P. V. Narasimha Rao

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Pamulaparthi Venkata Narasimha Rao పాములపర్తి వెంకట నరసింహారావు <p> पामुलपर्ति वेङ्कट नरसिंह रावु
Image:Pvnarshimarao.jpg
12th Prime Minister of India
In office June 21, 1991 – May 16, 1996
Preceded by	Chandra Shekhar
Succeeded by	Atal Bihari Vajpayee

Born	28 June 1921 Vangara Village Karimnagar District, Andhra Pradesh
Died	23 December 2004
Political party	Congress (I)

Pamulaparthi Venkata Narasimha Rao (Telugu: పాములపర్తి వెంకట నరసింహారావు, Hindi: पामुलपर्ति वेङ्कट नरसिंह रावु) (28 June, 1921 – 23 December, 2004) was the twelfth Prime Minister of the Republic of India, and led one of the most important administrations in India's modern history that oversaw major economic transformation and checked national security crises.^{[citation needed]}

1 Early life
2 Ascent to Prime Minister
3 Challenges faced in office
4 Corruption
5 Later life
6 Quotes
7 Trivia
8 External links

[edit] Early life

A polyglot, Rao could speak 17 languages, including Urdu, Marathi, Hindi, Telugu and English with fluency akin to a native speaker. His mothertongue was Telugu. Along with his cousin Pamulaparthi Sadasiva Rao, Devulapalli Ramanuja Rao and Sri Kaloji Narayana Rao who was a great human rights activist in India, P.V. edited a Telugu bi-weekly magazine called "Kakatiya" in his early 20s. His father's name was P. V. Ranga Rao. They belonged to a poor Brahmin family from a village called "Vangara(pedda)" in Karimnagar District of Andhra Pradesh, India. He also learned several European languages that are typically not spoken in India, including French and Spanish. Rao studied at Osmania University and the Universities of Mumbai and Nagpur; he completed Bachelor's and Master's degrees in law.

Image:PVMGR.jpg

Rao was an active freedom-fighter during India's independence movement and, after independence, he joined politics full time. Rao served brief stints in the cabinet (1962 - 1971) and as chief minister of the state of Andhra Pradesh (1971 - 1973).

When the Indian National Congress split in 1969, he remained loyal to Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, and stayed so during the national emergency (1974-1977). He rose to the national prominence in 1972 by serving in several ministries, most significantly home, defence and foreign affairs (1980 - 1984), in the cabinets of Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi. He was the first PM from South India and Andhra Pradesh.

[edit] Ascent to Prime Minister

After the assassination of Rajiv Gandhi and the general elections of 1991, Rao was chosen to lead the Congress party, and when the Congress won a plurality in parliament later that year Rao was invited to head a minority government. He was the first person outside the Nehru-Gandhi dynasty to serve as Prime Minister for five continuous years. He was also the first Prime Minister to lead a minority government for a full term (five years) and the first prime minister from southern India.

[edit] Challenges faced in office

[edit] Economic crisis and Initiation of Liberaralization

Narasimha Rao became Prime Minister in 1991. India's leftist economic policies had caused economic stagnation.^{[citation needed]} In the early 1990's longtime leftist regimes such as USSR and China were in the process of liberalization. Rao believed India would benefit from undertaking such an economic transformation. He appointed Manmohan Singh (who subsequently become India's PM in 2004) as Finance Minister to accomplish his goals.

Rao provided the much needed political will and support to push economic reforms. India's economy grew by an average of 6.3% between 1991-2000, a growth rate that continues with a predicted rate of 6.7% for 2005 (source: IMF World Economic Outlook). Rao's supporters have claimed that this rate of growth is the result of spending cuts, deregulation, and privatization that began under the Rao government.

Rao picked conservative BJP leader Atal Behari Vajpayee to represent India in the World Disarmament Conference. Although they were opponents, Vajpayee's hardline pro-nuclear stance was in accordance with Rao's own views. Vajpayee later became the Prime Minister.

