Jairam Ramesh’s latest book, To the Brink and Back: India’s 1991 Story tells of the dramatic events between June and August 1991 when India faced its worst financial crisis. The cast of characters include the then Prime Minister PV Narasimha Rao and Finance Minister Dr Manmohan Singh.
Dr Manmohan Singh may have been the architect of the reforms, but he couldn’t have done it without the political backing of PV Narasimha Rao, Jairam Ramesh writes in the book. In his interview to The Quint, he says the duo can best be described as a jugalbandi. Video and transcript below.
The Quint: One question I’d like to ask is, Manmohan Singh is seen as the architect of the reforms, but this book has Narasimha Rao on the cover..
Jairam Ramesh: Mr Narasimha Rao couldn’t have done what he did without Dr Manmohan Singh. Very clear, okay? Dr Manmohan Singh couldn’t have done what he did without Narasimha Rao. Mr Narasimha Rao provided the political leadership, the political manoeuvring, the political manipulation, the political craftiness, the political outreach, the political communication, which is very essential.
Q: Now that’s not a story that is very well known…outside certain circles.
JR: Mr Narasimha Rao unfortunately, as I’ve written in my book, was a much misunderstood man. But he did a lot of things to make him misunderstood, you know. So he was not his best friend, unfortunately. By the way, he publicly once or twice criticised Dr Manmohan Singh…on the price inflation issue, I’ve mentioned, where he actually distanced himself from Dr Manmohan Singh and he told Manmohan Singh in one meeting, “you know if the going gets tough, I’m going to get going, and you have to face the flak.” But, you know, there was an understanding. The only word to describe this is a ‘jugalbandi’. It was a jugalbandi you know it was like a Ravi Shankar-Ali Akbar Khan jugalbandi.
Q: You spoke about ‘Chetan Bhagatising’ the book. What does that mean?
JR: I have a lot of respect for Chetan Bhagat. You know we went to the same IIT Bombay. I’ve followed his career. This is a book written in a vert simple, conversational style. When my wife read it, and she’s not an economic or economic administrator. She said it’s very snappy, very chatty.
Book: “To the Brink and Back: India’s 1991 Story”
Author: Jairam Ramesh
Publisher: Rupa
216 pages, Rs. 395/-
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