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Dr Manmohan Singh was astute, and his silence hid his awareness about many things
Former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh passed away on December 26 at the age of 92. (File image/PTI)
“I hope you are no longer angry with me. I used to see you very angry with my government and me.” This was at an Iftaar party hosted by Sonia Gandhi just after the defeat of the UPA 2 in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections. Dr Manmohan Singh was referring to the media questioning and attacks on him over several allegations of scams against his government. He ended his comment with a smile. No rancour. No anger. And no bitterness. This is the memory many journalists have about him as the country mourns the loss of the former Prime Minister.
Dr Manmohan Singh was astute, and his silence hid his awareness about many things. Not a confrontationist by nature, he, however, was known to display sporadic anger when ruffled or goaded. He was upset following a series of leaks from cabinet meetings, and he asked his PMO staff to fix it. The decision was then taken that all ministers who attended the meetings would have to leave their phones out.
Those who know him said this was surprising, considering he never bothered about such things. But he was worried that if sensitive information went out, it could impact the stock markets.
Not known to speak out of turn or be proactive, things changed towards the end of his first term. Those who watched him closely said he had begun to be comfortable and enjoy his second term. The first time we went on his flight abroad, he was reluctant to meet the press. He was coaxed by his media advisers to hold an onboard press conference. He would do so reluctantly. But by the time we met him on his second such trip, close to 2012, he told his staff to organise the press meet.
This was when the issue of the coal scam was heating up. And he decided to take those charges head-on. In fact, his media advisers were surprised that he was game. Later, at a press conference, he said, “I am neither shy nor silent. I speak more to the media than others do.”
The dig was evidently at the BJP. But it was clear that he was aware of every detail regarding what was being said about him.
A frugal eater, at times, when we sat with him, he conceded that having a spoon of gajar ka halwa was fine with him. He loved listening to ghazals and shero-shayari. And so, countering the BJP and Sushma Swaraj through this route came easy to him.
Behind his deadpan demeanour was a person who heard every word said about him. His occasional smiles and unflinching support for his wife showed his other side. One of his last words to a few women journalists in Parliament was, “I am a ladies’ man…I have four women who frame my life. My three daughters and wife. I know what you go through each day.” With this, he smiled and walked off.
