Manmohan Singh, India's prime minister from 2004 to 2014, has died
NPR Online NewsDEC 2024
India: Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Dies at 92
Above: Manmohan Singh arrives at the Chancellery on April 11, 2013 in Berlin, Germany. Image copyright: Sean Gallup/Staff/Getty Images News via Getty Images
The Spin
Narrative A
Dr. Manmohan Singh transformed a nation through quiet determination and unwavering integrity. As finance minister, he liberated India's economy from bureaucratic shackles, and as prime minister, he lifted 250M out of poverty while deepening democracy through landmark legislation. A man of profound humility who knew poverty first-hand, his soft-spoken demeanor masked a steely resolve that earned him global respect. Barack Obama's words capture his essence: "wise, thoughtful, and scrupulously honest."
Narrative B
Singh's decade as prime minister stands as a cautionary tale of brilliance without authority. A fundamentally decent man who never faced personal corruption charges, he presided over an administration plagued by scandals and bureaucratic inertia. His loyalty to his party over the nation and his reluctance to assert leadership turned him into a tragic figure — a placeholder prime minister whose government operated without direction, ultimately paving the way for Narendra Modi's decisive victory.