Who was P. V. Narasimha Rao? Everything You Need to Know

Quick Facts

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Also Known As: Pamulaparthi Venkata Narasimha Rao

Died At Age: 83

Family:

Spouse/Ex-: Satyamma

Prime Ministers Political Leaders

Died on: December 23, 2004

place of death: Delhi, India

Notable Alumni: Fergusson College, Nagpur University

Cause of Death: Heart Attack

More Facts

education: University Of Mumbai, Osmania University, Nagpur University, Fergusson College

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1

What were some key reforms implemented by P. V. Narasimha Rao during his tenure as Prime Minister of India?

P. V. Narasimha Rao implemented significant economic reforms, including liberalization, privatization, and globalization (LPG), which helped open up the Indian economy and boost economic growth.
2

What role did P. V. Narasimha Rao play in shaping India's foreign policy during his time as Prime Minister?

P. V. Narasimha Rao prioritized strengthening India's relations with other countries, particularly focusing on improving ties with major global powers like the United States and neighboring countries like China.
3

How did P. V. Narasimha Rao handle the Babri Masjid demolition incident in 1992?

P. V. Narasimha Rao faced criticism for the government's handling of the Babri Masjid demolition, with some accusing him of not doing enough to prevent the incident. However, he later took steps to restore peace and order in the aftermath.
4

What was the significance of P. V. Narasimha Rao's term as Prime Minister in relation to India's economic growth?

During his tenure, P. V. Narasimha Rao implemented economic reforms that helped liberalize the Indian economy and pave the way for higher economic growth rates in the following years.
5

How did P. V. Narasimha Rao navigate political challenges within his own party during his time as Prime Minister?

P. V. Narasimha Rao faced internal party dissent and challenges during his tenure as Prime Minister, but he was known for his political acumen and ability to navigate complex political situations to push forward his agenda.

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Childhood & Early Life

He was born on 28 June 1921 in a village in Warangal District, now in Telangana. He was adopted at the age of three by P. Ranga Rao and Rukminiamma, who hailed from agrarian families. His full name was Pamulaparti Venkata Narasimha Rao.

After completing his schooling he enrolled at the Arts college at the Osmania University from where he earned his Bachelor’s degree. He continued his studies at the Hislop College where he completed a Master’s degree in law.

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Career

Freedom struggle was at its peak during the 1940s, and Rao, a passionate patriot trained to be a guerrilla fighter to revolt against the Nizam who ruled Hyderabad at that time.

He fought a grueling war against the Nizam, risking his life as he strained to evade getting killed by the Nizam’s army. Even on 15 August 1947—the day India became independent—he was fighting in a forest.

He survived the war and joined politics after independence. He served in the Andhra Pradesh legislative assembly from 1957 to 1977. He was a staunch supporter of Indira Gandhi.

From 1962 to 1973 he held various ministerial positions in the Andhra Pradesh government, serving as the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh from 1971–73.

He was elected to Lok Sabha (lower house of parliament) in 1977. He handled diverse portfolios in the cabinets of both Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi, including that of foreign minister (1980–84, 1988–89).

He was planning to leave politics but the assassination of the Congress President Rajiv Gandhi in 1991 made him rethink his decision. The Congress Party chose Rao as its leader and after the 1991 general elections, he became India’s Prime Minister.

Indian economy was going through a crisis when he took over the reigns as the Prime Minister and he immediately set about implementing progressive reforms. He aimed at reducing the fiscal deficit, privatization of the public sector and increasing investment in infrastructure.

Rao chose Manmohan Singh, an acclaimed economist, as his Finance Minister, who helped him in implementing the reforms. The SEBI Act of 1992 and the Security Laws (Amendment) were introduced under his administration.

Some of Rao’s reforms included opening India’s equity markets to investment by foreign institutional investors and starting the National Stock Exchange as a computer-based trading system in 1994.

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As a Prime Minister, Rao made significant achievements and set the pace for the country’s speedy development. He energized the national nuclear security and ballistic missiles program, made diplomatic overtures to Western Europe, the United States, and China, and neutralized Kashmir separatist movement.

But his tenure was also marked by the allegations of corruption. He was charged with corruption and bribery in an alleged vote-buying scam dating back to 1993 when Rao’s government was facing a no-confidence motion

In the 1996 general elections the Congress Party was voted out by the Indian electorate and he stepped down as prime minister in May 1996

In 2000, a lower court found Rao guilty of bribing the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) MPs to save his government in 1993, and sentenced him to three years in prison. Rao got the bail and appealed to Delhi High Court against the verdict. In 2002, Delhi High Court acquitted him of the charge.

Major Works

He is best remembered for bringing about economic reforms in the country while serving as the Prime Minister. Working along with the Finance Minster, Manmohan Singh, he introduced several measures including cutting government regulations and red tape, abandoning subsidies and fixed prices, and privatizing state-run industries, which ultimately revitalized the economy of India.

Personal Life & Legacy

He was married to Satyamma and had eight children with her—three sons and five daughters. His wife died in 1970, leaving him a distraught widower for the rest of his life.

He was a scholar who spoke 17 languages and had a profound interest in literature. He was a prolific reader and wrote fiction in Telugu, Marathi, and Hindi. He had also once served as the chairman of the Telugu Academy in Andhra Pradesh (1968–74)

He suffered a heart attack on 9 December 2004 and died 14 days later on 23 December 2004, at the age of 83.

Facts About P. V. Narasimha Rao

P. V. Narasimha Rao was an avid reader and had an extensive personal library with a wide range of books on various subjects.

Rao was known for his simple and frugal lifestyle, often choosing to live modestly even during his time as Prime Minister.

He had a keen interest in spiritual and philosophical teachings, regularly engaging in discussions on these topics with scholars and intellectuals.

Rao was a skilled veena player and had a deep appreciation for Indian classical music, showcasing his cultural interests beyond politics.

P. V. Narasimha Rao Biography

You wanted to know

What were some key reforms implemented by P. V. Narasimha Rao during his tenure as Prime Minister of India?

What role did P. V. Narasimha Rao play in shaping India's foreign policy during his time as Prime Minister?

How did P. V. Narasimha Rao handle the Babri Masjid demolition incident in 1992?

What was the significance of P. V. Narasimha Rao's term as Prime Minister in relation to India's economic growth?

How did P. V. Narasimha Rao navigate political challenges within his own party during his time as Prime Minister?