Jump to content

英文维基 | 中文维基 | 日文维基 | 草榴社区

Manmohan Singh

Page semi-protected
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Manmohan Singh
A portrait photograph of a bespectacled Indian man with a dark grey beard, a blue turban, and a white button-down shirt standing before a natural backdrop of trees. A pen is in his pocket.
Official portrait, 2004
Prime Minister of India
In office
22 May 2004 – 26 May 2014
President
Vice President
Preceded byAtal Bihari Vajpayee
Succeeded byNarendra Modi
Additional ministries
In office
22 May 2004 – 26 May 2014
Ministry and Departments
Preceded by
Succeeded byNarendra Modi
10th Leader of the Opposition in Rajya Sabha
In office
21 March 1998 – 21 May 2004
Prime MinisterAtal Bihari Vajpayee
Chairman
Preceded bySikander Bakht
Succeeded byJaswant Singh
22nd Union Minister of Finance
In office
21 June 1991 – 16 May 1996
Prime MinisterP. V. Narasimha Rao
Preceded byYashwant Sinha
Succeeded byJaswant Singh
Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha
In office
19 August 2019 – 3 April 2024
Preceded byMadan Lal Saini
Succeeded bySonia Gandhi
ConstituencyRajasthan
In office
1 October 1991 – 14 June 2019
Preceded byAmritlal Basumatary
Succeeded byKamakhya Prasad Tasa
ConstituencyAssam
15th Governor of the Reserve Bank of India
In office
16 September 1982 – 14 January 1985
Preceded byI. G. Patel
Succeeded byAmitav Ghosh
Personal details
Born (1932-09-26) 26 September 1932 (age 92)
Political partyIndian National Congress
Spouse
(m. 1958)
Children3, including Upinder Singh and Daman Singh
Residence(s)3, Motilal Nehru Marg, New Delhi, Delhi, India[1]
Alma mater
Profession
AwardsList of awards and honours
SignatureManmohan Singh

Manmohan Singh (Punjabi: [mənˈmoːɦən ˈsɪ́ŋɡ] ; born 26 September 1932) is an Indian politician, economist, academician, and bureaucrat who served as the prime minister of India from 2004 to 2014. He is the fourth longest-serving prime minister after Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi and Narendra Modi. A member of the Indian National Congress, Singh was the first Sikh prime minister of India. He was also the first prime minister since Jawaharlal Nehru to be re-elected after completing a full five-year term.[2][3][4]

Born in Gah, West Punjab, in what is today Pakistan, Singh's family migrated to India during its partition in 1947. After obtaining his doctorate in economics from Oxford, Singh worked for the United Nations during 1966–1969. He subsequently began his bureaucratic career when Lalit Narayan Mishra hired him as an advisor in the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. During the 1970s and 1980s, Singh held several key posts in the Government of India, such as Chief Economic Advisor (1972–1976), governor of the Reserve Bank (1982–1985) and head of the Planning Commission (1985–1987).

In 1991, as India faced a severe economic crisis, the newly elected prime minister, P. V. Narasimha Rao, inducted the apolitical Singh into his cabinet as finance minister. Over the next few years, despite strong opposition, he carried out several structural reforms that liberalised India's economy. Although these measures proved successful in averting the crisis, and enhanced Singh's reputation globally as a leading reform-minded economist, the incumbent Congress Party fared poorly in the 1996 general election. Subsequently, Singh was leader of the opposition in the Rajya Sabha (the upper house of the Parliament of India) during the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government of 1998–2004.

In 2004, when the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance came to power, its chairperson Sonia Gandhi unexpectedly relinquished the prime ministership to Singh. His first ministry executed several key legislations and projects, including the National Rural Health Mission, Unique Identification Authority, Rural Employment Guarantee scheme and Right to Information Act. In 2008, opposition to a historic civil nuclear agreement with the United States nearly caused Singh's government to fall after Left Front parties withdrew their support. India's economy grew rapidly during his term.

The 2009 general election saw the UPA return with an increased mandate, with Singh retaining the office of prime minister. Over the next few years, Singh's second ministry government faced a number of corruption charges over the organisation of the 2010 Commonwealth Games, the 2G spectrum allocation case and the allocation of coal blocks. After his term ended, he opted out from the race for the office of prime minister during the 2014 Indian general election.[5] Singh was never a member of the Lok Sabha but served as a member of the Rajya Sabha, representing the state of Assam from 1991 to 2019 and Rajasthan from 2019 to 2024.[6][7]

Early life and education

Singh was born to Gurmukh Singh and Amrit Kaur on 26 September 1932, in Gah, Punjab, British India (now in Punjab, Pakistan), into a Sikh family.[8] His mother died when he was very young.[9][10] His paternal grandmother raised him, and he was very close to her.[10] His early schooling was in the Urdu medium, and even as prime minister years later, he wrote his apparently Hindi speeches in the Urdu script, although sometimes he would also use Gurmukhi, a script used to write Punjabi, his mother tongue.

