PV Narasimha Rao

PV Narasimha Rao

Former Prime Minister PV Narasimha Rao, died on December 23. Credited with initiating the liberalisation process and being the political force behind Manmohan Singh, has had one a long and fairly dramatic innings in Indian politics.

He had already announced his retirement from active politics when Rajiv Gandhi's assassination catapulted him to the top post.

Before that had held a number of important positions in government, both at the state and central level. However it was his prime ministership between 1991 and 1996 that saw the fall of the Babri Masjid and personal charges levelled against him in the JMM case. A survivor, his legacy will be a disputed one.