i am too insignificant a person to talk of others more so when it is about the leaders of this nation. I wish to be forgiven for any transgression that I may commit in the process –
Dr. Manmohan Singh passed away on December 26, 2024, and there was a continuous flow of information of the person as he was, from people who were close to him. The sad part is despite knowing the ideals and values that he stood for all his life, we abandoned him, cast him by the wayside from his last term in the office of the prime minister. I also attach here his last address to the people of India on his retirement.
His down to earth humility and his ingrained value base deep-rooted within from his birth in a village-based family of farmers spoke volumes for the man within that required no press or, publicity agent to promote his erudition, capability and comprehension of the responsibilities thrust upon his shoulders which none other in this world would like to accept.
I wonder at the scant respect we showed for him despite the responsibilities he shouldered and the quiet competence with which he delivered unquestioned value and equity for each of his countrymen – while the greatest of economists watched from every corner of the world—excluding no one, leaving no one behind. It was most unfortunate that his people poorly acknowledged him and were continually dragged into the mire of self-serving Indian politics. Facing criticism from people with little experience and no competence in his area of work he delivered his services with quiet conviction and no words.
It is with regret one views those days of decline – it requires the greatest of certitude, self-awareness, intellectual broadmindedness and democratic commitment to resist using the coercive powers of the state to inflict violence and state-sponsored suppression of democratic rights. It requires a man of character to resist the use of force regardless of the provocation
As prime minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh had enormous respect for the basics of accountability in every arm of the government. Cooperation of the people of the country was necessary to ensure delivery of government policies to the target beneficiaries.
A brief look at his background leaves nothing to be said – for a boy to move forward from a village in Punjab, now in Pakistan and with very limited means.
1. M.A., Hoshiarpur (then Punjab) 1954. Topper throughout his career
2. St. John’s College – Economics (Tripose), University of Cambridge in 1957.
3. Nuffield College, D. Phil., 1962 Topper. Oxford.
4. With Punjab University and then with Delhi School of Economics
5. UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD)
6. From Secretary in the Finance Ministry to Finance Minister in 1991 when no one was prepared to accept the responsibility of a balance of payments crisis and this proved the man.
His word of advice was “ while economists were taught to get prices right, it was equally important to get values right” – he sided with the striking workers of Punjab University against his Vice Chancellor who had financed his education at Cambridge.
We lost the greatest of our great teachers in Dr. Manmohan Singh.
His last address on his retirement from the responsibilities of the Prime Minister of India – presents a very clear picture of the greatness of thought and action that he lived for.
My Fellow Citizens,
I address you today for the last time as Prime Minister of India.
Ten years ago, when I was entrusted with this responsibility, I entered upon it with diligence as my tool, truth as my beacon and a prayer that I might always do the right thing.
Today, as I prepare to lay down office, I am aware that well before the final judgment that we all await from the Almighty, there is judgment in the court of public opinion that all elected officials and governments are required to submit themselves to.
Fellow citizens, each one of us should respect the judgement that you have delivered. The just concluded elections have deepened the foundations of our democratic polity.
As I have said on many occasions, my life and tenure in public office are an open book. I have always tried to do my best in serving this great nation of ours.
In the last ten years, we as a country have seen many successes and achievements that we should be proud of. Today, India is a far stronger country in every respect than it was a decade ago. I give credit for these successes to all of you. However, there is still vast latent development potential in our country and we must collectively work hard to realize it.
As I leave office, my abiding memory will be the love and kindness that I have always received from you. I owe everything to this country, this great land of ours where I, an underprivileged child of Partition, was empowered enough to rise and occupy high office. It is both a debt that I will never be able to repay and a decoration that I will always wear with pride.
Friends, I am confident about the future of India. I firmly believe that the emergence of India as a major powerhouse of the evolving global economy is an idea whose time has come. Blending tradition with modernity and unity with diversity, this nation of ours can show the way forward to the world. Serving this nation has been my privilege. There is nothing more that I could ask for.
I wish the incoming government every success as it embarks on its task and pray for even greater successes for our nation.
Thank you.
Jai Hind!
aurobindo
Curator
