Shri. P.V. Narasimha Rao
(28th June, 1921 - 23rd December, 2004)
Born on June 28, 1921 in a Telugu Brahmin family in Andhra Pradesh, Narasimha Rao was a polyglot and spoke 17 languages fluently. Narasimha Rao started his political career in the Indian National Congress party, and was first elected as a Member of Parliament in 1971. He held several key portfolios in different governments, including the Ministry of External Affairs, Home Affairs, and Defence, before being appointed as the Prime Minister in 1991.
In March 2024, Narasimha Rao has been honored with the highest Civilian Award of the country, the BHARAT RATNA.
A singular goal of “service to all” was his driving force throughout and it is this vision that he shared and passed on to his family. “I clearly remember the day when I went and told my grandfather that I am a doctor now, he was ecstatic”, says Dr. N.V. Sudha Kiran, CEO, Shri. PVNR Memorial Charitable Trust. “The first thing he said to me was not congratulations or I’m proud of you, but ‘service is what you should do, service without any filters or any discrimination, service especially in the rural areas, this is my dream, this is what I’ve been trying to do my whole life. Will you take it forward? Will you continue to serve the people of this country?’ and I found myself saying ‘Yes’. No second thoughts, no apprehensions, no questions asked. In a way, I feel by putting these questions in front of me and sharing his dream, he showed me a direction, a path for me to move forward. And that is what I did. Setting up of this Trust and Blood Centres, doing the kind of work that we do, I have no regrets, every day I wake up with a sense of purpose and duty, a zeal to make a difference in someone’s life and every single day I go to bed with a smile and sense of satisfaction that I have done what I set out to do, and I owe this all to my grandfather,” Dr. Kiran shares.
As the Prime Minister, Narasimha Rao ushered in economic reforms that liberalized and opened up the Indian economy, leading to a period of rapid growth and development that helped transform India into a global economic player. He also introduced major policy changes in the areas of education, infrastructure, and governance, and sought to improve relations with neighbouring countries such as China and Pakistan. Narasimha Rao remained a respected and influential figure in Indian politics, and is remembered for his intellectual prowess, pragmatic leadership, and commitment to national development. After retiring from politics, Narasimha Rao returned to his passion for writing and scholarship, and authored several books on diverse subjects such as Indian philosophy, culture, and history. He passed away on December 23, 2004, leaving behind a legacy as one of India’s most visionary and transformative leaders.