After the Partition of India, his family migrated to Haldwani, India.[9] In 1948 they relocated to Amritsar, where he studied at Hindu College, Amritsar.[9][11] He attended Panjab University, then in Hoshiarpur,[12][13][14] Punjab, studying Economics and got his bachelor's and master's degrees in 1952 and 1954, respectively, standing first throughout his academic career. He completed his Economics Tripos at University of Cambridge in 1957. He was a member of St John's College.[15]

In a 2005 interview with the British journalist Mark Tully, Singh said about his Cambridge days:

I first became conscious of the creative role of politics in shaping human affairs, and I owe that mostly to my teachers Joan Robinson and Nicholas Kaldor. Joan Robinson was a brilliant teacher, but she also sought to awaken the inner conscience of her students in a manner that very few others were able to achieve. She questioned me a great deal and made me think the unthinkable. She propounded the left wing interpretation of Keynes, maintaining that the state has to play more of a role if you really want to combine development with social equity. Kaldor influenced me even more; I found him pragmatic, scintillating, stimulating. Joan Robinson was a great admirer of what was going on in China, but Kaldor used the Keynesian analysis to demonstrate that capitalism could be made to work.[16]

Prime Minister Singh and his wife Gursharan Kaur in 2010

After Cambridge, Singh returned to India and served as a teacher at Panjab University.[17] In 1960, he went to the University of Oxford for his DPhil, where he was a member of Nuffield College. His 1962 doctoral thesis under the supervision of I.M.D. Little was titled "India's export performance, 1951–1960, export prospects and policy implications", and was later the basis for his book "India's Export Trends and Prospects for Self-Sustained Growth".[18]

Early career

After completing his D.Phil., Singh returned to India. He was a senior lecturer of economics at Panjab University from 1957 to 1959. During 1959 and 1963, he served as a reader in economics at Panjab University, and from 1963 to 1965, he was an economics professor there.[19] Then he went to work for the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) from 1966 to 1969.[15] Later, he was appointed as an advisor to the Ministry of Foreign Trade by Lalit Narayan Mishra, in recognition of Singh's talent as an economist.[20]

From 1969 to 1971, Singh was a professor of international trade at the Delhi School of Economics, University of Delhi.[15][21]

In 1972, Singh was chief economic adviser in the Ministry of Finance, and in 1976 he was secretary in the Finance Ministry.[15] In 1980–1982 he was at the Planning Commission, and in 1982, he was appointed governor of the Reserve Bank of India under then finance minister Pranab Mukherjee and held the post until 1985.[15] He went on to become the deputy chairman of the Planning Commission (India) from 1985 to 1987.[8] Following his tenure at the Planning Commission, he was secretary general of the South Commission, an independent economic policy think tank headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland from 1987 to November 1990.[22]

Singh returned to India from Geneva in November 1990 and held the post as the advisor to Prime Minister of India on economic affairs during the tenure of Chandra Shekar.[15] In March 1991, he became chairman of the University Grants Commission.[15]

Political career

In June 1991, India's prime minister at the time, P. V. Narasimha Rao, chose Singh to be his finance minister. Singh told Mark Tully a British journalist in 2005:

"On the day (Rao) was formulating his cabinet, he sent his Principal Secretary to me saying, 'The PM would like you to become the Minister of Finance'. I didn't take it seriously. He eventually tracked me down the next morning, rather angry, and demanded that I get dressed up and come to Rashtrapati Bhavan for the swearing in. So that's how I started in politics".[17]

Minister of Finance

In 1991, India's fiscal deficit was close to 8.5 per cent of the gross domestic product, the balance of payments deficit was huge and the current account deficit was close to 3.5 per cent of India's GDP.[23] India's foreign reserves barely amounted to US$1 billion, enough to pay for 2 weeks of imports,[24] in comparison to US$600 billion in 2009.[25]

Evidently, India was facing an economic crisis. At this point, the government of India sought funds from the supranational International Monetary Fund, which, while assisting India financially, imposed several conditions regarding India's economic policy. In effect, IMF-dictated policy meant that the ubiquitous Licence Raj had to be dismantled, and India's attempt at a state-controlled economy had to end.

Singh explained to the PM and the party that India is facing an unprecedented crisis.[24] However the rank and file of the party resisted deregulation.[24] So P. Chidambaram and Singh explained to the party that the economy would collapse if it was not deregulated.[24] To the dismay of the party, Rao allowed Singh to deregulate the Indian economy.[24]

Subsequently, Singh, who had thus far been one of the most influential architects of India's socialist economy, eliminated the permit raj,[24] reduced state control of the economy, and reduced import taxes[23][26] Rao and Singh thus implemented policies to open up the economy and change India's socialist economy to a more capitalistic one, in the process dismantling the License Raj, a system that inhibited the prosperity of private businesses. They removed many obstacles standing in the way of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and initiated the process of the privatisation of public sector companies. However, in spite of these reforms, Rao's government was voted out in 1996 due to non-performance of government in other areas. In praise of Singh's work that pushed India towards a market economy, long-time Cabinet minister P. Chidambaram has compared Singh's role in India's reforms to Deng Xiaoping's in China.[27]

In 1993, Singh offered his resignation from the post of Finance Minister after a parliamentary investigation report criticised his ministry for not being able to anticipate a US$1.8 billion 1992 securities scandal. Prime Minister Rao refused Singh's resignation, instead promising to punish the individuals directly accused in the report.[28]

Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha

Singh was first elected to the upper house of Parliament, the Rajya Sabha, in 1991[29] by the legislature of the state of Assam, and was re-elected in 1995, 2001, 2007[8] and 2013.[30] From 1998 to 2004, while the Bharatiya Janata Party was in power, Singh was the Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha. In 1999, he contested for the Lok Sabha from South Delhi but was unable to win the seat.[31]

Prime minister

First term: 2004–2009

11th President of India A. P. J. Abdul Kalam authorising the Prime Minister designate Manmohan Singh to form the next Government in New Delhi on 19 May 2004

After the 2004 general elections, the Indian National Congress ended the incumbent National Democratic Alliance (NDA) tenure by becoming the political party with the single largest number of seats in the Lok Sabha. It formed United Progressive Alliance (UPA) with allies and staked claim to form government. In a surprise move, Chairperson Sonia Gandhi declared Manmohan Singh, a technocrat, as the UPA candidate for the prime ministership. Despite the fact that Singh had never won a direct popular election, according to the BBC, he "enjoyed massive popular support, not least because he was seen by many as a clean politician untouched by the taint of corruption that has run through many Indian administrations."[32] He took the oath as the Prime Minister of India on 22 May 2004.[33][34]

Economic policy

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh releases the postage stamp along with Vijay in New Delhi in 2006.

