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Dr Manmohan Singh: Biography in short

 

Manmohan Singh: Biography in short 

Early Life and Education

  • Birth: September 26, 1932, in Gah, Punjab (now in Pakistan).
  • Parents: Gurmukh Singh and Amrit Kaur. His father was a trader.
  • Partition Impact: After the partition of India in 1947, his family migrated to Amritsar, India.
  • Education:
    • Completed his matriculation from Hindu College, Amritsar, in 1948.
    • Bachelor’s degree in Economics from Government College, Punjab University, in 1952.
    • Master’s degree in Economics from Punjab University in 1954.
    • Awarded the prestigious Wrangler title after graduating with First Class Honors in Economics from St. John’s College, University of Cambridge, in 1957.
    • Doctorate in Economics from Nuffield College, University of Oxford, in 1962. His thesis was titled "India’s Export Trends and Prospects for Self-Sustained Growth."

Professional Career

  • Academic Career:

    • Taught economics at Punjab University and the Delhi School of Economics in the 1950s and 1960s.
    • Authored notable research papers on India’s economy.

  • Civil Service:

    • 1966-1969: Worked as an economic advisor for the Ministry of Foreign Trade.
    • 1972-1976: Chief Economic Advisor to the Government of India.
    • 1976-1980: Secretary, Ministry of Finance.
    • 1982-1985: Governor of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).
    • 1985-1987: Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission.

Political Career

  • Entry into Politics:
    Manmohan Singh transitioned to politics in the early 1990s at the invitation of Prime Minister P.V. Narasimha Rao.

  • Finance Minister of India (1991–1996):

    • Appointed as Finance Minister during one of India’s worst economic crises.
    • Introduced groundbreaking economic reforms, liberalizing the Indian economy.
    • Key reforms included reducing trade barriers, ending the License Raj, encouraging foreign investment, and devaluing the rupee to boost exports.
    • Known as the "Architect of Economic Reforms in India."

  • Leader of the Opposition (1998–2004):

    • Served as the Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha during the NDA government.

  • Prime Minister of India (2004–2014):

    • First non-Hindu and the first Sikh to serve as Prime Minister of India.
    • Held office for two consecutive terms (2004–2009, 2009–2014).

Key Achievements as Prime Minister

  1. Economic Growth:

    • Maintained India’s GDP growth at over 8% during most of his tenure.
    • Strengthened India’s global trade and infrastructure development.

  2. Nuclear Deal with the USA:

    • Finalized the historic India-US Civil Nuclear Agreement in 2008, paving the way for civilian nuclear energy cooperation.

  3. Social Welfare Programs:

    • Launched the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA).
    • Expanded the Right to Information (RTI) Act.
    • Implemented the National Food Security Act.

  4. Foreign Policy:

    • Enhanced India’s strategic partnerships with the US, Russia, and other major powers.
    • Played a key role in forming BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa).

  5. Healthcare and Education:

    • Introduced schemes like the National Rural Health Mission and Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan.

Challenges and Criticism

  • Corruption Scandals:
    His tenure was marred by high-profile scams like the 2G spectrum case, Commonwealth Games scam, and Coalgate.
  • Leadership Style:
    Criticized for being silent and overly dependent on the Congress Party leadership, particularly Sonia Gandhi.

Awards and Recognition

  • Padma Vibhushan: India’s second-highest civilian award in 1987.
  • Honorary Degrees: Received numerous honorary doctorates from prestigious universities worldwide.
  • Accolades: Recognized globally for his economic and political contributions.

Personal Life

  • Family:

    • Married Gursharan Kaur in 1958.
    • They have three daughters: Upinder Singh (historian), Daman Singh (writer), and Amrit Singh (lawyer).

  • Lifestyle:
    Known for his simplicity, integrity, and scholarly demeanor.


Death

Former Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh passed away on December 26, 2024, at the age of 92.He was admitted to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in New Delhi after collapsing at his residence due to a sudden loss of consciousness. Despite medical efforts, he could not be revived.


Legacy

Manmohan Singh’s legacy is deeply tied to his role in liberalizing India’s economy and his quiet but effective diplomacy. Despite facing criticism during his second term, his contributions as an economist and statesman continue to shape India’s trajectory.

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