Here is the timeline of Manmohan Singh’s five-decade old career in bureaucracy and politics.

1954: Completed Master’s in Economics from Panjab University

1957: Economic Tripos (3-year degree prog) from Cambridge University

1962: D.Phil in Economics from Oxford University

1971: Joins Government of India as Economic Advisor in Commerce Ministry

1972: Appointed Chief Economic Advisor in Finance Ministry

1980-82: Member, Planning Commission

1982-1985: Governor of the Reserve Bank of India

1985-87: Served as Deputy Chairman of Planning Commission

1987-90: Secretary General of South Commission in Geneva

1990: Appointed Advisor to Prime Minister on Economic Affairs March

1991: Appointed chairman of University Grants Commission

1991: Elected to Rajya Sabha from Assam, and re-elected in 1995, 2001, 2007 and 2013

1991-96: Finance Minister under P V Narasimha Rao government

1998-2004: Leader of the Opposition in Rajya Sabha

2004-2014: Prime Minister of India 

Former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh is seen as the architect of India’s economic reforms during the PV Narasimha Rao rule that paved the way for the country’s economic growth. But besides economics, his other abiding interest was ‘shayari’ and he often employed verses to launch attacks on political rivals inside and outside the Parliament.

These poetry attacks drew loud cheers from both the treasury and the Opposition benches in times when humour, and not hostility, dominated the mood in Parliament. Mr Singh’s shayari strikes found their worthy match in the 15th Lok Sabha. From 2009-14, BJP stalwart, late Sushma Swaraj, was the Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha and the ‘jugalbandi’ of ‘shayari’ between the two was nothing less than a delight.

In March 2011, the Parliament erupted over a Wikileaks cable that accused the then ruling Congress of bribing MPs during the 2008 trust vote. Leading the Opposition charge, Ms Swaraj targeted the Prime Minister with Shahab Jafari’s famous lines, “Tu idhar udhar ki na baat kar, yeh bata ki kafila kyun luta, humein rahjano se gila nahi, teri rahbari ka sawal hai.” The lines roughly translate to: “Don’t change the topic, just say why the caravan was looted, we have nothing to say about the robbers, but this is a question on your leadership.”

The Prime Minister replied with Allama Iqbal’s couplet that drew a smile from Ms Swaraj and cheers from the House. “Mana ki teri did ke kaabil nahin hoon main, tu mera shauq dekh mera intezar dekh” (I know I am not worth your attention, but look at my longing.”

Another war of couplets broke out between the two leaders in 2013 during the debate on the Motion of Thanks to the President’s Address.

In a sweet attack on the Opposition, former Prime Minister Singh used Mirza Ghalib’s lines, “Humein unse hai wafa ki ummeed jo nahin jante wafa kya hai.” (We expect loyalty from those who don’t know what loyalty is.”

The Leader of the Opposition responded with two shers. The first one was by Bashir Badr. “Kuch to majuriyan rahi hongi, yun hi koi bewafa nahin hota (There must be a reason for betraying love)”

In her second shayari strike, she added, “Tumhe wafa yaad nahi, Humein jafa yaad nahi, zindagi or maut ke toh do hee tarane hain, ek tumhein yaad nahi, ek humein yaad nahi“. The lines translate to “you don’t remember loyalty and we don’t remember disloyalty, life and death have two rhythms, you don’t remember one, we don’t remember the other.”

When Ms Swaraj died in August 2019, Dr Singh had described her as a great parliamentarian and an exceptionally talented Union minister. “I was shocked to hear about the sudden demise of Sushma Swaraj. I have fond memories of my association with her when she was Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha,” he had said.

With Dr Singh gone today, the two leaders and their ‘shayari jugalbandi’ will now live only in our memories of a less-polarised political discourse when debates in Parliament saw less chaos and more cheers.

Today, India mourns the loss of its former Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh, who passed away at the age of 92 due to age-related medical conditions. According to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Delhi, where he was admitted, Dr. Singh had a sudden loss of consciousness at home on December 26, 2024.

Dr. Singh is survived by his wife, Gurcharan Singh, and their three daughters. His legacy, however, extends far beyond his family. As a renowned economist and statesman, Dr. Singh played a pivotal role in shaping India’s economic transformation. His tenure as Prime Minister from 2004 to 2014 was marked by significant economic reforms, which lifted millions of people out of poverty.

Former US President Barack Obama, in his memoir “A Promised Land,” paid tribute to Dr. Singh’s exceptional leadership, describing him as a “man with uncommon wisdom”. Obama praised Dr. Singh’s commitment to economic reform, his dedication to the well-being of the Indian people, and his unwavering integrity.

Mr Obama wrote that Dr. Singh, an eminent economist, had managed to lift millions of people from poverty and that the markings of his Sikh faith made him look “holy” in the eyes of the West. He further added that Dr Singh’s tenure as a Prime Minister proved that he was “wise, thoughtful, and scrupulously honest”.

Dr. Singh’s impact on India’s economic landscape is undeniable. He implemented policies that encouraged growth, reduced poverty, and increased access to education and healthcare. His government’s initiatives, such as the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA) and the Right to Information Act, have had a lasting impact on the country.

Despite facing criticism during his tenure, Dr. Singh remained optimistic about his legacy. In his last press conference as Prime Minister in January 2014, he expressed his faith in history’s judgment, saying, “I honestly believe that history will be kinder to me than the contemporary media, or for that matter, the Opposition parties in Parliament”.

As India bids farewell to this visionary leader, we remember his remarkable contributions to the nation’s growth and development. Dr. Manmohan Singh’s legacy will continue to inspire future generations of leaders and policymakers, and his impact on India’s history will be remembered for years to come.