In 1991, Singh, as Finance Minister, abolished the Licence Raj, source of slow economic growth and corruption in the Indian economy for decades. He liberalised the Indian economy, allowing it to speed up development dramatically. During his term as prime minister, Singh continued to encourage growth in the Indian market, enjoying widespread success in these matters. Singh, along with his finance minister, P. Chidambaram, presided over a period where the Indian economy grew with an 8–9% economic growth rate. In 2007, India achieved its highest GDP growth rate of 9% and became the second fastest growing major economy in the world.[35][36] Singh's ministry enacted a National Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) in 2005.

Singh's government continued the Golden Quadrilateral and the highway modernisation program that was initiated by Vajpayee's government.[37] Singh also worked on reforming the banking and financial sectors, as well as public sector companies.[38] The Finance ministry worked towards relieving farmers of their debt and worked towards pro-industry policies.[39] In 2005, Singh's government introduced the value added tax, replacing sales tax. In 2007 and early 2008, the global problem of inflation impacted India.[40]

Healthcare and education

In 2005, Prime Minister Singh and his government's health ministry started the National Rural Health Mission (NHRM), which mobilised half a million community health workers. This rural health initiative was praised by the American economist Jeffrey Sachs.[41] In 2006, his Government implemented the proposal to reserve 27% of seats in All India Institute of Medical Studies (AIIMS), Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) and other central institutions of higher education for Other Backward Classes which led to 2006 Indian anti-reservation protests.

On 2 July 2009, Singh ministry introduced the Right to Education Act (RTE) act. Eight IIT's were opened in the states of Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Gujarat, Orissa, Punjab, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Himachal Pradesh.[42] The Singh government also continued the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan program. The program includes the introduction and improvement of mid-day meals and the opening of schools all over India, especially in rural areas, to fight illiteracy.[43]

Security and Home Affairs

Singh's government strengthened anti-terror laws with amendments to Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). National Investigation Agency (NIA) was also created soon after the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, as need for a central agency to combat terrorism was realised. Also, Unique Identification Authority of India was established in February 2009, an agency responsible for implementing the envisioned Multipurpose National Identity Card with the objective of increasing national security and facilitating e-governance.

Singh's administration initiated a massive reconstruction effort in Kashmir to stabilise the region but after some period of success, insurgent infiltration and terrorism in Kashmir has increased since 2009.[44] The Singh administration was, however, successful in reducing terrorism in Northeast India.[44]

Notable legislation

The important National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA) and the Right to Information Act were passed by the Parliament in 2005 during his tenure. While the effectiveness of the NREGA has been successful at various degrees, in various regions, the RTI act has proved crucial in India's fight against corruption.[45] New cash benefits were also introduced for widows, pregnant women, and landless persons.[46][47]

The Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013 was passed on 29 August 2013 in the Lok Sabha (lower house of the Indian parliament) and on 4 September 2013 in Rajya Sabha (upper house of the Indian parliament). The bill received the assent of the President of India, Pranab Mukherjee on 27 September 2013.[48] The Act came into force from 1 January 2014.[49][50][51]

Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act was enacted on 4 August 2009, which describes the modalities of the importance of free and compulsory education for children between 6 and 14 in India under Article 21A of the Indian Constitution.[52] India became one of 135 countries to make education a fundamental right of every child when the act came into force on 1 April 2010.[53][54][55]

Foreign policy

Manmohan Singh with American President Barack Obama at the White House
The Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh with the American President, Mr. George W. Bush interacting with media at oval office, in Washington DC
Manmohan Singh with American President Barack Obama and George W. Bush at the White House

Manmohan Singh continued the pragmatic foreign policy that was started by P.V. Narasimha Rao and continued by Bharatiya Janata Party's Atal Bihari Vajpayee. Singh continued the peace process with Pakistan initiated by his predecessor, Atal Bihari Vajpayee. Exchange of high-level visits by top leaders from both countries have highlighted his tenure. Efforts have been made during Singh's tenure to end the border dispute with People's Republic of China. In November 2006, Chinese President Hu Jintao visited India which was followed by Singh's visit to Beijing in January 2008. A major development in Sino-Indian relations was the reopening of the Nathula Pass in 2006 after being closed for more than four decades.[56] Premier of the State Council of the People's Republic of China, Li Keqiang paid a state visit to India (Delhi-Mumbai) from 19 to 21 May 2013.[56] Singh paid an official visit to China from 22 to 24 October 2013.[56] Three agreements were signed establishing sister-city partnership between Delhi-Beijing, Kolkata-Kunming and Bangalore-Chengdu. As of 2010, the People's Republic of China was the second biggest trade partner of India.[57]

Relations with Afghanistan have improved considerably, with India now becoming the largest regional donor to Afghanistan.[58] During Afghan President Hamid Karzai's visit to New Delhi in August 2008, Manmohan Singh increased the aid package to Afghanistan for the development of more schools, health clinics, infrastructure, and defence.[59] Under the leadership of Singh, India emerged as one of the single largest aid donors to Afghanistan.[59]

The_Prime_Minister,_Dr._Manmohan_Singh_meeting_the_President_of_Egypt,_Mr._Hosni_Mubarak_on_the_sideline_of_the_15th_NAM_Summit,_at_Sharm_El_Sheikh,_Egypt,_on_July_16,_2009
Singh with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak on the sideline of the 15th NAM Summit, at Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt, July 2009
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh with Dmitry Medvedev, Hu Jintao, Dilma Rousseff and Jacob Zuma at the 2011 BRICS summit in Sanya, China

