A tribute to P.V.Narashimha Rao

Pamulaparthy Venkata Narashimha Rao was one of the personalities who changed the way people live and think in India.
This multi-facet personality was born on 28 June 1921. He survived many waves in his lifetime and similarly set free many waves too. His tenures at several important ministries were remarkable in terms of decisions taken. He was given responsible ministries like foreign, defense, home and HRD. During the HRD minister he conceived the scheme of Navodaya Vidyalaya. I am one of the beneficiaries of this scheme. I got a chance to develop my overall personality in the Navodaya Vidyalaya on the full free scholarship provided by HRD ministry, otherwise my life would have taken an unknown turn.

He is often glorified as modern Chanakya of Indian economy. During his Prime Minister tenure he brought in the economist, Manmohan Singh as finance minister and set the mantra of LPG (Liberalisation, Privatization and Globalisation) free to spread. Foreign investment started pouring in and economic reforms took place and this LPG has left an essence for us to think differently.

As a prominent leader of Congress he was vulnerable to several cruel charges too. December 6, 1992, he was charged as not taking pre-emptive action to prevent the demolition of Babri-Masjid. To follow it there was Harshad Mehta case, which never got proved and the JMM bribery case when he was acquitted of charges.

Overall he was a well-known linguist, statesman and a political philosopher too. He was again a masterpiece of verbal economy. When he wrote The Insider, which is in between an autobiography and fiction, in which he have shown the truth underlying the Indian politics.

My tribute to the great thinker, visionary and literary figure who told on being sworn in as prime minister of India," As an Individual, I feel overwhelmed, utterly humble, but as representative of great party, I feel like a colossus”.

May his soul rest in peace and see his dreams come true.