Delhi December 27 (PTK)
Dr. Manmohan Singh: A Detailed Biography
Birth and Early Life
Date of Birth: September 26, 1932
Place of Birth: Gah, Punjab, British India (now in Pakistan)
Family: Born into a Sikh family, Dr. Singh lost his mother at an early age and was raised by his paternal grandmother.
Partition Impact: Following the partition of India in 1947, his family migrated to Amritsar, Punjab, India.
Education
Schooling: Completed his early education in Punjab.
Higher Studies:
University of Punjab, Chandigarh: Bachelor’s and Master’s in Economics.
University of Cambridge, UK: Completed his Economics Tripos in 1957.
University of Oxford, UK: Obtained a D.Phil in Economics in 1962 with a thesis titled India’s Export Trends and Prospects for Self-Sustained Growth.
Academic Career
Taught at institutions like the University of Punjab and the Delhi School of Economics.
Worked as an advisor and economist in international organizations such as the United Nations.
Political and Public Service Career
1. Key Government Roles Before Becoming Prime Minister:
Economic Advisor: Ministry of Foreign Trade (1971-1972).
Chief Economic Advisor: Ministry of Finance (1972-1976).
Governor of Reserve Bank of India: 1982-1985.
Deputy Chairman: Planning Commission (1985-1987).
2. As Finance Minister (1991-1996):
Appointed by Prime Minister P.V. Narasimha Rao during a major economic crisis.
Introduced sweeping economic reforms in 1991, including liberalization, privatization, and globalization.
Known for opening India’s economy to foreign investment and trade, which marked a turning point in India’s economic trajectory.
3. As Prime Minister (2004-2014):
First Sikh Prime Minister of India.
Major Achievements:
Initiated policies for economic growth, rural development, and poverty alleviation.
Launched flagship programs like the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA).
Advocated for the India-US Civil Nuclear Agreement in 2008, improving India’s global standing.
Faced criticism during his second term due to corruption scandals in his government, including the 2G spectrum and coal allocation scams.
Legacy
Widely respected as an honest, intellectual, and soft-spoken leader.
His tenure is credited with fostering economic stability and growth, though marred by political controversies.
Personal Life
Spouse: Gursharan Kaur, married in 1958.
Children: Three daughters – Upinder Singh, Daman Singh, and Amrit Singh.
Known for his humility and simple lifestyle.
Current Status
As of December 2024, Dr. Manmohan Singh is retired from active politics but continues to be a prominent voice on economic and policy issues. Despite health challenges, he remains an inspiration to many for his commitment to public service.(PTK)