History Will Remember Him With Gratitude

DR MANMOHAN SINGH will be remembered not kindly but with gratitude by history.

- ARVIND MAYARAM

In July 2012, I was appointed secretary in the Department of Economic Affairs. During 2012-14, the economy was in the throes of multiple crises and we had to regularly present our strategies before the PM. I was fortunate enough to watch him closely as he guided the government quietly but steadily.

A man of few words, Dr Singh was a great listener. He was a globally recognised economist and architect of India's economic reforms of the 1990s, but he never cut any of us short when we were making a presentation. Even if our opinions were contrarian to his point of view, he contradicted us gently, often with a smile. He was clear and precise in his directions, but always delivered them as a suggestion.

Though we struggled with runaway inflation, burgeoning fiscal deficit and toxic current account deficit against serious odds, he provided much needed encouragement and support.