Singh's government worked towards stronger ties with the United States. He visited the United States in July 2005 initiating negotiations over the Indo-US civilian nuclear agreement. This was followed by George W. Bush's successful visit to India in March 2006, during which the declaration over the nuclear agreement was made, giving India access to American nuclear fuel and technology while India will have to allow IAEA inspection of its civil nuclear reactors. After more than two years for more negotiations, followed by approval from the IAEA, Nuclear Suppliers Group and the US Congress, India and the US signed the agreement on 10 October 2008 with Pranab Mukherjee representing India.[60] Singh had the first official state visit to the White House during the administration of US President Barack Obama. The visit took place in November 2009, and several discussions took place, including on trade and nuclear power.[61]

Relations have improved with Japan and European Union countries, like the United Kingdom, France, and Germany. Relations with Iran have continued and negotiations over the Iran-Pakistan-India gas pipeline have taken place. New Delhi hosted an India–Africa Summit in April 2006 which was attended by the leaders of 15 African states.[62] Relations have improved with other developing countries, particularly Brazil and South Africa. Singh carried forward the momentum which was established after the "Brasilia Declaration" in 2003 and the IBSA Dialogue Forum was formed.[63]

Singh's government has also been especially keen on expanding ties with Israel. Since 2003, the two countries have made significant investments in each other[64] and Israel now rivals Russia to become India's largest defence partner.[65] Though there have been a few diplomatic glitches between India and Russia, especially over the delay and price hike of several Russian weapons to be delivered to India,[66] relations between the two remained strong with India and Russia signing various agreements to increase defence, nuclear energy and space co-operation.[67]

Second term: 2009–2014

India held general elections to the 15th Lok Sabha in five phases between 16 April 2009 and 13 May 2009. The results of the election were announced on 16 May 2009.[68] Strong showing in Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, West Bengal and Uttar Pradesh helped the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) form the new government under the incumbent Singh, who became the first prime minister since Jawaharlal Nehru in 1962 to win re-election after completing a full five-year term.[69] The Congress and its allies were able to put together a comfortable majority with support from 322 members out of 543 members of the House. These included those of the UPA and the external support from the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), Samajwadi Party (SP), Janata Dal (Secular) (JD(S)), Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and other minor parties.[70]

On 22 May 2009, Manmohan Singh was sworn in as the prime minister during a ceremony held at Rashtrapati Bhavan.[71][72] The 2009 Indian general election was the then largest democratic election in the world held prior to 2014 (834 million), 2019 (912 million) and 2024 (968 million), with an eligible electorate of 714 million.

The 2012 report filed by the CAG in Parliament of India states that due to the allocation of coal blocks to certain private companies without bidding process the nation suffered an estimated loss of Rs 1.85 trillion (short scale) between 2005 and 2009 in which Manmohan Singh was the coal minister of India.[73][74]

Manmohan Singh declined to appear before a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) in April 2013 when called upon by one of the members of JPC Yashwant Sinha for his alleged involvement in the 2G case.[75]

Post-premiership (2014–present)

Singh's premiership officially ended at noon on 17 May 2014. He did not contest the 2014 general election for the 16th Lok Sabha as the prime ministerial candidate. He resigned his post as prime minister after the Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance won the election. He served as the acting prime minister till 26 May 2014, when Narendra Modi was sworn in as the new prime minister.[76][77] Singh, along with Congress president Sonia Gandhi, former Presidents A. P. J. Abdul Kalam and Pratibha Patil, and Vice-President Hamid Ansari attended Modi's swearing-in ceremony. Later, Singh shifted to 3 Motilal Nehru Road, New Delhi.

In 2016, it was announced that Singh was to take up a position at Panjab University as the Jawaharlal Nehru Chair, which he eventually did not.[78] Singh retired from the Rajya Sabha in April 2024 and was succeeded by Sonia Gandhi.[79]

Public image

Manmohan Singh and Muhammad Yunus meet in India
Singh meeting with Nobel Peace Prize winner Muhammad Yunus

The Independent described Singh as "one of the world's most revered leaders" and "a man of uncommon decency and grace", noting that he drives a Maruti 800, one of the humblest cars in the Indian market. Khushwant Singh lauded Singh as the best prime minister India has had, even rating him higher than Jawaharlal Nehru. He mentions an incident in his book Absolute Khushwant: The Low-Down on Life, Death and Most things In-between where after losing the 1999 Lok Sabha elections, Singh immediately returned the 2 lakh (US$2,400) he had borrowed from the writer for hiring taxis. Terming him as the best example of integrity, Khushwant Singh stated, "When people talk of integrity, I say the best example is the man who occupies the country's highest office."[80]

In 2010, Newsweek magazine recognised him as a world leader who is respected by other heads of state, describing him as "the leader other leaders love." The article quoted Mohamed ElBaradei, who remarked that Singh is "the model of what a political leader should be."[81] Singh also received the World Statesman Award in 2010. Henry Kissinger described Singh as "a statesman with vision, persistence and integrity", and praised him for his "leadership, which has been instrumental in the economic transformation underway in India."[82]

Singh was ranked 18 on the 2010 Forbes list of the World's Most Powerful People.[83] Forbes magazine described Singh as being "universally praised as India's best prime minister since Nehru".[84] Australian journalist Greg Sheridan praised Singh "as one of the greatest statesmen in Asian history."[85] Singh was later ranked 19 and 28 in 2012 and 2013 in the Forbes list.[86][87][88] Time (magazine) described Singh as "guiding India into the ranks of the great powers".[89]

Postal stamp to honour Manmohan Singh
Stamp launched in Uzbekistan in honour of Manmohan Singh in 2006

