When Manmohan Singh reflected on his 'best moment' and 'biggest regret' as PM

Manmohan Singh

Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who passed away on Thursday at 92, was always a man of few words. But when he spoke, the world listened.

Throughout his tenure, both as finance minister and Prime Minister, Singh made many memorable speeches and statements. Yet, it was his last press conference that made the most impact.

"I do not believe that I have been a weak Prime Minister ... I honestly believe that history will be kinder to me than the contemporary media or for that matter the Opposition in Parliament ... Given the political compulsions, I have done the best I could do," he said in his memorable final words as Prime Minister — a fitting reflection from a man who was often criticized for his silence.

At the same press conference, he was asked about his “best moment” and “biggest regret” during his decade-long tenure.

Singh said that the civil nuclear deal with the United States was the “best moment” of his tenure as Prime Minister.

Recalling the landmark deal, which faced immense pushback from the Left, Dr. Singh said: “I will need time to reflect on this. But certainly, the best moment for me was when we were able to strike a nuclear deal with the United States to end the nuclear apartheid which had sought to stifle the processes of social and economic change, and technical progress of our country in many ways."

The deal was announced in 2005 under Singh’s leadership and with then-President George W Bush. It marked a significant shift in India’s nuclear policy and its relationship with US, opening the door to civilian nuclear cooperation.

When asked about his biggest regret during his time as Prime Minister, Singh acknowledged that there was much more to be done in the field of healthcare.

He expressed regret over not being able to achieve more in the sector. “I am sorry. I haven’t thought through this matter. But certainly, I would like to do a lot more in the area of healthcare, healthcare for children, and healthcare for women. The National Rural Health Mission that we started has achieved impressive results but a lot more needs to be done."

The National Rural Health Mission (NRHM), launched in 2005, was a key initiative of the UPA government aimed at improving healthcare access for rural populations, particularly women and children.