[ptrikha21]

It is almost as if an era has ended. Soft Spoken yet Highly Intellectual, diligent and articulate Scholarly former Prime Minister of India : Manmohan Singh passed away at an age of 92.
He retired from active politics some time back citing ill health.
Yet some time back, he attended a discussion on an issue in Rajya Sabha in a wheelchair, drawing admiration even from his rival party BJP's Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

He rose from humble beginnings and I read that he used to walk carrying a kerosene lamp to study in a place with no electricity.
He served with UNCTAD. Then for many years he was in many Government economic departments.
RBI Deputy Governor from 1982 to 1985 and in many other positions as well.
In 1991, he was called by then prime minister P.V.Narasimha Rao to help him manage the economy at a crucial junction.
India was facing an acute balance of payments crisis, high inflation, eroding confidence in economy and India even had to pledge Gold abroad to tide over the criris.
He and Rao liberalized the economy that paved the way for its rapid expansion in the following decades.
This alone could be termed as one in a lifetime decision for which perhaps even today's and following generations need to be grateful for.

His Nuclear deal and other initiatives helped strengthen diplomatic ties with the U.S.
Under his tenure between 2004 and 2014, India’s gross domestic product initially expanded rapidly, allowing Singh to deploy the new wealth to programs such as the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, which guaranteed jobs for the poor.

Although his later years from 2010 to 2014 in his second term were marred by many scams and corruption charges against his ministers, overall he left a big imprint on Indian Economy and Politics.



News Link :

https://www.cnbc.com/2024/12/27/manmohan-singh-death-draws-tributes-from-political-industry-leaders-.html

[Angie10]

So sorry for India's loss I saw it reported on the news this morning. He was a force to be reckoned with, that's for sure. An economist of note who set India on the right path to industrialisation by liberelising India's economy. His is a true story of inspiration when you learn he came from very humble beginnings.

[cmoneyspinner]

I also heard about this on the news. He left a great example for others to follow.

[JASPREET]

We will all remember him for his great work although he was never given a free hand as a Prime Minister

[ptrikha21]

So sorry for India's loss I saw it reported on the news this morning. He was a force to be

reckoned with, that's for sure. An economist of ........ beginnings.

He rose from humble beginnings to the very top.
He had not aspired for those positions of power.
However, some of his last years as the PM were very challenging as many of his ministers indulged in a lot of scams and corruption.

--- 29 Dec 2024, 23:10 ---

We will all remember him for his great work although he was never given a free hand as a Prime Minister

Yes, if he had been given a more free hand especially from 2010 to 2014, results would have been different.

--- 29 Dec 2024, 23:12 ---

I also heard about this on the news. He left a great example for others to follow.

Yes. And well, he overcome obstacles to help improve India US relations as well as implement many of his economic policies.

During his last five years, some of his measures might seem a bit pro-socialist but many of them worked and made a difference to the lives of many poor prople.

[cmoneyspinner]

pro-socialist

If something works people don't care about socialist, democrat, populist, etc.
If it improves their quality of life, that's all that matters.

[ptrikha21]

pro-socialist

If something works people don't care about socialist, democrat, populist, etc.
If it improves their quality of life, that's all that matters.

Yes, at a point of time even if something is labeled X,Y or Z, if the quality of life and the outcomes improve, it does not matters.

[cmoneyspinner]

Yes, at a point of time even if something is labeled X,Y or Z, if the quality of life and the outcomes improve, it does not matters.

I aid that because I know that's how American politicians use labels to manipulate people into voting for them. An educated and informed voter knows those labels don't mean crap! But many voters, sad to say, can be easily swayed to follow the crowd.

Of course, it helps if a billionaire like Elon Musk promises to pay voters a million dollars. Sure can't call him a socialist. He's a capitalist-imperialist dog all the way!

[ptrikha21]

Yes, at a point of time even if something is labeled X,Y or Z, if the quality of life and the outcomes improve, it does not matters.

I aid that because I know that's how American politicians use labels to manipulate people into voting for them. ... way![/i]

While Socialism or Communism bought with them the perils of inefficiency, increased corruption, lack of productivity and an overall lack of services and manufacturing output as seen in pre 1980s China and USSR, some initial thoughts of those ideologies arose because of Crass Capitalism and what we call as Laissez ' Faire (spelled something like that) of 1800s and early 1900s.
Workers and Employees across Europe and Americas were paid less and lived in horrible conditions.
In that time's Russia as well.
So yes, too much of inequality in Capitalist society that still persists need to be looked into.

Over the years, while the salaries of the Top brass of companies especially the Private ones has increased by high %age, normal employees salaries have not risen by even a fraction of that.

The increasing disparity is a social and economic problem.

[cmoneyspinner]

We are both saying the same thing.

Whether socialist, communist, fascist, dictatorship, monarchy, democracy, etc. … Aren't there still the HAVES and the HAVE-NOTS?

The HAVES live a life of luxury, while the HAVE-NOTS have to manage living with what they have.

For the record, THEY ALL BROUGHT CORRUPTION and that's the real problem.
What they PROMISE is not what they DELIVER.

Although? Socialist countries aren't that bad, i.e. nations like Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Netherlands. But the "new threat" is radical Islam. It's not a form of government. It's a religion.

(Yawn. The world is so tiresome.)

[ptrikha21]

We are both saying the same thing.

Whether socialist, communist, fascist, dictatorship,.....

Yes, so much to talk about but in the end, nothing substantial for many of us!

[cmoneyspinner]

Yes, so much to talk about but in the end, nothing substantial for many of us!

Uh-huh. It's a global thing and we all understand! As the world turns ...