Conversely, Time magazine's Asia edition for 10–17 July 2012, on its cover remarked that Singh was an "underachiever".[90] It stated that Singh appears "unwilling to stick his neck out" on reforms that will put the country back onto a growth path. Congress spokesperson Manish Tewari rebutted the charges. UPA ally Lalu Prasad Yadav took issue with the magazine's statements. Praising the government, Prasad said UPA projects [were] doing well and asked, "What will America say as their own economy is shattered?".[91] Additionally, Singh faced negative reception following the 2008 Mumbai attacks for falling short on enhancing national security. [92]

Political opponents, including BJP co-founder L. K. Advani, have claimed that Singh is a "weak" prime minister. Advani declared "He is weak. What do I call a person who can't take his decisions until 10 Janpath gives instruction."[93][94][95] In 2013, BJP leader Narendra Modi had termed Singh as "night watchman" and a "puppet of the Gandhi family".[96]

After he left the office, political opponents have praised Singh. Arvind Kejriwal in 2018 said the people are "missing an educated PM like Dr Manmohan Singh".[97] In 2022, Union Transport Minister of Modi Government, Nitin Gadkari said the "country is indebted to Manmohan Singh for the liberalisation that gave a new direction".[98] On 8 February 2024, Narendra Modi, praised Manmohan Singh stating,

Ideological differences are short lived, but the way Manmohan Singh has guided this House and the country for such a long period, he will be remembered for his contributions during every discussion on our democracy.

Modi also recalled when Mr Singh arrived at the Parliament in a wheelchair to cast his vote over a key legislation.[99]

Family and personal life

Singh married Gursharan Kaur in 1958. They have three daughters, Upinder Singh, Daman Singh and Amrit Singh.[100] Upinder Singh is a professor of history at Ashoka University.[101] She has written six books, including Ancient Delhi (1999) and A History of Ancient and Early Medieval India (2008). Daman Singh is a graduate of St. Stephen's College, Delhi and Institute of Rural Management, Anand, Gujarat, and author of The Last Frontier: People and Forests in Mizoram and a novel Nine by Nine,[102] Amrit Singh is a staff attorney at the American Civil Liberties Union.[103] Singh's son-in-law, Ashok Pattnaik a 1983 batch Indian Police Service officer, was appointed CEO of National Intelligence Grid (NATGRID) in 2016.[104] Manmohan Singh was attacked during the 1984 Anti-Sikh riots and provided financial assistance to the Citizens' Relief Committee, and had controversially apologised on behalf of the Indian National Congress for the bloodshed during the riots.[105][106]

Singh has undergone multiple cardiac bypass surgeries, the most recent of which took place in January 2009.[107]

Degrees and posts held

A Bollywood film was made in 2019 based on Singh's life, titled The Accidental Prime Minister directed by Vijay Gutte and written by Mayank Tewari with Anupam Kher in the titular role.[109] The film was based on the 2014 memoir of the same name by Sanjaya Baru .[110][111]

