Two political leaders of rare breed

Thursday, January 9, 2025. By B. Kumaravadivelu

Last days of 2024 witnessed the demise of two uncommon world leaders who exemplified decency and dignity.

Like lotus flowers, they remained unsullied even while floating in the waters of dirty politics.

They both lived a long, purpose-driven life. One passed away at 100 years of age and the other at 92.

One became President of the oldest democracy in the world and the other, Prime Minister of the largest democracy.

They were not ordinary politicians who worked to win the next election; they were extraordinary statesman who worked to nurture the next generation.

Jimmy Carter was elected for a single term of four years; Manmohan Singh served two terms of five years each.

When they and their party were voted out of power, they did not incite riots. Following their country’s noble democratic traditions, they peacefully transferred power to their successor.

Trained to be a nuclear engineer, Carter worked as a nuclear submarine officer. Returning to his native state of George, he toiled in the agricultural field as a peanut farmer.

Self-motivated to do public service, he contested a series of elections, first to become a member of Georgia state legislature, then to become Georgia’s Governor and then to become President of the United States.

During the campaign for the highest office of the land, he frequently held up a handful of peanuts invoking his simple credentials, declaring “I will never lie to you” and he kept his promise.

His crowning achievement came after he left the White House. He and his wife Rosalyn devoted their entire living decades to working with Habitat for Humanity helping build homes for people in need across the world, which earned him the well-deserved encomium: one of the greatest ex-presidents of the United States.

Unlike Carter who sought elected offices, Singh did not contest any election.

Educated at Oxford and Cambridge to be an economist, he was appointed to a series of high-level bureaucratic jobs, first as a chief economic adviser to the government of India, then as the governor of Central Bank of India and later as the Governor of the Reserve Bank of India.

In 1991, when India was facing it worst economic crisis, the then Prime Minister Narasimha Rao, appointed him as his finance minister and gave him full freedom to change the direction of Indian economy.

Under his economic stewardship, Singh successfully steered India from socialism and protectionism to market-based liberalization.

In 2004, Congress Party won the parliamentary elections and the party chief, Italian-born Sonia Gandhi would have become the Prime Minister but for the outrage over her foreign origin. Looking for a “safe” candidate, she picked Singh as prime minister.

Because of how he became the Prime Minister, he was derisively and unfairly called?The Accidental Prime Minister,?which happens to be the title of a book his chief media adviser wrote.

His appointment may have been accidental but his accomplishments were a result of his vision, his competence and his commitment.

Unquestionably, he laid the groundwork for India’s economic resurgence and is now tipped to become the third largest economy in the world in a few years.

With regard to foreign policy, both Cater and Singh demonstrated yet another characteristic of courageous leadership. In doing so, neither of them shied away from doing what they thought was the right thing to do.

A case in point: against severe opposition from his own party, Carter gave back to Panama a long-overdue sovereignty over its own territory. A bold move that was widely criticized at that time, and even now by President-elect Donald Trump.

In a similar vein, Singh worked tirelessly to forge a landmark nuclear deal with the United States. His far-reaching plan was opposed by the Communist Party of India whose support Singh and his party needed to survive in Parliament. Singh stubbornly and wisely stuck to his plan, even threatening, and willing, to resign. Thanks to his strategy, India and USA have taken their defense relationship to a higher level.

Never given due recognition to their stellar contributions, Singh wrote: “I honestly believe that history will be kinder to me than the contemporary media or for that matter the opposition in parliament.”

The same can be said about Carter as well.

Both Carter and Singh said what they meant and did what they said.

Their leadership is a testament to their honesty and integrity.

Their legacy is an endorsement of the noblest of public services.

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