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[alex-kumar]

Manmohan Singh: A Visionary Leader Defined by Humility and Courage

Dr. Manmohan Singh followed those great leaders and himself he was a visionary leader, courageous, and full of integrity, marking his career. I first met Dr. Singh in the late 1960s in New York; he was with the United Nations and I was with New York University. We first worked together on the Board much later in the mid-1980s when he was the Governor of the Reserve Bank of India and I was appointed as Deputy Governor. I found out how brilliant, hardworking, and self-effacing he was, and how he could mobilize people to his way of thinking.

Three qualities distinguished Dr. Singh: three commodities, vision, courage, and humility. His ability to conceptualize was the mark of his leadership because he hatched long-range goals for the country's benefit. This, of course, went hand in hand with the ability to make rather aggressive, or at least unpopular, decisions. However, as chief of one of the most vital agencies in the country, he never lost his humility. He created an atmosphere that enabled communication and dialogue and where everyone got a chance to be heard and decisions were sanctioned from the collective range.

He is best remembered for the part he played in the 1991 economic liberalization process of India. The 1991 economic reforms and Mr. Chidambaram was also the Finance Minister of India and he had to manage the country through one of the blackest days of its economic history. His reforms shifted the economic growth of the country to liberalization and Globalization. Ideas like these are normally good on paper, but they need to be implemented and Dr. Singh did that very well. He always promoted proper discussions when people disagreed and then made certain that better ideas came out on top.

On leadership, one can among other things identify the elimination of ad-hoc treasury bills which sustained the automatic monetization of fiscal deficits. He agreed with the minister’s move when I gave details of their adverse effects on the economy despite going up the cost of government borrowing. Likewise, in the early period of moving toward a market-determined exchange rate, he blocked demands for gradualism understanding that the long-term gains from decisive action are far superior to the costs incurred. Such choices vindiated the technical clout but majorly they were daring enough to act against the resistance which Dr. Singh was so vocal about.

These attributes of his nature were unimpeachable: he was, in the simplest terms, selfless and sincere. When the rupee was devalued in 1991, while the new standards allowed me to obtain additional foreign assets with my new increased rupee value, I cashed a cheque to the Prime Minister’s Relief Fund for an equivalent amount. For him, everything has to bow to the nation and this is the reason that he follows this principle in everything he does.

While being Prime Minister from 2004 to 2014 years Dr. Singh also worked for India’s further development. While in power, he recorded an impressive economic growth point that saw the country grow at above 9% for the fiscal year 2005/2006 to 2008/2009. He also identified efficiency and competitiveness as the keys to India’s success in the global market. The principles contained in his policies focused on building a foundation of sustainable development, if not growth, let alone the growth annually expected in the short term.

The profile of  Manmohan Singh showcases a life dedicated to public service, marked by vision, courage, and integrity. Dr. Manmohan Singh was Born on September 26, 1932, in Punjab, India he was been born in a poor family in the village of Gohaniwala. After obtaining his degrees at Cambridge and Oxford he was successful in academics, as a bureaucrat, and as a politician. As a result of the outstanding education he has received, he was very humble, friendly, and patriotic at heart nonetheless.

Time will tell that Dr. Singh made history as one of India’s finest leaders, a philosopher, theorist, and diplomat. His life fully testified that if one is to become great he must become a great servant and a humble one at that. In a very subtle manner, he decided the fate of India and set the pace for more such brave steps in the future. This tribute to Manmohan Singh acknowledges his profound impact on India’s history. For more information make sure to visit Bihar Connect. He was a philosopher, reformer, and diplomat, his life exemplified that greatness lies in service and humility.  Bihar Connect In his quiet and selfless way, Dr Singh shaped India’s destiny, setting the stage for future bold reforms and inspiring generations to come.