Sanjaya Baru

1991: How P. V. Narasimha Rao Made History

1. IDEA 1

   An unlikely prime minister

   Baru describes how P. V. Narasimha Rao, close to retirement, became prime minister after Rajiv Gandhi's assassination in 1991. Few expected him to lead a historic transformation. He was seen as a cautious caretaker.

2. IDEA 2

   India faced economic collapse

   Baru describes the severe crisis of 1991, when India had foreign reserves for only a few weeks of imports. The country even had to pledge gold to raise money. National pride was badly hurt.

3. IDEA 3

   Rao chose a technocrat

   Baru describes Rao's choice of Manmohan Singh as finance minister. This surprising decision brought an economist into a key political role. Rao gave Singh strong political backing throughout the reforms.

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