Pradhanmantri (lit.'Prime Minister'), a 2013 Indian documentary television series which aired on ABP News and covers the various policies and political tenures of Indian PMs, includes the tenure ship of Manmohan Singh in the episodes "Story of Sonia Gandhi and UPA-I Government", and "Scams in UPA government and anti-corruption movement".[112]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Former PM Manmohan Singh moves to 3, Motilal Nehru Marg". 27 May 2014. Archived from the original on 6 July 2018. Retrieved 21 May 2018.
  2. ^ Banerjee, Deepto (29 February 2024). "These 10 Indian politicians have the highest educational qualifications". the Times of India. Archived from the original on 24 April 2024. Retrieved 24 April 2024.
  3. ^ "Here are some of India's most and least educated politicians". Yahoo News. 10 May 2016. Archived from the original on 18 May 2016. Retrieved 24 April 2024.
  4. ^ "India needs more leaders like Manmohan Singh to propel growth momentum". Business Standard. Archived from the original on 24 April 2024. Retrieved 24 April 2024.
  5. ^ "India's Manmohan Singh to step down as PM". The Guardian. 3 January 2014. Archived from the original on 11 June 2024. Retrieved 20 April 2015.
  6. ^ "Congress to move Manmohan Singh from Assam". The Hindu. 15 May 2019. ISSN 0971-751X. Archived from the original on 27 March 2023. Retrieved 5 March 2023.
  7. ^ "Sonia Gandhi secures Rajya Sabha seat from Rajasthan unopposed". Mint. 20 February 2024. Archived from the original on 29 February 2024. Retrieved 1 March 2024.
  8. ^ a b c d "Detailed Profile: Dr. Manmohan Singh". Archived from the original on 7 December 2011. Retrieved 18 December 2011.
  9. ^ a b c M.R. Narayan Swamy, M.R. Narayan (2 July 2022). "Rajeev Shukla Does an Autopsy on What Politics Can Do When Injected With Religion". The Wire. Archived from the original on 7 June 2024. Retrieved 7 June 2024.
  10. ^ a b "PM Manmohan Singh celebrates 77th birthday on board Aircraft". The Economic Times. 26 September 2009. ISSN 0013-0389. Archived from the original on 7 June 2024. Retrieved 7 June 2024.
  11. ^ "Manmohan Singh Visits Alma Mater In Amritsar, Remembers College Days". NDTV. PTI. 25 March 2018. Archived from the original on 7 June 2024. Retrieved 7 June 2024.
  12. ^ "Government College, Hoshiarpur | Colleges in Hoshiarpur Punjab". Punjabcolleges.com. Archived from the original on 22 December 2021. Retrieved 26 September 2011.
  13. ^ "Three sardars and their Hoshiarpur connection". Portal.bsnl.in. 23 March 1932. Archived from the original on 28 November 2011. Retrieved 26 September 2011.
  14. ^ "Hoshiarpur". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 12 July 2012.
  15. ^ a b c d e f g "Curriculum Vitae of Prime Minister of India". CSIR. Archived from the original on 24 January 2012. Retrieved 13 June 2013.
  16. ^ "Manmohan Singh – PIB". Press Information Bureau. Archived from the original on 24 September 2019. Retrieved 24 September 2019.
  17. ^ a b Mark Tully. "Architect of the New India". Cambridge Alumni Magazine. Michaelmas 2005. Retrieved on 28 February 2013. Archived 1 July 2013 at the Wayback Machine
  18. ^ "Curriculum Vitae" (PDF). Prime Minister's Office. Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 February 2007. Retrieved 11 December 2008.
  19. ^ Bhushan, K.; Katyal, G. (2004). Manmohan Singh: Visionary to Certainty. APH Publishing Corporation. p. 2. ISBN 978-8176486941. Archived from the original on 11 June 2024. Retrieved 25 November 2019.
  20. ^ "Manmohan Singh". India Today. Living Media India Limited. Archived from the original on 13 July 2020. Retrieved 13 July 2020.
  21. ^ "Detailed Profile: Dr. Manmohan Singh". india.gov.in. Archived from the original on 23 September 2015. Retrieved 23 July 2015.
  22. ^ "India – Head of Government". Archived from the original on 1 December 2008.
  23. ^ a b "Manmohan Singh: Father of Indian Reform". Rediff.com. 26 September 2005. Archived from the original on 9 April 2010. Retrieved 3 January 2010.
  24. ^ a b c d e f "Commanding Heights : Episode 2 | on PBS". Pbs.org. Archived from the original on 22 October 2015. Retrieved 3 November 2015.
  25. ^ Mahalakshmi Hariharan (2 January 2010). "Forex reserves swell 11% in 2009". Yahoo Finance India. Archived from the original on 3 January 2010. Retrieved 3 January 2010.
  26. ^ Friedman, Thomas L. (2008). The World is Flat – A brief history of the twenty-first century. Picador. p. 130. ISBN 978-0-374-29288-1.
  27. ^ "Manmohan is Deng Xiaoping of India: P Chidambaram – Oneindia News". News.oneindia.in. 2 May 2008. Archived from the original on 26 April 2011. Retrieved 15 February 2011.
  28. ^ "Indian Leader Bars Key Aide From Quitting in Stock Scam". The New York Times. 1 January 1994. Archived from the original on 29 April 2011. Retrieved 7 April 2010.
  29. ^ "Profile: Prime Minister India". Indian gov. Archived from the original on 22 April 2009. Retrieved 23 May 2009.
  30. ^ "PM Manmohan Singh elected to Rajya Sabha". Zee News Limited. 30 May 2013. Archived from the original on 1 June 2013. Retrieved 11 June 2013.
  31. ^ "Candidate Statistics Manmohan Singh". IBN Live. Archived from the original on 19 April 2009. Retrieved 30 November 2009.
  32. ^ "Profile: Manmohan Singh". BBC News. 30 March 2009. Archived from the original on 30 April 2009. Retrieved 7 April 2010.
  33. ^ "Manmohan to Advani: Change your astrologers, stop abuse against me". Thaindian News. 22 July 2008. Archived from the original on 13 April 2009. Retrieved 23 July 2008.
  34. ^ "Manmohan takes on Advani: Babri destruction his only contribution". Southasia Times. 25 March 2009.
  35. ^ "CIA – The World Factbook". Cia.gov. Archived from the original on 18 March 2021. Retrieved 15 February 2011.
  36. ^ "The India Report" (PDF). Astaire Research. Archived from the original (PDF) on 14 January 2009.
  37. ^ "Economic benefits of golden Quadilateral". Business today. 4 May 2013. Archived from the original on 7 June 2013. Retrieved 14 June 2013.
  38. ^ "Banking on reform". Indian Express. Archived from the original on 27 July 2013. Retrieved 14 June 2013.
  39. ^ "Farmer Waiver Scheme- PM statement". PIB. Archived from the original on 7 January 2016. Retrieved 14 June 2013.
