scorecardresearch
Thursday, March 28, 2024
Support Our Journalism
HomeIn Pictures100 years of PV Narasimha Rao — the memorable tenure of an...

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.

Follow Us :
Text Size:

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.

Former PM P.V. Narasimha Rao greets Congress leader Sonia Gandhi | Photo: Praveen Jain
Former PM P.V. Narasimha Rao greets Congress leader Sonia Gandhi | Photo: Praveen Jain
Prime Minister P. V. Narasimha Rao with Manmohan Singh during the Moscow Visit at Airpot | Photo: Praveen Jain
Prime Minister P.V. Narasimha Rao with then finance minister Manmohan Singh during their visit to Moscow in 1994 | Photo: Praveen Jain
Prime Minister P. V. Narasimha Rao with H. D. Deve Gowda, Inder Kumar Gujral and Chandrashekhar at Parliament House | Photo: Praveen Jain
P.V. Narasimha Rao with H.D. Deve Gowda, Inder Kumar Gujral and Chandra Shekhar at Parliament House. All four served stints as prime minister | Photo: Praveen Jain
Prime Minister P. V. Narasimha Rao with Sonia Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi & President Giani Zail Singh at Rajiv Gandhi Samadhi | Photo: Praveen Jain
(From left to right) Undated photo of Congress leaders Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Sonia Gandhi, Rao and then President Giani Zail Singh at Rajiv Gandhi Samadhi | Photo: Praveen Jain
Prime Minister P. V. Narasimha Rao with H. D. Deve Gowda | Photo: Praveen Jain
Rao and Deve Gowda | Photo: Praveen Jain
Prime Minister P. V. Narasimha Rao & President R, Venkatraman during Iftar party at Hyderabad house | Photo: Praveen Jain
Rao with former President R. Venkataraman during a party at Hyderabad House | Photo: Praveen Jain
Prime Minister P. V. Narasimha Rao in rare attire leaves for Moscow | Photo: Praveen Jain
A rare photograph of Rao in a shirt and trousers, while leaving for Moscow | Photo: Praveen Jain
Prime Minister P.V Narsimha Rao with President Shankar Dayal Sharma & Head of State Russia at Ceremonial Reception | Photo: Praveen Jain
Rao with former President Shankar Dayal Sharma and former Turkey President Suleyman Demirel at a ceremonial reception | Photo: Praveen Jain
Narasimha Rao: The Accidental Prime Minister. He was Packing his bags to leave delhi when fate ordained that he play a big role | Photo: Praveen Jain
Often described as an accidental PM, Rao was set to leave Delhi just before he assumed the PM’s chair| Photo: Praveen Jain
Prime Minister P.V Narasimha Rao with Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah at an iftar party at Hyderabad House | Photo: Praveen Jain
Rao with former J&K CM Farooq Abdullah at an iftar party at Hyderabad House | Photo: Praveen Jain
Prime Minister P.V Narasimha Rao gets his make up done ahead of an interview with BBC | Photo: Praveen Jain
Getting ready for of an interview with BBC | Photo: Praveen Jain
Prime Minister Narasimha Rao with Sonia Gandhi, Priyanka GNadhi & Rahul Gandhi at Rajiv Gandhi Samadhi | Photo: Praveen Jain
With Sonia Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra & Rahul Gandhi at Rajiv Gandhi Samadhi | Photo: Praveen Jain
Prime Minister Narasimha Rao is unconcerned that he looks slightly odd with a gamcha covering his head to protect him from the sunlight with Atal Bihari Vajpai at samadhi | Photo: Praveen Jain
With a gamcha wrapped around his head to guard against the sunlight; seated beside former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee | Photo: Praveen Jain
Prime Minister P. V. Narasimha Rao with Ghulam Navi Azad and Shivraj patil at thr prayer meeting | Photo: Praveen Jain
Rao with senior Congress leaders Ghulam Nabi Azad and Shivraj Patil | Photo: Praveen Jain
A weary Narasimha Rao showing clearly that its at times boring fulfilling the role of Prime Minister | Photo: Praveen Jain
Caught yawning at an event | Photo: Praveen Jain
Prime Minister Narasimha Rao with Sonia Gandhi, Priyanka GNadhi & Rahul Gandhi at Rajiv Gandhi Samadhi | Photo: Praveen Jain
(From left to right) Rao with Sonia Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra & Rahul Gandhi at Rajiv Gandhi Samadhi | Photo: Praveen Jain
Former PM Narasimha Rao & Former CM of Punjab Sardar Beant Singh at PM house| Photo: Praveen Jain
With former Punjab CM Sardar Beant Singh at PM house| Photo: Praveen Jain
Former PM P. V. Narasimha Rao & Chandrashekhar & Sonia Gandhi during At Home Reception at Rashtrapati Bhavan | Photo: Praveen Jain
Former PMs Rao & Chandra Shekhar with Sonia Gandhi at an At-Home Reception at Rashtrapati Bhavan | Photo: Praveen Jain
Former PM P. V. Narasimha Rao with Sonia Gandhi at Teen Murti House | Photo: Praveen Jain
With Sonia Gandhi at Teen Murti House | Photo: Praveen Jain

Subscribe to our channels on YouTube, Telegram & WhatsApp

Support Our Journalism

India needs fair, non-hyphenated and questioning journalism, packed with on-ground reporting. ThePrint – with exceptional reporters, columnists and editors – is doing just that.

Sustaining this needs support from wonderful readers like you.

Whether you live in India or overseas, you can take a paid subscription by clicking here.

Support Our Journalism

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

Most Popular