Golden Quadrilateral's successful implementation of highway connectivity. He persisted in transforming public sector organizations as well as the financial and banking sectors.

The Finance Ministry put pro-industry policies into effect in addition to measures to alleviate farmers of debt.

Value Added Tax (VAT), a more streamlined and uniform tax structure, took the place of the Sales Tax in 2005 under Singh's administration.

The Sectors of Health and Education

Manmohan Singh introduced the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) on April 12, 2005, with the goal of giving rural Indians access to reasonably priced healthcare. Providing healthcare to 18 states with low public health indicators was the main duty allocated. The goal was to create a decentralized, community-based healthcare system that included gender equality, water, nutrition, education, and other variables.

Reservation

In 2006, there were significant demonstrations against the Manmohan Singh-led Union Government's decision to institute a 27% reservation for students from Other Backward Classes (OBCs) at AIIMS, IITs, and IIMs. On April 10, 2008, the Indian Supreme Court did, however, uphold the law.

Right to Education Act (RTE)

On July 2, 2009, the Manmohan Singh administration introduced the Right to Education Act, which requires mandatory and free schooling for children between the ages of six and fourteen. Education is now considered a fundamental right for children in India, as per Article 21 A of the Constitution.

Furthermore, eight IITs were founded in the states of Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Orissa, Punjab, and Andhra Pradesh. Following the Vajpayee Government's lead, the government carried out the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan.

It aimed to address the issue of illiteracy and ensure elementary education for every

child by reducing disparities related to gender and socioeconomic factors.

National Safety and Administration

National Investigation Agency

The Manmohan Singh administration founded the National Investigation Agency in 2008 with the passage of the National Investigation Act of 2008. It asserted the necessity for a specialized agency to combat terrorism and deal with acts related to terrorism after the attacks in Mumbai.

To improve national security, anti-terrorism legislation was reinforced, and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) was modified.

Manmohan Singh persisted in trying to stabilize the area and lessen terrorist activity in Kashmir. But by 2010, terrorism and insurgencies in Kashmir had intensified. Under the Singh administration, there was a decrease in terrorist activity in the Northeast.

India's Unique Identification Authority (UIDAI) was created under Manmohan Singh's administration to serve as the official body responsible for issuing 12-digit identity cards that are designed to be uniquely identified by biometric information. It had the dual benefits of supporting e-governance and guaranteeing national security.

His Tenure as Prime Minister for the Second Time

With the backing of the Samajwadi Party, Bahujan Samaj Party, and a few other parties, the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) won a majority of 322 seats in the 15th Lok Sabha elections.

Following Jawaharlal Nehru, Manmohan Singh was the second Indian Prime Minister to be elected to a second term following the conclusion of his first.

When he was the coal minister, he was accused of losing $1.85 trillion in a report filed by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) that said he had given coal mines to private parties without going through the proper channels. In the 2G case, he was invited to appear before the Joint Parliamentary Committee.

2014 saw Manmohan Singh step down as prime minister in the wake of the 16th Lok Sabha elections.

Controversies

• Manmohan Singh resigned as Finance Minister in 1993 following charges in a parliamentary inquiry report that he had failed to foresee a securities scam that would cost $18 billion.
• He was frequently criticized by the opposition during his tenure as prime minister for being a "weak" prime minister up to this point.
• The Independent, a British daily, attacked Dr. Singh in 2012 with the headline, "Manmohan Singh - India's rescuer or influenced by Sonia?"
• Between 2009 to 2014, when he served as India's prime minister for the second time, he was accused of a number of corruption scandals.
• The opposition demanded Dr. Singh's resignation following accusations of his failure to intervene in the 2G Spectrum Case and the Indian Coal Allocation Scam.

Properties and Assets

Dr Singh has two apartments in Chandigarh and New Delhi, valued at $7.27 crore. He owns gold jewelry weighing 150.8 grams and valued at 73.45 lakh. His Maruti 800 is a 1996 model. In New Delhi, his address is 9 Safdar Jung Lane.

Salary and Net Worth

As a member of the Rajya Sabha, Dr. Singh receives a monthly salary of 250,000 along with additional allowances. His net worth is approximately $11.6 crore as of 2013.

Favourite Things

Dr. Singh enjoys consuming Missi Roti, Vadiyaan, and Pulao & Chhole. His admiration extends to Mahatma Gandhi, and he holds a particular fondness for the poetry of Iqbal. Despite being a non-vegetarian, he leans towards preferring vegetarian food.

Awards and Accomplishments

• St John's College, Cambridge, gave Manmohan Singh an honorary membership in 1982.
• The Indian government awarded him the Padma Vibhushan five years later.
• In 1994, he received the title of Distinguished Fellow from the London School of Economics.
• 1999 saw the membership of Dr. Manmohan Singh at the National Institute of Agricultural Sciences (New Delhi).
• In 2002, the Annasaheb Chirmule Trust bestowed upon him the Annasaheb Chirmule Award. Two years later, he received the Indian Parliamentary Party's Best Parliamentarian Award.
• 2010 saw him receive the Appeal of Conscience Foundation's World Statesman Prize.

