100 years of PV Narasimha Rao — the memorable tenure of an ‘accidental PM’ in pictures
With 1991 economic reforms, Narasimha Rao & Manmohan Singh steered India out of economic abyss. Rao is also credited with doing away with the Licence Raj in India.
New Delhi: Former Prime Minister Pamulaparthi Venkata Narasimha Rao packed much punch in the five years he led India (1991-1996), including bringing in the landmark 1991 economic reforms with the then finance minister Manmohan Singh.
Born on 28 June 1921 in present-day Telangana, he was India’s first Prime Minister from the southern region. He emerged as the Congress’ PM candidate after the death of former PM Rajiv Gandhi, who was assassinated on the campaign trail.
With the economic reforms, which complete 30 years this month, Rao and Singh steered India out of economic abyss in 1991. Rao is also credited with doing away with the Licence Raj in India. Another crucial part of his legacy is shepherding India through the aftermath of the end of the Cold War.
A loyal member of the Congress all his life, Rao died on 23 December 2004, 8 months after UPA-1 came into power. However, the party refused to allow his body inside the Congress headquarters for a final farewell by party rank and file. He was eventually cremated in Hyderabad.
On his 100th birth anniversary, ThePrint’s National Photo Editor Praveen Jain brings some moments from Rao’s life, as captured by his camera over the years.
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