Prime minister, great economist, a greater ethicist
Hindustan Times Navi Mumbai|December 28, 2024
Manmohan Singh showed that honesty could be at home in politics, and politics in honesty
Gopalkrishna Gandhi

An outgoing diplomat is of little or no importance to a Leader of the Opposition (LoP). But when, in the July of 2000, just before moving to Colombo, I sought to call on the then LoP in the Rajya Sabha, Dr Manmohan Singh, I was surprised to get a date at once. As I entered Dr Singh's modest Room 43 in the old Parliament House, I saw there was no one fussing over him, no one hinting to me that I should do this or not do that. The leader rose warmly from his seat and showing me to a chair, congratulated me on my appointment and asked: "So, Gopal, what would you advise the Congress to do or say?" I was aware that I was going as a National Democratic Alliance (NDA) appointee, identified for the post by Prime Minister (PM) Atal Bihari Vajpayee, and here was an Opposition stalwart asking me to advise him on Sri Lanka.

Politics need not always politick, nor diplomacy speak in whispers. I said what I thought was the right course, namely that the rights of the Tamils in Sri Lanka should not be conflated with the demands of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), and that India must press for a political solution that meets the aspirations of the Tamil people with the sovereignty of Sri Lanka staying intact. By the time we finished, I had spent 45 minutes with one who I would never have imagined would be PM of India, four years from that day. He had asked me the most incisive questions, made me think through crucial aspects of India-Sri Lanka ties. I was moved when, as I left, he said, "Gopal, you go with my blessings."

This story is from the December 28, 2024 edition of Hindustan Times Navi Mumbai.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the December 28, 2024 edition of Hindustan Times Navi Mumbai.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM HINDUSTAN TIMES NAVI MUMBAIView All
Hindustan Times Navi Mumbai

Cummins, the pace spearhead driving Australia's serial success

Knack for wickets, unparalleled control and a never-say-die attitude for which Glenn McGrath will be revered as possibly the greatest Australian fast bowler in the last four decades.

time-read
3 mins  |
January 08, 2025
Hindustan Times Navi Mumbai

Agarkar to Brief Selectors Ahead of BCCI Meet on Sunday

The selection committee will be in full attendance for the knockout rounds of the Vijay Hazare Trophy one-dayers in Vadodara, which start with the pre-quarter finals on Thursday.

time-read
1 min  |
January 08, 2025
Hindustan Times Navi Mumbai

Djokovic: At his happy hunting ground, with an old foe in tow

The Serbian has worked with Becker, Agassi and Ivanisevic. In Murray he has access to the mind of a master tactician

time-read
3 mins  |
January 08, 2025
Hindustan Times Navi Mumbai

Indian hockey players bonding with the best in relaunched HIL

Skipper Sumit Walmiki and Australian Tim Brand walked to the dugout, shared a laugh and high-fived after Hyderabad Toofans' practice.

time-read
3 mins  |
January 08, 2025
Hindustan Times Navi Mumbai

Shooter Tomar Finds Fresh High After Domestic Double

Varun Tomar's dream of representing India at the Paris Olympics was crushed when he lost in the domestic selection trials to pick the final squad.

time-read
2 mins  |
January 08, 2025
Hindustan Times Navi Mumbai

Neeraj to star in a world javelin event in India

India's two-time Olympic medallist and reigning world champion Neeraj Chopra will be the star attraction in a marquee international javelin tournament at home later this year, the Athletics Federation of India (AFI) said on Tuesday.

time-read
2 mins  |
January 08, 2025
Hindustan Times Navi Mumbai

Cloud over review of 14-yr-old trade pact with Asean

THE REVIEW HAS STALLED SINCE INDIA'S OFFER OF A UNIFIED DUTY STRUCTURE HAS NOT FOUND FAVOUR AMONG ASEAN MEMBERS

time-read
2 mins  |
January 08, 2025
Hindustan Times Navi Mumbai

Meta Goes For Community Notes, Ends Fact-Checking

Meta Platforms chief executive officer (CEO) Mark Zuckerberg on Tuesday announced a decision to do away with the company's long-standing fact-checking teams—choosing instead to establish a 'community notes' mechanism akin to Elon Musk's X, formerly Twitter.

time-read
1 min  |
January 08, 2025
Hindustan Times Navi Mumbai

Capex allocation likely to rise 10% for roads, rlys

The Centre proposes to keep its focus on rapid infrastructure growth in the next financial year, with plans to push capex allocation for the ministries of road transport and highways, and railways in the upcoming budget by up to 10%, two persons aware of the development said.

time-read
2 mins  |
January 08, 2025
Hindustan Times Navi Mumbai

Microsoft to Invest $3 Billion in AI, Cloud Expansion in India

The tech giant also plans to train 10 million people in AI skills in India by 2030

time-read
2 mins  |
January 08, 2025