Atal Bihari Vajpayee
Known as "Chanakya" (for his ability to manipulate political decisions, bring persuasive reform and legislate ruthlessly), Rao took over the reins of a singularly unmanageable India and saved her from bankruptcy, initiated reforms to strengthen foreign policy, quelled several separatist movements in Punjab and Kashmir and instituted India's first decisive anti-terrorism legislation. Here's why:
1. The Father of Indian Economic Reform: India was on the brink of certain economic doom in 1991. Socialist policies that kept India in poverty for 45 years - including the failed "Garibi Hatao" policy of Indira Gandhi, "License Raj" driven economic planning and failure to open the Indian economy to foreign investment - ensured that India's GDP stagnated at 3.5%. PVNR appointed Manmohan Singh as finance minister, who initiated the economic liberalization of India.
The License Raj was dismantled, foreign direct investment encouraged, import duties reduced, and India's growth rate reached 7.5% in 1992.
3. Elections for Punjab: Rao inherited India during the time of deep threats of separatist movements in Punjab and Kashmir, with widespread bloodletting. Narasimha Rao turned his attention to Punjab in 1991, first. He appointed KPS Gill as head of police who helped bring the insurgency under control. His insistence that elections for Punjab be held, in March 1992 (and later on, the municipal elections in Sept 1992), despite producing a narrow electorate base, helped with the emergence of moderate politicians, including eight Akali Dal sponsored candidates for the elections.
Even though he is criticized (rightly) for the failure to act decisively during the Babri mosque's demolition, P V Narasimha Rao's contributions are what helped India re-invent herself for the 21st century.
Today, even his own party considers his name unmentionable, and Indians often diminish his achievements, their view-points largely distorted because of the horrible massacres that followed Ayodhya, (despite Rao being exonerated by the Liberhan Commission, later) and several corruption scandals (most notably, the Harshad Mehta scandal). Rao, the unsung hero in the story of New India, died a penniless man and has been forgotten by most of India today.
- Foreign Policy: Vajpayee's foreign policy successes are many. He led India to a victory over Pakistan in 1999 in Kargil and more importantly, he US began to recognize India's position against Pakistan. Relations with China also normalised.
- Economy: The economy stabilised by the time he took over in 1999 and started an unbelievable growth trajectory. He firmly supported disinvestment, but not blind privatisation. As Manmohan Singh said at a recent rally, the economy grew at 5.6% during the Vajpayee tenure, indeed a very impressive growth rate.
- Home Affairs: This is where the Vajpayee Government had its failures. It failed to check the VHP's protests in 2002 in order to celebrate the demolition of the Babri Masjid. He also failed to take any concrete action against Narendra Modi's Government. You may argue that he upheld democracy by allowing the people to judge - and it thus remains debatable wher you can blame him.
- Biggest Embarassment: The Tehelka scandal rocked his ministry and the Coffin scandal involving George Fernandes portrayed his ministry as quite corrupt.
- Biggest Advantage: He's a 10 time Lok Sabha member and has won the "Best Parliamentarian" award. I am pleased to put a distinguished parliamentarian on top of this list.
P V Narasimha Rao
The another best PM is P V Narasimha Rao, the ninth Prime Minister of India.
Known as "Chanakya" (for his ability to manipulate political decisions, bring persuasive reform and legislate ruthlessly), Rao took over the reins of a singularly unmanageable India and saved her from bankruptcy, initiated reforms to strengthen foreign policy, quelled several separatist movements in Punjab and Kashmir and instituted India's first decisive anti-terrorism legislation. Here's why:
1. The Father of Indian Economic Reform: India was on the brink of certain economic doom in 1991. Socialist policies that kept India in poverty for 45 years - including the failed "Garibi Hatao" policy of Indira Gandhi, "License Raj" driven economic planning and failure to open the Indian economy to foreign investment - ensured that India's GDP stagnated at 3.5%. PVNR appointed Manmohan Singh as finance minister, who initiated the economic liberalization of India.
The License Raj was dismantled, foreign direct investment encouraged, import duties reduced, and India's growth rate reached 7.5% in 1992.
All this was done via a series of carefully instigated measures, which even prevented the threat of massive layoffs of Govt workers and factory employees. Even today, Manmohan Singh testifies that he could have achieved very little without Narasimha Rao's backing.
2. The "Look East" foreign policy: The Narasimha Rao government also initiated the Look East policy as a means to strengthen foreign policy relations with United States, but quickly shifted focus to building relationships with ASEAN countries. Today, India enjoys the benefits of economic integration and bilateral trade with nations like Singapore, Japan, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, etc in sectors such as Science & Technology, Health, Space Research, Agriculture, etc, thanks to the initiation of this policy.
2. The "Look East" foreign policy: The Narasimha Rao government also initiated the Look East policy as a means to strengthen foreign policy relations with United States, but quickly shifted focus to building relationships with ASEAN countries. Today, India enjoys the benefits of economic integration and bilateral trade with nations like Singapore, Japan, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, etc in sectors such as Science & Technology, Health, Space Research, Agriculture, etc, thanks to the initiation of this policy.
3. Elections for Punjab: Rao inherited India during the time of deep threats of separatist movements in Punjab and Kashmir, with widespread bloodletting. Narasimha Rao turned his attention to Punjab in 1991, first. He appointed KPS Gill as head of police who helped bring the insurgency under control. His insistence that elections for Punjab be held, in March 1992 (and later on, the municipal elections in Sept 1992), despite producing a narrow electorate base, helped with the emergence of moderate politicians, including eight Akali Dal sponsored candidates for the elections.
Even though he is criticized (rightly) for the failure to act decisively during the Babri mosque's demolition, P V Narasimha Rao's contributions are what helped India re-invent herself for the 21st century.
Today, even his own party considers his name unmentionable, and Indians often diminish his achievements, their view-points largely distorted because of the horrible massacres that followed Ayodhya, (despite Rao being exonerated by the Liberhan Commission, later) and several corruption scandals (most notably, the Harshad Mehta scandal). Rao, the unsung hero in the story of New India, died a penniless man and has been forgotten by most of India today.
