Manmohan Singh No More: All About India's Visionary Former PM's Educational Qualifications

Former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh, a respected leader and economist, passed away on Thursday at the age of 92. He had been admitted to AIIMS Delhi in critical condition and passed at 9:51 PM. Known for his transformative economic reforms, Dr. Singh retired from the Rajya Sabha earlier this year after 33 years of service. Leaders from across the political spectrum, including Priyanka Gandhi, paid their respects.

Early Life and Education

Born on September 26, 1932, in Gah village (now in Pakistan's Punjab), Dr. Singh earned his Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Economics from Panjab University. He completed his Economic Tripos at Cambridge University in 1957 and obtained a DPhil in Economics from Nuffield College at Oxford University in 1962. 

In a 2005 interview with the British writer Mark Tully, Singh spoke about his Cambridge days:

"I first became conscious of the creative role of politics in shaping human affairs, and I owe that mostly to my teachers Joan Robinson and Nicholas Kaldor. Joan Robinson was a brilliant teacher, but she also sought to awaken the inner conscience of her students in a manner that very few others were able to achieve. She questioned me a great deal and made me think the unthinkable. She propounded the left wing interpretation of Keynes, maintaining that the state has to play more of a role if you really want to combine development with social equity. Kaldor influenced me even more; I found him pragmatic, scintillating, stimulating. Joan Robinson was a great admirer of what was going on in China, but Kaldor used the Keynesian analysis to demonstrate that capitalism could be made to work"

Singh returned to India after graduating from Cambridge to teach at Panjab University. In 1960, he enrolled at Nuffield College at the University of Oxford to pursue his DPhil. His 1962 PhD thesis, titled 'India's export performance, 1951-1960, export prospects and policy implications,' was supervised by I.M.D. Little and eventually served as the foundation for his book 'India's Export Trends and Prospects for Self-Sustained Growth.'

Career Highlights

Dr. Singh held key positions, including Chief Economic Advisor, Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission, and Governor of the Reserve Bank of India. As Finance Minister (1991–1996), he introduced landmark economic liberalization policies, opening India’s economy to foreign investment and reducing government control.

In 2004, Dr Singh became the 13th Prime Minister of India, serving two terms (2004–2014) and becoming the longest-serving PM after Jawaharlal Nehru and Indira Gandhi. His tenure is remembered for economic growth and progressive reforms.

Legacy of a Visionary Leader

Dr Singh’s legacy lies in his dedication to India's economic development and his role in shaping the nation’s global economic standing. His contributions as an economist and leader continue to inspire generations.

Robert Vadra aptly expressed the nation's sentiment: "Dr. Singh's immense contributions to India will always be remembered."

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