Narasimha Rao made a major foreign policy shift by balancing relations between Islamic world and the Israel.

[edit] Terrorism

The Himalayan state of Jammu and Kashmir faced increased terrorist activity during Rao's tenure. It was soon discovered that training camps in Pakistan administered Kashmir for these militants previously directed at evicting the Soviet army from Afghanistan were now producing the same fighters who were infiltrating Kashmir. Pakistan was directly charged with sheltering, arming and supplying infiltrators. Hindu pilgrims and Sikh settlers were attacked, and thousands of Kashmiri Pandits were forced to leave their homes in the Kashmir valley. Violence rocked and shut down parts of Kashmir, which is heavily dependent on tourism, and also struck major cities like Delhi and Mumbai. Similar terrorism spread into the northeastern states of Assam, Tripura and Nagaland.

Rao's government introduced the Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act (TADA), India's first anti-terrorism legislation, and sent the Indian Army into full swing to eliminate the infiltrators. Despite a heavy and largely successful Army campaign, the state descended into a security nightmare. Tourism and commerce were largely disrupted, and the people began living in fear of the terrorists. Special police units were often accused of committing excesses against prisoners, including torture and excessive detention. Rao was criticized but the state remained stable and largely secure.

One of biggest achievements during his tenure as Prime Minister was solving the Punjab crisis. He managed to hold a long awaited public election, get rid of militancy, and bring the state of Punjab into the mainstream.

[edit] Babri Mosque Crisis

The long-agitated VHP activists and nationalists attacked the Babri Mosque in Ayodhya on 6 December, 1992. The site is claimed to be the birthplace of Lord Rama, on which India's first Mughal invader and emperor destroyed an existing Hindu temple in the early 16th century. The destruction of the disputed structure, which was widely reported in all international media, unleashed the most vicious communal violence in the nation's modern history. Muslims retaliated with rioting across the country, infuriated by the destruction of the mosque, and almost every major city including Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, Bhopal, and Chennai struggled to hold back mobs. It is widely believed that the 1993 Mumbai Bombings, which claimed hundreds of innocent lives and left thousands injured, was the Islamic underworld's retaliation for the demolition of Babri Masjid in India.

A strong earthquake in Latur, Maharashtra, also killed 10,000 people and displaced hundreds of thousands in 1994-1995.

Despite the tragedies, Rao was applauded for using modern technology and resources to organize major relief operations to assuage the stricken peoples, and for schemes of economic reconstruction.

Rao also energized the national nuclear security and ballistic missiles program, which ultimately yielded the 1998 Pokhran nuclear tests. It is speculated that these tests were actually planned in 1995, during Rao's tenure in office. Rao increased military spending, and set the Army on course to fight the emerging threat of terrorism and insurgencies, as well as Pakistan and China's nuclear potentials. Rao also made diplomatic overtures to Western Europe, the United States, and China.

[edit] Corruption

The most negative aspect of Rao's legacy was his direct and indirect association with various corruption charges. Some of the more prominent examples were:

[edit] JMM Bribery Scandal

Allegation: In July 1993, Rao's government was facing a no-confidence motion, because it did not have sufficient numbers to prove a majority. Rao, through a representative, offered millions of rupees to members of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha, and possibly a breakaway faction of the Janata Dal, to vote for him during the confidence measure. Evidence: No explanation could be given for money in the bank accounts of JMM Parliament members. Shailendra Mahato, one of those members, turned approver. Outcome: After years of legal proceedings, a special court convicted Rao and his colleague, Buta Singh (Who is alleged to have escorted the MP's to the Prime Minister), on the charges.

