India paid heartfelt tributes to former Prime Minister PV Narasimha Rao on his birth anniversary, celebrating his legacy as a visionary leader whose transformative economic reforms reshaped the nation’s trajectory. Leaders across the political spectrum lauded Rao’s contributions to India’s economic liberalization, foreign policy, and national development.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi honored Rao, stating on X, “India is grateful to Shri PV Narasimha Rao Garu for his effective leadership during a crucial phase of our development trajectory. His intellect, wisdom, and scholarly nature are widely admired.”
Born on June 28, 1921, in Laknepalli village, present-day Telangana, Rao was a freedom fighter and a prominent member of the Indian National Congress. Serving as India’s ninth Prime Minister from 1991 to 1996, he was the first South Indian and only the second non-Hindi-speaking leader to hold the office. His tenure is best remembered for the 1991 economic reforms that liberalized India’s economy, fostering unprecedented growth and elevating the country’s global standing.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh described Rao as “a towering statesman and scholar par excellence,” noting his contributions to economic progress and national development. Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge echoed this sentiment, emphasizing that Rao’s reforms were “instrumental in catalyzing an era of unprecedented national growth” and pivotal in expanding India’s middle class. Kharge also highlighted Rao’s role in advancing India’s nuclear program and initiating the ‘Look East’ foreign policy.
The Congress party paid tribute, stating, “Rao’s 1991 economic reforms set India on the path of progress, liberalization, and self-reliance. His bold reforms and statesmanship continue to inspire generations.”
Other leaders, including Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, and Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Saini, also honored Rao. Chouhan called him a “Bharat Ratna” whose contributions were invaluable, while Birla hailed him as the “architect of India’s prosperity through liberalization.” Dhami and Saini praised Rao’s role in opening doors to economic prosperity and strengthening India’s global identity.
