Today is the Jayanti of P.V.Narasimha Rao, the man who liberalized the Indian economy, and opened it up. And more than anything else, provided the much needed stability for India in the turbulent 90s. One of the best PMs IMO.

The man who dismantled India's Licence Raj, opened up relations with Israel, adopted a Look East Policy. P.V.Narasimha Rao took over as PM, when India was faced with multiple challenges both on political and economic front in 1991.

Assasination of Rajiv Gandhi, Economic crisis, India was facing a bleak scenario, in 1991 when PVNR became the PM. It is to PVNR's credit that when he stepped down as PM in 1996,more people in India were optimistic about their future, more confident.

I was one of those who grew up during the PVNR era, experienced the initial changes he bought along. He introduced far sweeping reforms( forced or otherwise) , when he was just running a minority Govt dependent on allies support.

Heading a minority Govt,PVNR managed to pass through crucial bills on economy, not a mean feat at all. He had to deal with the Nehruvian-Socialist lobby in his own party, apart from the Left, but managed to push through the economic reforms.

Abolishing Controller of Capital Issues in 1992, was one of the reforms done by PVNR, also introducing the SEBI act.Indian firms were permitted to raise capital in foreign markets using GDR's thanks to PVNR, as also allowing FII's in equity markets.

When PVNR took over as PM in 1991,FDI was just 132 million USD, when he left in 1996, it rose to 5.3 billion USD thanks to his reforms. Slashing down on licensing was a major initiative by PVNR, only around 18 industries were subject to it, dismantled controls.

Best thing about PVNR, he would reach out to Opposition leaders on any vital issues, and get their assistance. One masterstroke by PVNR was sending Vajpayee and Salman Khurshid to Geneva Human Rights conference on Kashmir.

Benazir Bhutto placed a human rights resolution on Kashmir at Geneva, PVNR sent Vajpayee, Salman Khurshid to counter it, brilliant move, Both ABV and Salman Khurshid ensured that Pak sponsored resolution on Kashmir at Geneva was defeated, main brain behind was PVNR.

It was PVNR who started diplomatic relations with Israel in 1992, another bold step in foreign relations. Look East policy which emphasized on stronger ties with ASEAN, East Asian nations was again started by PVNR.

PVNR appointed @Swamy39 as Chairman of Commission on Labor Standards in 1994, perhaps first time an Oppn member was given Cabinet Rank post. He also started the cultivate Teheran policy, going closer to Iran, and also more friendly ties with Beijing too.

The world changed dramatically post Cold War, and to his credit PVNR managed the international relations well in that scenario. Incidentally PVNR cultivating better ties with China and Iran, was also a strategic step, to build up a front against Pakistan.

Pak's resolution on Kashmir at Geneva failed in 1994, coz both China, Iran opposed it, efforts of PVNR to improve relations with em worked.Pokhran-II again had it's roots in the Nuclear Security, Ballistic Missiles program started by PVNR, who laid the foundation for it.

It's believed that PVNR actually wanted to conduct nuke tests in 1995, but had to drop them under US pressure.However the ground work done by PVNR, enabled ABV's government to successfully pull off Pokhran-II in 1998.

Another success of PVNR was in crushing out the separatist movement in Punjab, giving a free hand to CM Beant Singh and KPS Gill. Can never forgive MMS for the way he turned his back on PVNR, without whom he would have been just another babu.

On the flip side, PVNR's regime was notorious for it's scams, right from Harshad Mehta to Sugar Scam to Sukh Ram. Too many scams broke out in his regime, one reason why he never really got the credit he deserved, it remained a black spot on him.

PVNR's later years were not good, had to quit in disgrace,financial troubles, and then shabbily treated in his death too. He was also a scholar, a polyglot fluent in around 17 languages among em Telugu, Marathi, Hindi, English, French, Urdu.

PVNR was not a Reagan or Thatcher, he was more middle of the road, Centrist kind, ala Wily Brandt and guess it was needed then. He also translated Viswanatha Satyanarayana's Veyi Padagalu into Hindi and Hari Narayan Apte's Marathi novel Pan Lakshat Kon Gheto.

PVNR laid the foundation for ABV to follow, and he did so while heading a minority Govt. I can only say one thing when PVNR took over as PM in 1991, I was doubtful about India's future, when he left in 1996, I was more confident.

And that I think is PVNR's greatest achievement, he made many Indians like me believe in the country, and more confident of it's future. When he became PM in 1991,both Punjab, TN were reeling under terrorism, when he stepped down in 1996, it was crushed out in both states.

Congress might have forgotten PVNR, but he will always live on in the memories of many ordinary Indians like me for his contribution. Most of the younger generation is unaware of PVNR's contribution, they think that MMS was the one who bought in economic reforms

Apart from this PVNR was also a freedom fighter, took part in the struggle against British as well as the Nizam. He was arrested during Nizam time, for hoisting the National flag in OU Hostel, later targeted by the Razakars too.

Also my answer on @Quora Why I regard PVNR so highly
quora.com/Andhra-Pradesh…

P.V.Narasimha Rao, a man who changed India, a scholar and thinker, bought stability in the turbulent 90's decade. Above all he bought hope and peace to a country grappling with riots, economic crisis, terrorism. Made many ordinary Indians like me believe in India.

Congress might have forgotten PVNR, most of the younger generation might not know that he was the real architect of economic reforms, not MMS, he did not even get a decent funeral, yet he will live on in the hearts of many Indians like me, who grew up in the 90s. #Naman

Some links here, how PVNR was humiliated in his final days by Madam and her lackeys, even worse MMS being the PM, did not even lift a finger at least out of courtesy for the man who bought him into limelight.
rediff.com/news/2004/dec/…

Excerpt from Half Lion by Vijay Sitapati, on how PVNR was humiliated in death, not even given a proper funeral thanks to Madam and her gang. Even worse not a single English media outlet reported this shabby treatment to PVNR.
swarajyamag.com/books/how-nara…

As a former Prime Minister, PVNR, was entitled to a state funeral, but he was not even given a decent dignified funeral, thanks to Madam's petty mindset. And what was worse the English media, did not even report this at all, and today they whine about fascism, bloody jokers.

It is really disgusting that in a country, where even movie stars get a state funeral nowadays, a scholar, a gentleman, a reformer, a leader who served the country with distinction like P.V.Narasimha Rao was treated so shabbily in death. No wonder we are cursed as a nation.

In fact it was the Telugu media that covered the way, PVNR was humiliated in his death, was really such a sad sight to see that. The English media on the other hand just maintained a radio silence, too scared to offend Madam I guess.