Photo: thewire.in/politics/
“Mana Ki Teri Deed Ke Kabil Nahin Hun Mein…. Tu Mera Shouk Dekh… Mera Intizar Dekh.” When Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh replied to opposition MP Mrs Sushma Swaraj, in a poetic way, quoting from Allama Iqbal’s poetry. Those were the days when MPs had such high standards and grace. An overview of Dr Manmohan Singh’s life.
- Date of Birth: Born on September 26, 1932, in Gah, Punjab (now in Pakistan).
- Parents: Son of Gurmukh Singh and Amrit Kaur, who were from modest backgrounds.
- Spouse: Married to Mrs Gursharan Kaur in 1958.
- Schooling: Completed his early education in local schools in Punjab.
- Partition: After partition, initially family move to Haldwani. Later re-located to Amritsar.
- Higher Education:
- Graduated in Economics from Hindu Sabha College affiliated to Panjab University in 1952.
- Earned a Bachelor’s degree – Economics Tripos (Honors) from the University of Cambridge in 1957. He was a member of St John’s College.
- Completed his DPhil in Economics from the University of Oxford in 1962. He was a member of Nuffield college.
- Teaching Career:
- Lecturer in Punjab University from 1957 to 1960.
- Reader of Economics at Punjab University from 1962 to 1963.
- Promoted as a professor of Economics at Punjab University. Served from1963 to 1965.
- Joined Delhi University as a reader in Economics, later promoted to professor in 1969.
- Contributed significantly to economic theory and policy through his teaching and research.
Photo: rediff.com/news/special/address. Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh addressing US Congress.
- Career Highlights:
- Served as a key adviser for the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) from 1966 to 1969.
- Professor of International Trade at the Delhi School of Economics, University of Delhi from 1969 to 1971.
- Joined the Planning Commission of India in 1972, focusing on economic planning.
- Served as the Governor of the Reserve Bank of India from 1982 to 1985.
- Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission from 1985 to 1987.
- Secretary General of South Commission, an independent economic policy think tank headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland from 1987 to 1990.
- Advisor to Mr Chandra Shekhar, Prime Minister of India on economic affairs in 1990.
- Chairman of Universities Grant Commission from March to June in 1991.
- Appointed as the Finance Minister in 1991, implementing major economic reforms.
- Served as the 14th Prime Minister of India from 2004 to 2014.
- Known Father of Modern Economic Era in India for his role in liberalizing the Indian economy and fostering economic growth.
- Globally acclaimed for his economic policies and leadership.
- Awarded Padma Vibhushan in 1987. Conferred Fellowship and Doctrate by several National and International Universities of fame.
- Legacy: Known for modesty, honesty, and simplicity. Noted for his calm demeanor and technocratic approach to governance, he was one of the most respected figure in Indian and global economic circles.
