Remembering PV Narasimha Rao

Dark clouds were at horizon. Nation's credibility was at risk. Untenable policies of successive Governments and the political uncertainties have brought the countries economy to the brink of collapse. Coalition politics have slowly taken grip over the national political scene. Government and Public sectors were predominant employers. There is no private sector. Economy was closed. Brightest from the top Universities were planning their US Visa in their penultimate years. Less intelligent and less well off settled for less. There was no entrepreneurship. Bureaucracy was ultimate power. In a nutshell there was no hope for young, middle aged, old. Across the board pessimism was at it's zenith. That was 1990-91.

There were not many options left for the political leadership. Action, Vision and Direction were the key to steer India out of crisis. At this juncture, semi-retired PV Narasimha Rao became the Prime Minister of India. Nation was not expecting anything extraordinary from this frail Southerner. For the Congress mafia of the day, Rao for a temporary option. 

Rao took boldest decisions to open up the economy. As Lord Krishna said in Bhagavad Gita "Action is the key. Do not worry about the results. Do not seek the fruits of the action", Rao gave complete freedom to Manmohan Singh, his handpicked Finance Minister and stood behind him like a solid rock. Being in a minority Government, Rao faced huge challenges. Despite his poor political capital, Rao stuck to his plan and vision.

Derailed economy was brought back on to the right tracks to grow at more than 8%. Rao took some key and strategic foreign policy decisions during his Administration. Settled many simmering issues through his inaction. Slowly but surely for good, typical Socialist mindset of average Indian has been changed for good.

Green shoots of opportunities have emerged for the intelligent and talented. Information Technology, Healthcare, Pharmaceuticals, Media, Telcom, Automobile sectors have seen unprecedented growth. Neo-Rich and middle classes have burgeoned. Nearly for 18 of the last 20 years, average Indian optimism rocketed. During the course of time, Indians have earned a brand name -  not snake charmers or poor children of the Raj anymore.

Though there were shortcomings, PV Narasimha Rao is by far the best Prime Minister of India who delivered substantial for the good of nation and it's citizens

Two decades after PV laid the foundations for the policy reforms and implemented them, today sadly though, India appears to be back at the square one. Manmohan Singh who hijacked larger credit, than due for his role as Finance Minister in 1991-96, is presiding over an economy that lost all the steam and direction. Deeply sunk into the corruption scandals and coalition politics compulsions, India at the best is at cross roads since 2009.

Today India direly needs a Leader of Vision, Action and Direction. A Leader who would put Nation's interests over their Personal Agenda. A Leader who is brave enough to face the challenges and put the nation on the right direction, instead of looking for excuses. A Leader whose vision would steer the nation for many decades to come.

For a nation and political class that has almost forgotten PV this is a token remembrance on his death Anniversary on 23rd Dec 2011, from an average Indian who benefited immensely from PV Narasimha Rao's strategic policy changes.