The whole country is in the mourning at the passing away of our Prime Minster on 26 December 2024. His legacy in instituting radical economic reforms, first as the finance minister in 1991 and later during his ten-year prime ministership from 2004 to 2014, will remain indelibly etched in the country’s history.
My interaction with Dr. Manmohan Singh, was both brief and non-political. In March 2008, in consultation with a few military pensioners, I founded Indian Ex Servicemen Movement (IESM) to pursue the long pending demand of one-rank-one-pension (OROP). This subject had been in cold storage ever since it was first mooted in early 1
980s. Various governments headed by different political parties had held power since then but OROP had remained a hot potato.
We decided to take the issue to a public platform. Our first rally was scheduled on 27 April 2008. Having worn the military uniform for over 40 years, and having worked within the confines of straitjacket rules, it was not an easy decision to make and admittedly I was at considerable unease. I was still finding ways to bring OROP on the country’s front burner without any such radical action.
Brigadier KP Singhdeo was heading the AICC Ex Servicemen cell. I requested him to arrange my meeting with the Prime Minister where I could put the issue before the highest authority in the country. Apart from being a politician, KP is also a Brigadier in the Territorial Army and belongs to a battalion of my own regiment.
Late afternoon on 4 April 2008, he telephoned me that the meeting had been fixed at 5pm that evening in the Prime Minister’s official residence, 7 Race Course Road. Luckily, I was already in Delhi and could reach in time. But due to short notice I had carried no written brief that should have been the norm.
Dr Manmohan Singh, dressed in his immaculate white kurta received us with utmost courtesy. Brigadier Singhdeo, being part of the ruling party, was silent while I did the talking. When I mentioned about OROP, first answer from PM was, if they gave it to us, others would also demand it. Pointing out that nearly 85% of military personnel are sent home before they reach the age of forty, I submitted that if our soldiers were allowed to serve up to 60 years like others, even we wouldn’t press for it. I further added that this time we had decided to go public with our demand. The PM showed genuine concern and remarked that soldiers shouldn’t be doing it. I again pointed out that in a democracy rallies and protests are a common occurrence and when we were being advised against doing so because ‘we were soldiers’, it implied we were expected to behave differently. For OROP too we should not be grouped with other pensioners.
I must confess my inability in putting across the point more tactfully. I was admittedly blunt if not actually impudent. The Prime Minster had every reason to terminate the meeting and show me the door. But a gentleman that he was, he never betrayed any lack of patience in listening to my contrary viewpoint.
Of course, OROP being a complex issue no decision or any concrete outcome was expected in that meeting. But the courtesy extended by the PM left a deep imprint on my mind.
As 27 April got closer, my unease also grew. I was still hesitant to go ahead and break the proverbial glass ceiling. While not compromising on our goal, I was looking for a way-out. On 24 April evening, just on an impulse, I telephoned the prime minister’s residence, fully knowing that he would not take the call. But to my surprise, he did not only receive the call but also remembered our meeting and the subject we had discussed.
I requested for a meeting the following day, but as he was travelling out of Delhi, he advised me to meet his Principal Secretary, assuring me that he would tell the PS to meet me attentively.
OROP is a long story but meeting the PM was the proverbial ice breaker and paved the way for several subsequent interactions with other ministers and officials. OROP was finally announced in Parliament on 17 February 2014 during Dr Manmohan Singh’s premiership. That started its irreversible journey forward. Today, all veterans are enjoying the benefits of OROP.
But this piece is about Dr Manmohan Singh, who, apart from ruling over 130 Crore people, and handling myriad problems, remained a simple person, courteous and humble. In fact, I met him once in a social gathering some years later. As I was introducing myself, he interrupted. He not only remembered me and addressed me by my name, but also spoke appreciatively of my views during TV debates.
As a person, Dr Manmohan Singh was an epitome of humility, and maintained equanimity while facing brusque dissenting views. Simplicity was the hallmark of his personality. I found in him an ocean of courtesy and patience. Looking back I still find it unimaginable that PM of the largest democracy would take a call from a private citizen
. Greatness of a person lies in dealing with the commoner.
May God grant eternal peace to his Noble Soul !
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*(Pics credit-Photo Gallery, PMO and Hindustan Times)
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