TEN years as head of government have taken a toll on Manmohan Singh, as they might of any other figure, no matter how sturdy. But the evaluation of posterity is likely to do him greater justice than that of his contemporaries. …

The public remembers this period, particularly its latter half, more for the unremitting rise in prices, slowed employment, reduced economic growth, and the highlighting of corruption in government systems … rather less for the strides in the social sector. …

But for all that, as Dr Singh … prepares to lay down office, his personal reputation for integrity remains undimmed, and he continues to be regarded with some affection for undertaking the mission of running India’s continental-size government, a task for which he was not quite equipped, considering he came from professional service. ……[A] decent man bows out, although he would have desired to attain more.— (May 15)

Published in Dawn, May 19th, 2014