But history must record this:
Rest in peace, Rao. The nation has finally begun to realize what it lost. Do you agree that Narasimha Rao is the most underrated PM in Indian history? Let us know in the comments below. sthanam narasimha rao
Into this inferno stepped a 70-year-old mild-mannered Congress leader from Telangana. Rao was not a firebrand. He was a scholar who spoke 17 languages, translated the Mahabharata into Telugu, and read Sanskrit poetry for fun. But history must record this: Rest in peace, Rao
In a country that loves to deify its leaders, Rao remains the exception. Walk down any major street in Delhi, Mumbai, or Hyderabad, and you will find statues of political dynasts, freedom fighters, and regional strongmen. But you will rarely find a statue of the man who actually pulled India out of the economic dark ages. Let us know in the comments below
But whispers can move mountains.
When he died in 2004, the funeral was not attended by the pomp and ceremony usually reserved for a former PM. It was quiet. Scholarly. A reflection of the man himself. P.V. Narasimha Rao was not a charismatic leader. He did not wave a sword. He did not give thunderous speeches that made the crowd roar. He stammered slightly. He spoke in whispers.