Advertisement DR MANMOHAN SINGH REFORMS WITH A HUMAN FACE

The Prime Minister walked towards me, his grace and purpose.

- Sameer Kochhar

It was 2010 and I had been invited to a book release at Panchvati, the hall attached to 7 RCR (now Lok Kalyan Marg). The occasion was intimate, reflecting the man being honoured - Dr Manmohan Singh, whose humility and intellectual rigour were evident in every aspect of his persona. Having worked extensively on financial inclusion and inclusive growth, I hoped to exchange a few words about his shared passions. But just as he approached, a senior economist and his wife inserted themselves deftly, almost artistically, blocking his path as they walked backwards while pleading their case for a position. Dr Singh, ever polite, smiled and listened patiently, but his time ran out and he was ushered away before we could meet.

That moment stayed with me, not for the disappointment it brought but for how it underscored the humility of a man who never allowed the trappings of power to overshadow his essential decency. I resolved then that the next time I found myself at Panchvati, it would be as Prime Minister's guest for releasing my festschrift in honour of Mr P Chidambaram. On 31 July 2013, that aspiration came true. Dr Singh released the festschrift and hosted the evening, with Gursharan Kaur Ji graciously ensuring every guest was well looked after. The Prime Minister's warmth was evident as he engaged my younger son, Sayan, then 12, in a conversation that made the otherwise introverted child feel at ease. Witnessing this, I understood why so many found in Dr Singh a figure of profound approachability despite the gravity of his office.