There would have been no India-US nuclear deal without Manmohan Singh

I had known Manmohan Singh briefly when he was finance minister and I was the director of the Intelligence Bureau but had no occasion to understand the makings of his mind or vision.

- M.K. NARAYANAN

Years later, as special adviser and the National Security Adviser (2004-2010), I had the opportunity to better comprehend his vision. Being one of the prime minister's close advisers, I realised that economics was but one aspect of his encyclopedic mind and that here was someone who ranked among the makers of modern history.

His gentle mien concealed a steely resolve to achieve what he believed was in the best interest of the nation. Also, once he had set his mind on something, he would not stop till he had achieved it. An outstanding example was when the left parties withdrew their support to his government after the India-US nuclear deal was finalised in 2008. He was willing to sacrifice his prime ministership and his government, rather than giving up on the nuclear deal. He did not believe in power politics, but like any good chess player, he knew where to move the pieces on the board to defeat his opponents gently rather than decimate them.

While his tenure as finance minister is identified with economic reforms, the India-US nuclear deal (2005-2008) marked his tenure as prime minister, notwithstanding the fact that he had several other achievements to his credit. It was my good fortune to work closely with him at each and every stage of the epic nuclear saga, and I can say, without fear of contradiction, that there would have been no nuclear deal without Manmohan Singh. The role of US President George W. Bush was no less in this regard.