Montek Singh Ahluwalia Reflects On His Journey With Dr. Manmohan Singh

Ex-deputy chairman of the Planning Commission and Economist Dr Montek Singh Ahluwalia reflected on his decades-long association with former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh, whom he first met in 1973. At the time, Dr Ahluwalia said he was preparing for his wedding and Dr Singh invited him and his fiancee to dinner in Delhi.

"I first met Dr Manmohan Singh around 50 years ago. He was the one who inspired me to apply for the job of Economic Advisor," Dr Ahluwalia said while speaking to Rahul Kanwal, Executive Director Of Business Today.

Dr Manmohan Singh, the architect of India's economic reforms, died at 92. His last rites were carried out with full state honours at Delhi's Nigambodh Ghat on Saturday morning after top leaders from across party lines flocked to pay homage to the trailblazer of India's economic liberalisation.

Further in his conversation, Ahluwalia recounted how Dr Singh encouraged him to apply for the role of economic advisor in the Finance Ministry, a position that marked the beginning of his career in government. "Dr Singh played a pivotal role in my career, particularly when I was included in his core team in the Finance Ministry during the 1990s. Later, when Dr Singh became Prime Minister, he asked me to serve as Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission from 2004 to 2014," Ahluwalia said. Asked about Dr Singh’s economic abilities, Dr Ahluwalia emphasised his "high academic achievement" and technical competence. He recalled a key moment in the 1970s, when there was significant pressure to nationalise the wheat trade to control inflation. Listen in to know more.