Silent statesman who changed India

P amulaparti Venkata Narasimha Rao, born on June 28, 1921, at a small village in Telangana (then part of Hyderabad state), emerged as one of India’s most consequential yet understated Prime Ministers. A scholar, polyglot and shrewd political thinker, Rao’s legacy rests on his pivotal role in steering India from a controlled economy to a liberalised, market-driven one during his tenure as Prime Minister from 1991 to 1996.

A freedom fighter in his youth, Rao joined the Indian National Congress and steadily rose through its ranks. He served in various capacities, including as Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh (1971–1973), and later as Union minister in portfolios such as Defence, Foreign Affairs and Human Resource Development. Despite his low-profile demeanour, Rao was known for his intellectual depth and strategic mind.

In 1991, following the tragic assassination of Rajiv Gandhi, the Congress was in disarray. Rao, who had contemplated retirement, was chosen as a consensus candidate to lead the country. Assuming office at a time of a severe balance of payments crisis, Rao formed a minority government but wielded immense influence behind the scenes.

His greatest legacy lies in initiating sweeping economic reforms. Working closely with his Finance Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, Rao dismantled the licence raj, opened India to foreign investment and ushered in globalisation. These reforms laid the groundwork for the country’s transformation into one of the world’s fastest-growing economies.

He also deftly handled foreign affairs, especially navigating the post-Cold War world, improved ties with the US, launched the Look East policy to strengthen relations with Southeast Asia and maintained India’s strategic autonomy.

Domestically, his tenure was turbulent. The demolition of the Babri Masjid in 1992 remains a controversial and painful episode. Critics argue that Rao failed to act decisively to prevent the violence. Yet, his defenders point to his cautious balancing act as necessary to prevent greater instability.

Fluent in more than a dozen languages and a writer of fiction and philosophical essays, Rao was a renaissance man trapped in the mechanics of realpolitik. He retired from politics after 1996 and passed away on December 23, 2004. In a final injustice, his mortal remains were denied space in Delhi’s official cremation grounds, symbolising his complex legacy within his own party.

Over time, however, Rao has received greater recognition as the architect of modern India’s economic transformation. Often dubbed “the father of Indian economic reforms”, his once-muted legacy is now being revisited with renewed respect.

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