  40. ^ Kevin Plumberg; Steven C. Johnson (2 November 2008). "Global inflation climbs to historic levels". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 1 May 2011. Retrieved 17 June 2011.
  41. ^ Sachs, Jeffrey D. (6 March 2005). "The End of Poverty". Time. Archived from the original on 17 March 2005.
  42. ^ "LS passes bill to provide IIT for eight states". Deccan Herald. Archived from the original on 24 March 2013. Retrieved 14 June 2013.
  43. ^ "Direct SSA funds for school panels". Deccan Herald. Archived from the original on 17 May 2014. Retrieved 14 June 2013.
  44. ^ a b Infiltration has not reduced in Kashmir, insurgency down in North East: Chidambaram Archived 7 January 2016 at the Wayback Machine
  45. ^ "RTI Act: A strong tool to cleanse corruption in India". Archived from the original on 21 October 2016. Retrieved 16 November 2016.
  46. ^ Gender Report Archived 13 November 2022 at the Wayback Machine. ilo.org.
  47. ^ India Business Yearbook 2009. Vikas Publishing House Pvt Limited. 1 November 2009. ISBN 9788125930860. Archived from the original on 11 June 2024. Retrieved 16 November 2016 – via Google Books.
  48. ^ "President Pranab Mukherjee gives nod to Land Acquisition Bill". NDTV. 27 September 2013. Archived from the original on 7 October 2013. Retrieved 10 October 2013.
  49. ^ "Gazette Notification of coming into force of the Act" (PDF). Government of India. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 January 2014. Retrieved 4 January 2014.
  50. ^ "The New Land Acquisition Act to come into effect from 2014". Economic Times. 16 October 2013. Archived from the original on 3 November 2013. Retrieved 1 November 2013.
  51. ^ "Land Acquisition bill to be notified early next year: Jairam Ramesh". Economic Times. 15 September 2013. Archived from the original on 16 October 2013. Retrieved 10 October 2013.
  52. ^ "Provisions of the Constitution of India having a bearing on Education". Department of Higher Education. Archived from the original on 1 February 2010. Retrieved 1 April 2010.
  53. ^ Aarti Dhar (1 April 2010). "Education is a fundamental right now". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 7 January 2016. Retrieved 24 February 2015.
  54. ^ "India launches children's right to education". BBC News. 1 April 2010. Archived from the original on 15 December 2014. Retrieved 24 February 2015.
  55. ^ "India joins list of 135 countries in making education a right". The Hindu. The Hindu News. 2 April 2010. Archived from the original on 7 January 2016. Retrieved 24 February 2015.
  56. ^ a b c "Visits of Heads of States/Heads of Governments" (PDF). Ministry of External Affairs (India). Archived (PDF) from the original on 3 August 2020. Retrieved 28 April 2020.
  57. ^ "China becomes India's 2nd largest trade partner – People's Daily Online". Archived from the original on 7 September 2013. Retrieved 19 December 2019.
  58. ^ Bajoria, Jayshree (23 October 2008). "India-Afghanistan Relations". Council on Foreign Relations. Archived from the original on 29 November 2008. Retrieved 11 December 2008.
  59. ^ a b "BBC NEWS – South Asia – India announces more Afghan aid". Archived from the original on 26 December 2018. Retrieved 16 November 2016.
  60. ^ "U.S., India ink historic civilian nuclear deal". People's Daily. 11 October 2008. Archived from the original on 13 April 2009. Retrieved 11 December 2008.
  61. ^ "Manmohan Singh's U.S. Visit". Centre for Strategic and International Studies. Archived from the original on 11 June 2024. Retrieved 28 April 2020.
  62. ^ "Several African leaders to attend Africa-India summit, AU says". African Press International. 28 March 2008. Archived from the original on 1 October 2011. Retrieved 11 December 2008.
  63. ^ Beri, Ruchita (10 December 2008). "IBSA Dialogue Forum: A Strategic Partnership". The African Executive. Archived from the original on 11 April 2009. Retrieved 11 December 2008.
  64. ^ Halarnkar, Samar (23 October 2007). "India and Israel: The great seduction". Hindustan Times. Archived from the original on 7 January 2009. Retrieved 11 December 2008.
  65. ^ Waldman, Amy (7 September 2003). "The Bond Between India and Israel Grows". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 11 June 2024. Retrieved 11 December 2008.
  66. ^ Dikshit, Sandeep (17 April 2008). "Centre admits to problems in naval deals". The Hindu. Chennai, India. Archived from the original on 21 April 2008. Retrieved 11 December 2008.
  67. ^ Roychowdhury, Amitabh (6 December 2006). "India, Russia sign agreements to further strengthen ties". Outlook. Archived from the original on 11 April 2009. Retrieved 11 December 2008.
  68. ^ "India's ruling party wins resounding victory". Associated Press. 16 May 2009. Archived from the original on 6 December 2012. Retrieved 16 May 2009.
  69. ^ "Second UPA win, a crowning glory for Sonia's ascendancy". Business Standard. 16 May 2009. Archived from the original on 16 January 2013. Retrieved 13 June 2009.
  70. ^ "Smooth sailing for UPA, parties scramble to support". CNN-IBN. 19 May 2009. Archived from the original on 21 May 2009. Retrieved 13 June 2009.
  71. ^ "Team Manmohan set to form govt today". Times Now. 22 May 2009. Archived from the original on 27 May 2009. Retrieved 13 June 2009.
  72. ^ "India PM Singh takes oath for second term". Reuters. 22 May 2009. Archived from the original on 25 May 2009. Retrieved 13 June 2009.
  73. ^ Nairita (18 August 2012). "Coalgate scam: PM Manmohan Singh asked to resign". Archived from the original on 10 May 2013. Retrieved 11 April 2013.
  74. ^ "Prime Minister Manmohan Singh directly responsible for coal scam: Arun Jaitley". The Economic Times. PTI. 19 August 2012. Archived from the original on 8 May 2013. Retrieved 13 April 2013.
  75. ^ "2G scam: Disappointed over Manmohan Singh's refusal to appear before JPC, says Yashwant Sinha". DNA India. ANI. 9 April 2013. Archived from the original on 14 April 2013. Retrieved 13 April 2013.
  76. ^ Ghosh, Deepshikha (17 May 2014). "Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Resigns After 10 Years in Office". NDTV. Archived from the original on 26 December 2018. Retrieved 18 June 2023.
