Dr. Manmohan Singh contested the Lok Sabha elections for the first and only time in 1999. Facing the electoral arena from the South Delhi constituency, Manmohan Singh met with defeat. At that time, I worked for a TV channel where we had a show showcasing a day in the life of a politician during campaign season.
My job was to keep an eye on Dr. Singh. He was notably hesitant in front of the camera. We spent the first half of our day having breakfast with him and then exploring his extensive library. When he went to file his nomination, we were alongside him. During the hustle and bustle, he seemed quite uncomfortable.
A Gentle Personality
Dr. Singh remained courteous during the shoot, though the television footage could use a little more electoral drama. We learned of a small garden party being planned for his grandson's birthday. We requested, 'Could we possibly record a shot with the family? It would make a great TV segment.' To this, Singh firmly replied, 'Absolutely not, you will not point the camera towards my family, this is our private space.'
If one can extract a lesson from Dr. Singh's life, it would be about safeguarding one's privacy and upholding dignity in all circumstances. Never swayed by external noise or public pressure, he shaped an era of profound economic reform during his time as India's finest finance minister. As Prime Minister, he was instrumental in the landmark India-US nuclear deal, yet he never yearned for personal gain or recognition for himself or his family.
I recall after the nuclear deal was passed, we played 'Singh is King' on a TV show. His office phoned to suggest such exuberance could be avoided. Once, when chosen as 'India's Best Indian of the Year' for his numerous achievements, rather than attend the ceremony at a five-star hotel, he humbly agreed to accept the award at the Prime Minister's residence. His modest reply was, 'There are many Indians who have accomplished far more than I have.'
Dr. Singh's Humble Journey
In contrast to an era where self-promotion and marketing is deemed excellent political strategy, Dr. Singh is a reminder of times when showcasing one's CV on social media wasn't requisite. Before the Insta-Twitter social media era, recognition meant genuine acknowledgment of work well accomplished.
Throughout his career, Dr. Singh worked extraordinarily long hours without ever making it an obsession. He had struggled through hardship in life, leading to a disciplined and strict work ethic. During one of our last personal encounters, he reminisced about how his family survived the horrors of partition, grew up in poverty, and how academic diligence propelled him forward in life. Sensing he was becoming emotional, his wife Gursharan firmly said, 'That's enough, let's have some tea!' Clearly, she was the boss at home.
As he earnestly spoke of his early days, I marveled at how his life epitomized the story of an ambitious, merit-driven 'new' India. He shaped this India, despite the fact that during his upbringing, opportunities were scarce outside the privileged elite. In such times, academic excellence was the sole path to overcoming challenges, to excel through brilliant scholarships. Dr. Singh, though an 'accidental' Prime Minister, made the most of every opportunity to carve out his career.
Shaping a New India
The post-1991 India brimming with unimaginable opportunities owes much to his contributions, though he never claimed credit. Innately modest, soft-spoken yet assured, he managed to hold high positions without arrogance. Knowing and working within his political constraints, he remained committed to the larger nation-building goal. When necessary, he made tough decisions like the nuclear agreement, achieved not through imperial orders but consensus and dialogue. Perhaps he should have retired in 2009 when his health, burdened by heart troubles, began to decline. The growing coalition constraints during UPA 2 possibly provided an exit instead of enduring criticism for every misstep. His personal integrity stayed intact, notwithstanding the corruption allegations against his ministers marring his second term.
History will judge him with considerable benevolence. The reforms initiated in 1991 have shaped a generation, lifted millions out of poverty, and positioned India among the world's fastest-growing economies. Typically, Dr. Singh acknowledged these were team efforts pushing the economic engine forward.
Never Interfered in Work
As a journalist, I'll remember him for another reason. We often criticized his government on our news network, yet never once did he or anyone in his administration call to reprimand me. Even after I penned a critical editorial on his handling of 2G auctions, he greeted me with a smile at an official function, saying, 'I read your column. You've raised some important issues.' How many people can respond with such grace?
One final memory. In 2004, amid surprise decisions that startled the nation, there was speculation about who the next Prime Minister would be. Over tea with Sir David Butler, the original guru of election analysis who knew Dr. Singh from their academic days at Oxford, he remarked, 'Do you know, Rajdeep, I think I have an answer to who might be the Prime Minister. I know someone who is the ideal person to lead a coalition government.' When he mentioned Dr. Singh, I inquired why. His reply, 'Because India needed a good person at the top, and Dr. Singh is the kind of leader who will always put the nation before himself.'
Indeed, decency is a vastly underestimated value in life. Dr. Singh was an honorable figure who exemplified courtesy and goodwill in public life. Dear Doctor Sahab, thank you for inspiring my generation to dream... and farewell!