Some Interesting Facts About Dr Manmohan Singh

• Manmohan Singh does not smoke, nor does he consume alcohol.
• Manmohan Singh hails from a Sikh family and was born in the village of Gah during the British India period.
• Shortly after his birth, Dr. Singh's parents took him to Panja Sahib, a revered Sikh shrine situated fifty kilometers from Rawalpindi. Following tradition, the priest opened the holy Guru Granth Sahib, and the infant was named "Manmohan" as the first word on the page began with the letter "M."
• Raised by his paternal grandmother due to the early loss of his mother, he experienced a childhood under her care.
• Working as a clerk in a company of commission agents that brought in dry fruits from Afghanistan for distribution across India, his father, Gurmukh Singh.
• His roll number at the time of his admission was 187 in a small school in Gah, Chakwal. The educator went by Daulat Ram.
• Sources state that Singh's father hardly ever visited Gah and spent most of his time outside the town.
• Following his elementary education, Manmohan Singh was required to relocate to the Pakistani town of Chakwal, where he was accepted into the Khalsa High School for Boys. After a protracted absence, his father-who had recently remarried-showed up there. He brought Manmohan to live in Peshawar with his second family. This did not make Manmohan very happy. At the time, Manmohan Singh was eleven years old.
• Manmohan Singh's worries regarding his new family were quickly alleviated after he moved to Peshawar. Sitawanti Kaur, who was his stepmother, was incredibly kind and kind to him, and he quickly got along well with her.
• After being accepted to the Khalsa High School for Boys in Peshawar, Manmohan began participating in debating tournaments there. Despite his lack of athletic ability, he cherished playing football and hockey.
• When Mr. Singh finished first in his class's eighth-grade exam in 1945, it was the first time his academic prowess was recognized.
• He dropped civics, geography, and history the next year, in 1946, and switched to physics, chemistry, and physiology. His family lived in rented housing for a number of years before relocating to their own house in Guru Nanak Pura, Peshawar, in 1946.
• The youthful Manmohan loved to travel, and he would take a tonga, a bicycle, or foot to explore Peshawar.
• On August 14, 1945, when World War II concluded, candy was being given out at Khalsa High School for Boys. Manmohan objected to this, claiming that although the war had defeated fascism, Britain had not yet freed India from slavery.
• Politics was Manmohan Singh's forte by the time he was thirteen.
• Mr. Singh enrolled in the Hindu College in Amritsar after his family moved there from Peshawar during the Indian Partition.
• After that, he continued to Punjab University, which was then located in Hoshiarpur, to complete his undergraduate and graduate studies in economics.
• Mr. Singh excelled throughout his whole school career.
• Manmohan Singh wed Gursharan Kaur in an arranged union in 1958. Three daughters belong to the marriage. Gursharan Kaur disclosed during an interview that Singh had inquired about her graduation division initially, to which she had responded with "second division."
• Having no prior political experience, he was immediately chosen by the then-prime minister, P.V. Narasimha Rao, to serve as India's finance minister. As Finance Minister, he was instrumental in guiding the country toward a market economy following the 1991 economic crisis. At the time, India's foreign reserves were only $1 billion, meaning the country could only afford to purchase goods for two weeks. Because of this, he was able to rid India's economy of the License Raj, which was causing corruption and sluggish economic progress.
• Manmohan Singh entered active politics when P. V. Narasimha Rao appointed him to the Rajya Sabha from Assam.
• He has represented Assam in the Rajya Sabha for a record five consecutive terms, beginning in 1991.
• After serving a full five-year term, Mr. Singh became the first Indian prime minister to be re-elected after Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru. In May 2004, he also became India's first Sikh prime minister.
• Gursharan Kaur, his wife, was taken aback when Mr. Singh's name was selected for the position of Indian prime minister in 2004.
• She disclosed in an interview that Manmohan Singh didn't dress in traditional "sherwani" attire for his swearing-in ceremony; instead, he wore his everyday attire."
• Under Manmohan Singh's leadership, India's GDP expanded by 9% in 2007, making it the world's second fastest-growing economy. Mr. Singh is renowned for maintaining strong friendships, and in 2008, he received his childhood friend Raja Mohammad Ali, who had traveled from Pakistan to see Manmohan Singh.
• The Mumbai Terror Attacks in 2008 made it clear that a central agency was needed to fight terrorism. In 2005, the Manmohan Singh Government replaced sales tax with the Value Added Tax (VAT). The National Investigation Agency (NIA) was established by Manmohan Singh's administration in 2009.
• In 2010, Forbes listed him as the eighteenth most powerful person in the world. He was hailed as "India's Prime Minister since Nehru," according to a magazine as well.
• Since the beginning of his second tenure as India's prime minister in 2009, a number of corruption allegations have damaged his reputation. His resignation was urged by the opposition due to his alleged lack of decisiveness in the 2G Spectrum and Indian Coal Allocation scams.
• Panjab University, Chandigarh, appointed Singh to the Jawaharlal Nehru Chair in 2016.
• In January 2009, Mr. Singh had his most recent cardiac bypass surgery. He has had several major health difficulties.
• A movie called "The Accidental Prime Minister" starring Anupam Kher as Manmohan Singh was released in 2019. It was purportedly based on the life of Manmohan Singh. The same-titled book published by Sanjaya Baru served as the basis for the movie. The official trailer for the film was released shortly after it garnered controversy.

Conclusion

Dr. Manmohan Singh, India's fourteenth Prime Minister, forged a path marked by academic excellence, economic expertise, and political leadership. Born in Gah, Punjab, in 1932, Singh's journey from an economist to a politician reflects a steadfast dedication to India's advancement.

His career, spanning roles at UNCTAD, academic accomplishments, and influential positions in economic reforms, made substantial contributions to India's progress.

Despite encountering controversies and critiques, Singh's legacy is defined by transformative economic measures, contributions to national security, and acknowledgment through various awards and accolades. His impact on India's development, while subject to diverse perspectives, stands as a significant chapter in the nation's history.