The thirteenth Prime Minister of India, Dr. Manmohan Singh, who is also hailed as an economist, is popular with everyone for his intellectual approach, hard work and humble behavior. Dr° Manmohan Singh, who has played an important role in building a new India by carrying out economic reforms, is the Prime Minister who has been elected twice and is the first and the only Sikh Prime Minister till date.
Biography of Manmohan Singh
| Name | Manmohan Singh[1] |
| Date of Birth | 26 September 1932 |
| Place of Birth | Gah, Undivided Punjab |
| Family | Gurmukh Singh (Father), Amrit Kaur (Mother), Gurcharan Kaur (Wife) |
| Education | 1/ Hindu College, Amritsar 2/ Punjab University, Chandigarh 3/ St John’s College, Cambridge 4/ Nuffield College, Oxford |
| Awards | 1/ Padma Vibhushan Samman/Award (1987) 2/ Jawaharlal Nehru Birth Centenary Award of Indian Science Festival (1995) 3/Asia Money Award for Best Finance Minister in 1993 and 1994 4/ Euro Money Award for Best Finance Minister (1993) 5/ Adam Smith Award at Cambridge university (1956) 6/ Right Award for Distinguished Service at St. George’s College in Cambridge (1955) 7/World Statesman Award (2010) 8/ In 2014, Grand Cordon of the Order of the Paulownia Flowers Award 9/Annasaheb Chirmule Award (2000) 10/ Outstanding Parliamentarian Award (2002) 11/ On 2005, Times magazine included names in the list of 100 influential people |
Early Life
Dr Manmohan Singh was born on September 26, 1932 in Gah, Punjab, now under Pakistan. Manmohan Singh was very interested in studies from an early age. At that time, there was no provision for education, good treatment, lightning in his native Punjab. Nevertheless, it is because of his interest in education/studies, Manmohan Singh walked a long way at that time to and from school. He uses to read in the light of kerosene lamps. Even at that time his vision was weakened due to lack of light. Yet he was not disappointed. He studied with concentration because of his interest in study and his thirsty mind.
Importantly, Manmohan Singh’s family returned to India from Pakistan during the partition of India in 1947. After returning to India Manmohan Singh’s family moved to Amritsar. And enrolled in the Hindu College in Amritsar.
Manmohan Singh subsequently graduated and post graduated from Punjab University from 1952 and 1954 respectively. This was followed by a degree in Economics Honors on economics subject from Cambridge University in 1957. He was later awarded a PhD in economics from Oxford University in 1962.
Also Read: Biography of Nalini Bala Devi
Professional Life
Manmohan Singh served as professor of economics at Punjab University from 1957 to 1959. Singh was working as a professor at Delhi School of Economics in 1966. He also served at the United Nations from 1966 to 1969.
In 1969, Manmohan Singh served as professor of international trade at the Delhi School of Economics and he served as chief economic advisor to the Finance Ministry in 1972.
He subsequently served as secretary of the finance ministry in 1976. He was associated with the Planning Commission from 1980 to 1982. He was on the other hand appointed as the governor of the Reserve Bank of India in 1982 under former finance minister Pranab Mukherjee.
He also served as vice chairman of the Planning Commission of India from 1985 to 1987. In 1991, he took over as chairman of the Union Public Service Commission and also as chairman of the University Grants Commission.
Achievements
Manmohan Singh after serving in several important portfolios of the Government of India the then newly elected Prime Minister P V Narasimha Rao in 1991, placed Manmohan Singh in a cabinet position as finance minister. There was a financial crisis in India at that time. Manmohan Singh took over as circle minister and adopted the neo-liberal economic policy in 1991. His policy has led to many reforms in India’s economic system. Importantly, Manmohan Singh’s initiative started LPG i.e. Liberalization, Privatization, and Globalization in India in 1991. His contribution in building the foundation of open economy in India is undeniable. He established the new economic policy adopted by him in a special way all over the world.
Manmohan Singh, who took over as union finance minister in the Narasimha Rao cabinet, represented Assam in 28 long Rajya Sabhas from 1991 to 2019. For which on many occasions Dr° Singh also called Assam the second home.
