The scholar-politician who achieved a lot. And silently

INDIA will always see Manmohan Singh as the architect of its economic reforms.

- VVP SHARMA

The Congress party he belonged to should acknowledge his contribution in kinder terms.

The economist entered the political stage as PV Narasimha Rao's finance minister and began to break the licence raj shackles of an emaciated economy. He deregulated it. He did away with the licence raj. He revolutionalised the taxation policy. He redefined India's FDI and trade outlook.

Singh achieved this when the economic situation was in the doldrums, and India faced the ignominy of pledging its gold to raise money. The country's Balance of Payments and the fiscal deficit had gone south. There was a bare minimum of forex reserves. India had no option but to spread its hands before the IMF.