Manmohan Singh, the economist-turned-statesman who redefined India’s economic landscape and inspired millions with his vision, passed away on Thursday night at the age of 92 in a New Delhi hospital. As finance minister in the early 1990s and later as India’s prime minister from 2004 to 2014, Singh spearheaded reforms that dismantled the remnants of a socialist economy, opening the country to global markets, fostering unprecedented economic growth, and lifting millions out of poverty.
Globally, Singh will be remembered as the architect of India’s economic liberalisation and a figure who forged stronger ties between the West and a nuclear-armed India. However, for many Indians, particularly those who grew up during the reforms he championed, Singh was a symbol of hope—a beacon of what education, resilience, and progressive policies could achieve in a deeply unequal society.
Born in 1932 in what is now Pakistan, Singh’s journey epitomised the promise of opportunity. A Sikh refugee during the chaotic partition of India in 1947, he overcame significant adversity to study economics at Oxford and Cambridge, eventually becoming one of India’s leading technocrats. His ascent to power and influence was not merely a personal triumph but an embodiment of the belief that merit and hard work could transcend barriers of class and privilege.
When Singh unveiled the transformative reforms of 1991, he invoked the words of Victor Hugo: “No power on earth can stop an idea whose time has come.” Those reforms dismantled decades of state controls, ushering in a market-driven economy that gave a new generation the confidence to dream big. For the first time, young Indians in small towns and villages believed they could achieve upward mobility and escape the cycle of poverty through education and hard work.
Despite the initial success of liberalisation, the years ahead tested Singh’s vision and resolve. His first term as prime minister from 2004 to 2009 was marked by sustained economic growth and initiatives like the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme, which targeted India’s poorest. However, his second term was plagued by scandals, a slowing economy, and mounting criticism of his perceived indecisiveness.
Under his coalition government, corruption scandals involving crony capitalism eroded public trust. Powerful industrialists misused state-backed loans, funnelling money into overseas accounts, while an emboldened opposition portrayed Singh as a weak leader unable to curb graft or inflation. Yet, even as his government faltered, Singh’s integrity remained unquestioned—a rare attribute in India’s often turbulent political landscape.
Singh himself defended his legacy, predicting that “history will be kinder” to him than contemporary critics. This foresight gained credibility in 2016 when his successor, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, demonetised 86% of India’s currency in a move Singh decried as “organised loot and legalised plunder.” His warnings of economic harm proved accurate, with growth slowing and millions of livelihoods disrupted.
In his later years, Singh’s absence from public life left a vacuum in a nation grappling with complex challenges. Today, India faces rising economic inequality, policy unpredictability, and religious tensions. Industries suffer under the weight of monopolistic practices, while the middle class bears the brunt of increasing taxation. The poorest citizens find themselves excluded from key welfare schemes under the guise of efficiency, exacerbating social divides.
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As India stands on the cusp of becoming the world’s third-largest economy, the uneven nature of this growth casts a shadow on Singh’s dream. While a tiny elite has grown fabulously wealthy, the nation remains a lower-middle-income country with a per capita income of just $2,500—far below the aspirations Singh held for its people.
Singh was deeply inspired by South Korea’s economic transformation, often citing its journey from poverty in the 1960s to prosperity as a model for India. Yet, his vision of replicating the “miracle on the Han” remains incomplete. Recent trends toward protectionist policies and nationalist rhetoric risk derailing the trajectory Singh had set.
Manmohan Singh’s legacy transcends his reforms; it is a testament to his belief in rational analysis, inclusive growth, and the power of quiet, steady leadership. His passing is a moment to reflect not only on the strides India has made but also on the path it may yet lose sight of if it sacrifices substance for slogans. His was a life dedicated to building a nation where opportunity was not a privilege but a right.
For millions, he was not just a leader but an inspiration—a quiet reformer who taught a generation to dream.
