The Prime Ministers' Museum and Library (PMML), a premier academic institution that, among other things, preserves and showcases the legacy of all Prime Ministers since Independence, organised a lecture by Montek Singh Ahluwalia, eminent economist, on ‘The life and Legacy of Dr Manmohan Singh’on 13 November 2025 as part of the Prime Ministers' Lecture Series.
Ahluwalia classified Dr Manmohan Singh’s long and highly distinguished career into three parts: as an economist-bureaucrat, 1970-1991; as Finance Minister of India, 1991-1996; and as Prime Minister, 2004-2014. Ahluwalia argued that Dr Singh’s tenure as FM was the high point of his career, as it was transformative for the nation. As PM, Dr Singh made many important contributions such as MGNREGA, Indo-US Civil Nuclear Deal, apart from ensuring that the economic reforms launched in 1991 under Prime Minister Narasimha Rao and continued by Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, were not rolled back despite significant opposition from within his party. He noted that all this contributed to high economic growth in the range of 8-9 percent between 2004 and 2010.
PMML, one-of-its-kind academic institution in the country, has a major Library, Archives of Private Papers of eminent persons and Institutions, a Centre for Contemporary Studies and a Planetarium with a special gallery on astronomy and space.
The Pradhanmantri Sangrahalaya, PMML showcases the lives, vision and contribution of Indian Prime Ministers. Nripendra Misra, Chairman, Executive Council, PMML, delivered the welcome address. He noted that Dr Manmohan Singh was among the most illustrious leaders of Independent India and will be remembered for his diligence, academic approach to work, accessibility, and unassuming demeanour.
Misra highlighted Dr Manmohan Singh’s role in ushering in a comprehensive policy of economic reforms which remains globally celebrated even now. Ashwani Lohani, Director, PMML, stated that this prestigious Lecture Series highlights the role, vision and contributions made by Prime Ministers to the nation.