  77. ^ "Manmohan Singh to continue as PM till Modi assumes office". India Today. 17 May 2014. Archived from the original on 26 December 2018. Retrieved 18 June 2023.
  78. ^ "Former PM Manmohan Singh returns to teaching". Asian Voice. 13 April 2016. Archived from the original on 22 August 2016. Retrieved 15 August 2016.
  79. ^ "Manmohan Singh to end 33 years stint in RS on Apr 3; Sonia Gandhi to begin first". The Times of India. 14 February 2024. Archived from the original on 17 February 2024. Retrieved 1 March 2024.
  80. ^ "PM Manmohan Singh: PM Manmohan Singh is the best example of integrity: Khushwant Singh". The Times of India. 17 August 2010. Archived from the original on 11 June 2024. Retrieved 19 December 2019.
  81. ^ Christopher Dickey (16 August 2010). "Go to the Head of the Class". Newsweek. Archived from the original on 29 April 2011. Retrieved 15 February 2011.
  82. ^ "Manmohan Singh honoured with 2010 World Statesman Award". Hindustan Times. PTI. 23 September 2010. Archived from the original on 9 May 2013. Retrieved 27 March 2012.
  83. ^ "The World's Most Powerful People: Manmohan Singh". Forbes. 3 November 2010. Archived from the original on 16 September 2017. Retrieved 4 September 2017.
  84. ^ "The World's Most Powerful People: Sonia Gandhi". Forbes. 3 November 2010. Archived from the original on 6 November 2010. Retrieved 4 September 2017.
  85. ^ "Strengthen Team India". The Australian. 21 May 2009. Archived from the original on 23 May 2009. Retrieved 17 March 2011.
  86. ^ "Manmohan Singh". Forbes. Archived from the original on 7 December 2016. Retrieved 16 November 2016.
  87. ^ Tharakan, Tony (31 October 2013). "Sonia Gandhi, Manmohan Singh slip in Forbes' most powerful list". Archived from the original on 3 November 2013. Retrieved 16 November 2016.
  88. ^ "These are the world's most powerful people, Photo Gallery". Archived from the original on 3 December 2016. Retrieved 16 November 2016.
  89. ^ Singh, Manmohan (29 April 2010). "The 2010 TIME 100". Time (Magazine). Archived from the original on 7 October 2024. Retrieved 6 October 2024.
  90. ^ "Time magazine dubs Manmohan Singh as 'underachiever'". The Times of India. 8 July 2012. Archived from the original on 12 May 2013.
  91. ^ "Cong counters Time magazine's 'underachiever' remark against PM". 8 July 2012. Archived from the original on 11 June 2024. Retrieved 8 July 2012.
  92. ^ Press Trust of India (2 December 2008). "No military action against Pakistan: India". Times of India. India. Archived from the original on 5 December 2008. Retrieved 9 December 2008.
  93. ^ "Manmohan Singh is a weak PM, reiterates Advani : East News – India Today". Archived from the original on 22 October 2011. Retrieved 17 May 2012.. Indiatoday.intoday.in (21 October 2011). Retrieved 17 May 2012.
  94. ^ "Manmohan Singh weak PM, unbecoming of the coveted post: BJP – India – DNA". Archived from the original on 4 March 2012. Retrieved 17 May 2012.. Dnaindia.com (21 January 2012). Retrieved 17 May 2012.
  95. ^ "Dangerous to have a weak PM: Anna". Archived from the original on 16 March 2012. Retrieved 17 May 2012.. Zeenews.India.com (9 December 2011). Retrieved 17 May 2012.
  96. ^ Das, Mala (22 February 2019). "Narendra Modi targets Gandhis, calls Manmohan Singh 'night watchman'". NDTV. Archived from the original on 16 August 2023. Retrieved 16 August 2023.
  97. ^ Sethi, Nidhi (31 May 2018). ""Missing 'Educated Prime Minister' Like Manmohan Singh": Arvind Kejriwal". NDTV. Retrieved 16 August 2023.
  98. ^ ""Country Is Indebted To Him": Nitin Gadkari's Praise For Manmohan Singh". NDTV. PTI. 8 November 2022. Archived from the original on 16 August 2023. Retrieved 16 August 2023.
  99. ^ Mitra, Chandrajit (8 February 2024). "PM Modi's Big Praise For Manmohan Singh: "Ideological Differences, But..."". NDTV. Archived from the original on 29 July 2024. Retrieved 29 July 2024.
  100. ^ "Dr. Manmohan Singh: Personal Profile". Prime Minister's Office, Government of India. Archived from the original on 3 March 2009. Retrieved 4 April 2009.
  101. ^ University, Ashoka. "Faculty/Staff". Ashoka University. Archived from the original on 28 November 2020. Retrieved 11 December 2020.
  102. ^ "Meet Dr. Singh's daughter". Rediff.com. 28 January 2009. Archived from the original on 31 March 2009. Retrieved 4 April 2009.
  103. ^ Rajghatta, Chidanand (21 December 2007). "PM's daughter puts White House in the dock". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 24 October 2012. Retrieved 13 October 2008.
  104. ^ "An NDA boost for NATGRID, Home Minister reviews progress". India Today. New Delhi, India. 31 August 2016. Archived from the original on 1 September 2016. Retrieved 1 September 2016.
  105. ^ "1984 riots could have been avoided, if Narasimha Rao had listened to IK Gujaral: Manmohan Singh". India Today. 4 December 2019. Archived from the original on 24 August 2024. Retrieved 3 November 2024.
  106. ^ "Manmohan Singh's apology for anti-Sikh riots a 'Gandhian moment of moral clarity,' says 2005 cable". The Hindu. 21 April 2011. ISSN 0971-751X. Archived from the original on 9 November 2024. Retrieved 3 November 2024.
  107. ^ "One graft successfully performed on Manmohan Singh". The Hindu. Chennai, India. 24 January 2009. Archived from the original on 14 April 2009. Retrieved 24 January 2009.
  108. ^ Shankar, Asmita Ravi (3 April 2024). "Former PM Manmohan Singh Retires From Rajya Sabha After 33 Years". News18. Archived from the original on 3 April 2024. Retrieved 3 April 2024.
  109. ^ "The Accidental Prime Minister first look: Anupam Kher 'overwhelmed' with response, writes personal thanks". The Indian Express. 8 June 2017. Archived from the original on 16 April 2021. Retrieved 19 March 2021.
  110. ^ Ghosh, Stutee (11 January 2019). "'The Accidental Prime Minister' Has More Than One Accidental Hero". The Quint. Retrieved 19 March 2021.
  111. ^ Thakur, Tanul (11 January 2019). "Movie Review: The Accidental Prime Minister Is Made to Confirm Your Bias". The Wire. Retrieved 19 March 2021.
  112. ^ "Pradhanmantri: Even after winning polls, Sonia did not become PM in 2004". ABP News. 22 December 2013. Archived from the original on 27 October 2021.
Political offices
Preceded by Prime Minister of India
22 May 2004 – 26 May 2014
Succeeded by