Manmohan Singh, on the other hand, also served as leader of the opposition during prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s tenure in 1996 as the Congress did not get a majority. Singh served as leader of opposition in Rajya Sabha from 1998 to 2004.
Dr° Manmohan Singh was sworn in as the 13th Prime Minister of India on May 22, 2004 after the Congress-led The United Progressive Alliance (UPA) came to power in 2004. Importantly, Dr° Manmohan Singh was sworn in as prime minister for the second time on May 22, 2009. Dr° Manmohan Singh is the prime minister who served twice after Jawaharlal Nehru, the first prime minister of independent India. Significantly, Dr° Singh is the only Prime Minister ever represented by Sikhs.
The important tasks performed by Dr° Manmohan Singh as Prime Minister are:
1/ RTI Act, 2005
The RTI law long demanded by Indians was passed in Parliament after Manmohan Singh came to power as prime minister. The general public has benefited immensely through this act. Subsequently irregularities in various departments have come to light due to this RTI Act.
2/ Monrega 2005
The National Rural Employment Guarantee Act passed under the UPA government of Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh in September2005, provides for enhancing livelihood security in rural areas by providing at least 100 days of guaranteed/assured wage employment in a financial year through 2005.
3/Civil Nuclear Deal 2008
He concluded the historic agreement amid many challenges. The agreement was a huge diplomatic victory at the national and international level. A total of fourteen countries including India signed the agreement. The agreement aims to develop mutually beneficial economic, scientific and technical cooperation for peaceful use of mutual energy.
4/ Food Safety Act, 2013
The Food Security Act, 2013 was passed during the prime minister ship of Dr° Manmohan Singh. This act provides food and nutritional security to the poor people of the country as well as to live with them in a dignified manner and at affordable prices for related or related matters. Adequate quality food is ensured to be obtained. This law is much criticized but it is able to give some kind of relief to many people.
In addition to this, Dr° Manmohan Singh took a new step to strengthen the economic base of the country by introducing Value Added Tax (VAT) instead of Sales Tax in 2005 during his prime minister ship.
In addition, Dr° Singh played a landmark role in providing compensation and rehabilitation to the affected people by introducing Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013.
Dr° Singh took a positive initiative of Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009, adopted a positive effort to provide free education to every child between the ages of 6 and 14.
In addition to these, efforts taken by Dr° Manmohan Singh to strengthen foreign relations with nearby countries are important. The foreign policy adopted by Dr° Singh’s improved relations with countries like India – Pakistan, Afghanistan, Russia, Israel, United Republic, USA, China, Japan, Germany, France etc.
Conclusion
Former US President Barak Obama said “When Singh speaks, world must listen to him, Singh’s knowledge will be useful for the entire world” about Dr. Manmohan Singh, who holds an attractive personality.
A BBC survey said about Dr° Manmohan Singh., “He has 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 Indians administration”.
Manmohan Singh who was called “The silent prime minister” was an attractive personality who was also praised by the opposition party. Dr° Manmohan Singh, who represents India at a large number of international conferences and multiple international organizations, was a strong personality, he is popular not only in India but also in different parts of the world because of his skill and efficiency.
FAQ
1. When and where was Manmohan Singh born?
Ans: He was born in 26 September 1932 at Gah, Pakistan.
2. When he was awarded with Padma Vibhushan Award?
Ans: He was awarded with Padma Vibhushan Samman/Award in 1987.
3. When did Manmohan Singh was sworn in as the 13th Prime Minister?
Ans: Dr° Manmohan Singh was sworn in as the 13th Prime Minister of India on May 22, 2004.
4. What are the important tasks performed by Dr° Manmohan Singh as a prime minister?
Ans: The important tasks performed by Dr° Manmohan Singh as Prime Minister are: 1/ RTI Act, 2005, 2/ Monrega 2005, 3/Civil Nuclear Deal 2008, 4/ Food Safety Act, 2013.
5. What did former US President Barak Obama said about Manmohan Singh?
Ans: Former US President Barak Obama said “When Singh speaks, world must listen to him, Singh’s knowledge will be useful for the entire world.”
6. What did BBC survey said about Manmohan Singh?
Ans: A BBC survey said about him, “He has 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 Indians administration”.
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