India's New PM:God has not Given up on India

[Guest guest]

"Asked about his vision for India, he responded optimistically, "I

don't know if Indians have faith in God, but God still has some

faith in India. While civilisations across the world are wiped out

over a period, our Indian civilisation, which is over 5,000 years,

has stood the test of Time and is still vibrant. This is what gives

me hope that God has not yet given up on India."

 

http://us.rediff.com/news/2004/may/22spec2.htm?

headline='I've~to~give~something~back:'~Dr~Singh

 

It was in 1999 that I had the opportunity to meet Dr Manmohan Singh

in Delhi on two occasions. This happened during the course of my

work as a journalist; I used to contribute to the Tamil weekly

Kunkumam.

 

Once, I did an exclusive interview with him.

 

The other time, I trailed him during his campaign for the 1999

general election. He lost, but his personality was so unforgettable

that the result seemed insignificant -- at least, I thought so.

 

During the interview, I got a glimpse into his way of life, his

philosophy and his idea of governance.

 

Asked about his vision for India, he responded optimistically, "I

don't know if Indians have faith in God, but God still has some

faith in India. While civilisations across the world are wiped out

over a period, our Indian civilisation, which is over 5,000 years,

has stood the test of Time and is still vibrant. This is what gives

me hope that God has not yet given up on India."

 

He said the dictum of Bhagvad Gita -- 'Do one's duty without the

expectations of results' -- has been his guiding light.

 

"In fact, all our Indian scriptures, including our Guru Granth Sahib

[the holy book of the Sikhs], emphasises this philosophy," he

explained.

 

When I asked him which areas he would emphasise on if he were to

prepare the Union Budget, he said, "What is essential today is to

revive the people's confidence in themselves, in the country and in

the government."

 

And how did he plan to do that?

 

"Undoubtedly, my first job would be to reduce inflation. It is the

duty of the finance minister to ensure that inflation doesn't hurt

the common man, even as he implements plans that focus on improving

the economy. Some people argue that high inflation is the price we

pay for a robust economy. I don't agree with this. It is important

to bring down the inflation."

 

It was Minoo Masani's book Our India that first sparked his interest

in economics.

 

His father wanted him to study medicine; in fact, Dr Singh had

already joined a medical college. But he soon realised his forte was

economics and made the switch.

 

Dr Singh said he felt indebted to society. "Since most of my

education was funded by some scholarship or the other, I feel I have

to give something back to society. Although I have had several

offers from abroad, I feel my place is in India. In general, life

has given me everything that is good. I am contented with my life.

There is no sense of want in my life now."

 

Other snippets from the interview:

 

Amartya Sen was his senior in Cambridge.

 

Besides economics, his interests include reading (politics, history,

biographies, etc) and classical music (M S Subbulakshmi tops his

list of favourite musicians).

 

He appreciates the simplicity of South Indians and enjoys South

Indian food. "It is tasty and has varieties too," he said.

 

During his campaign trail, he came across as your next-door

neighbour.

 

Party workers sang and danced as he moved from house to house in

South Delhi, the constituency he was contesting from. He actually

looked lost as, with folded hands, he moved with the aggressive

crowd.

 

When there was confusion among party workers about the route they

were to take, or any other aspect of the campaigning, he stood aside

silently and watched them sort it out among themselves.

 

He was not overbearing nor did he throw his weight around. In fact,

he absolutely lacked the airs and fancies of a politician!

 

He cooperated completely with the party workers.

 

When the crowd got beyond control, when they literally held his

hands and took him to some other direction -- another house or a

gurdwara -- he obliged with a smile and without making a fuss.

 

He was a total greenhorn in electioneering, but the public didn't

seem to mind that.

 

"He is one sane man in today's rotten politics," said one bystander.

 

Another extolled his honesty and simplicity.

 

A shopkeeper remembered him as the person who revived India's

economy.

 

If he had a drawback, politically speaking that is, it is the lack

of a mass base. But I think it is his sense of humility that keeps

him back from projecting himself as a leader of the masses.

 

I hope his performance will speak for him in the future and give him

the mass base that he needs.