Early Life and Education

Pamulaparti Venkata Narasimha Rao was born on June 28, 1921, in Laknepalli village, located in the Karimnagar district of present-day Telangana (then Andhra Pradesh). He was adopted by a well-off Brahmin family and showed early academic brilliance. Rao completed his education in Telugu and Sanskrit before earning a law degree from Osmania University. A true polyglot, he was fluent in more than a dozen languages, including Hindi, English, Marathi, Tamil, Urdu, Persian, and even some European languages.

Entry into Politics

Rao joined the freedom struggle in his early years and entered active politics after India’s independence. He began his political career in Andhra Pradesh and became the Chief Minister of the state from 1971 to 1973, known for his land reform initiatives and support for education and rural development.

His administrative capabilities brought him into national politics, where he held key positions such as Minister of External Affairs, Home Affairs, Defence, and Human Resource Development under the leadership of Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi.

Prime Minister of India (1991–1996)

After the tragic assassination of Rajiv Gandhi in 1991, the Congress Party selected P. V. Narasimha Rao as a compromise candidate. On June 21, 1991, he was sworn in as the 9th Prime Minister of India. At the time, India was facing an unprecedented economic crisis, with rapidly depleting foreign reserves and rising inflation.

Economic Reforms and Liberalization

Despite leading a minority government, Rao introduced radical economic reforms that reshaped India’s future. Alongside Finance Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh, he initiated policies to liberalize the Indian economy, moving away from the socialist model.

Key highlights of his reform agenda included:

Dismantling the License Raj
Opening up to foreign direct investment (FDI)
Privatization of public sector undertakings
Devaluation of the Indian rupee
Tax and trade reforms

These reforms not only rescued India from economic collapse but also positioned it on the path to becoming a global economic power.

Other Contributions

In addition to economic reforms, Rao also made significant strides in:

Foreign policy, improving relations with the U.S., China, and neighboring countries
Tackling insurgency in Punjab and Kashmir
Laying the foundation for India’s IT revolution
Promoting education and telecommunications

He also managed political challenges with a calm and strategic mindset, making him one of the most intellectually astute leaders India has seen.

Later Years and Death

After his term ended in 1996, Rao remained active in politics but was sidelined by his own party. He faced allegations in several corruption cases but was acquitted. Sadly, his contributions were not fully recognized during his lifetime.

He passed away on December 23, 2004, in New Delhi.

Legacy

P. V. Narasimha Rao is hailed as the father of India’s economic liberalization. His visionary leadership during one of the country’s most difficult times transformed the Indian economy and governance. Today, his legacy is increasingly being acknowledged as pivotal in shaping modern India.