Former Prime Minister of India Dr Manmohan Singh died on 26 December 2024 at the age of 92. He breathed his last at AIIMS, New Delhi. AIIMS confirmed his death by issuing a letter. Politicians and experts from various fields, including Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi, condoled his death.
According to media reports, he fainted on 26 December, after which he was brought to AIIMS. It was here that he breathed his last. In this article, we will read about his entire life and achievements.
Birth and education of Dr Manmohan Singh
Dr. Manmohan Singh was born on 26 September 1932 in a village called Gah in Punjab province of British India (now in Pakistan). However, his family settled in Amritsar after the country became independent in 1947.
Education
Graduation: He graduated in Economics from Punjab University, Chandigarh.
Postgraduate: After graduation, he did a postgraduate in economics from Punjab University.
Higher education:
-In 1957, he completed the Economics Tripos with the highest rank in economics from the University of Cambridge.
-In 1962, he received a PhD (DPhil) in economics from Nuffield College, University of Oxford. His research “India’s export trends and prospects of self-reliant development” became an important document on India’s trade policy.
This was his early career
Before joining politics, Dr. Singh made his career as an economist and teacher. He worked as a professor of economics at Punjab University and Delhi School of Economics. Also, did extensive work on economic research and policies.
After some time, he joined the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) and the World Bank. On the basis of his talent, he made an international identity in trade and development economics.
These services were given to the Government of India
-Chief Economic Advisor (1972-1976): Contributed to major economic decisions.
-Governor of the Reserve Bank of India (1982-1985): Played an important role in monetary policy.
-Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission (1985-1987): While being the Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission, he contributed to the economic planning of India.
Entered politics during India’s economic crisis
Dr. Manmohan Singh entered Indian politics in the year 1991. This was the time when India was facing an economic crisis. In such a situation, the then Prime Minister P.V. Narasimha Rao appointed him as the Finance Minister. While holding this post, he took historic steps to improve India’s economy.
This was his contribution as Finance Minister (1991-1996)
Dr. Manmohan Singh implemented liberalization reforms to open India’s economy to global markets. Along with this, he ended the license raj, privatization and reduced state control. Dr. Singh promoted exports as well as attracted foreign investment.
Prime Minister of India (2004-2014)
Dr. Manmohan Singh has completed two consecutive terms as the 13th Prime Minister of India.
First term (2004-2009):
During this time, he implemented the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA). The Right to Information Act (RTI) also came during his tenure. Apart from this, he is also known for signing the historic India-US civil nuclear agreement.
Second term (2009-2014):
In the second term, he focused on infrastructure development and social welfare schemes. However, during this time he also faced controversies like the 2G spectrum scam and the Commonwealth Games scam.
Dr. Manmohan Singh’s personal life
Dr. Manmohan Singh’s wife’s name is Gursharan Kaur, who is also a housewife and singer. They have three daughters. We all know that he was also called the silent Prime Minister, however, he broke his silence on this and responded publicly.
Achievements and Honors
-Padma Vibhushan (1987): He was awarded India’s second-highest civilian award by the Government of India.
-He has received honorary doctorates from many prestigious universities including Cambridge and Oxford.
Death
He was suffering from age-related illnesses. On December 26, he fainted at home and was admitted to AIIMS, New Delhi. Here he said goodbye to the world forever.