[edit] St. Kitts Forgery Scandal

Allegation: Circa 1988-1989, Narasimha Rao, fellow Minister K.K. Tewary, Chandraswami (Narasimha Rao's spiritual guru) and K.N. Aggarwal alias Mamaji (Chandraswami's private secretary), are accused to forging document against Ajeya Singh, son of V.P. Singh, who at the time had just quit the Congress Party and was creating a formidable opposition force. The documents show that Ajeya had opened a bank account in First Trust Corporation Bank in St. Kitts and deposited $21 million in it, making V.P. Singh its beneficiary. Evidence: Forensic analysis of the signature's showed that they did not match either V.P. Singh or Ajeya Singh. Outcome: Narasimha Rao was eventually acquitted, as there was no evidence to prove that he has any role beyond asking a diplomat to confirm the signatures belonged to the Singh's. Suspiciously, A.P. Nandy, who initially headed up the CBI Investigation, was transferred during it.

[edit] Lakhubhai Pathak Cheating Scandal

Lakhubhai Pathak, a non-Resident Indian living in England, was a successful businessman. He alleged that Chandraswami and K.N. Aggarwal alias Mamaji, along with Mr. Rao, cheated him out of $100,000.00. The amount was given as an express promise for supplies of paper pulp in India, and Mr. Pathak alleges he spent an additional $30,000.00 entertaining Chandraswami and his secretary. Rao and Chandraswami were acquitted of charges in 2003, due to lack of evidence. Despite this, it remained a large black mark on Rao's administration.

[edit] Harshad Mehta Scandal

In 1992, Harshad Mehta was at the center of a massive scandal of stock manipulation which led to a crash in India's markets. Mehta alleged that Rao was among the politicians he had discussed his plans with to ensure cooperation. He claims to have given one crore rupees in cash to the Prime Minister, an allegation which never officially was investigated. Notably, however, Rao received little public support from his party colleagues in negating the charges.

[edit] Later life

When general elections were held in May, Rao and the Congress were badly defeated, and he had to step down as Prime Minister. He retained the leadership of the Congress party until late 1996, when he was pushed aside by Sitaram Kesri. According to Congress insiders who spoke with the media, Rao had kept an authoritarian stance on both the party and his government, which led to the departure of numerous prominent Congress leaders during his rein. They were: Narayan Dutt Tiwari, Arjun Singh, Madhavrao Scindia, Mamata Banerjee, G.K. Moopanar, and P.Chidambaram. The departure of these leaders led to substantial crumble in the Congress base.

Rao rarely spoke of his personal views and opinions during his 5 year tenure. After his retirement from national politics Rao published a novel called The Insider (ISBN 0-670-87850-2). The controversial book, which follows a man’s rise through the ranks of Indian politics, resembled events from Rao’s own life. (See Gonzo journalism.) Rao, however, denied any connection.

Rao suffered a heart attack on 9 December, 2004, and was taken to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, where he died 14 days later at the age of 83.

He was cremated with full state honors. His body was kept in state at the Jubilee Hall in Hyderabad. His funeral was attended by the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, former Prime Minister H. D. Deve Gowda, the BJP president L.K. Advani, the Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee, the Finance Minister P. Chidambaram and many other dignitaries[1].

[edit] Quotes

"When I don't make a decision, it's not that I don't think about it. I think about it and make a decision not to make a decision."
"Inaction is also action."
"Law will take its own course of action."
"Time itself is the solution to all problems."

[edit] Trivia

P.V. Narasimha Rao was the first Prime Minister of India:

to lead a minority government successfully for 5 years.
from South India.

[edit] External links

Preceded by: Chandra Shekhar	Prime Minister of India June 21 1991–May 16 1996	Succeeded by: Atal Behari Vajpayee
Preceded by: Shyam Nandan Prasad Mishra	Minister for External Affairs of India 14 Jan 1980–19 July 1984	Succeeded by: Indira Gandhi
Preceded by: Rajiv Gandhi	Minister for External Affairs of India 25 June 1988–2 Dec 1989	Succeeded by: V P Singh
Preceded by: Madhavsinh Solanki	Minister for External Affairs of India 31 Mar 1992–18 Jan 1993	Succeeded by: Dinesh Singh
Preceded by: Kasu Brahmananda Reddy	Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh 30 September 1971–10 January 1973	Succeeded by: Jalagam Vengala Rao