A Tribute to the Yug Purush: Dr.Manmohan Singh ji

Dr. Manmohan Singh Ji, a remarkable leader born in Kalyug yet embodying the virtues of Satyug, leaves behind an indelible legacy that India will forever cherish. His contributions as both the Finance Minister and the Prime Minister of India stand as milestones of honesty, vision, humility, and kindness in our nation’s history.

He was a deeply religious person and deeply agreed with Mahatma Gandhi's view about the fundamental ethical unity and truth of various great religions. According to him, various great religions are the storehouse of eternal moral and spiritual ethical values.

Our future generations will remember him for his dedication to India’s progress and his unparalleled integrity.

I had the privilege of interacting with him for the first time in 2006 during the early days of the Save Ganga Movement. Accompanied by Pujya Swami Nikhilanand Ji, Regional Head of Chinmaya Mission, and the Revered Archbishop of Delhi, we presented him with our first charter of 10 demands. He took our concerns seriously, immediately calling upon senior officials like Shri Vijay Sharma and Shri Rajiv Gauba from the Ministry of Environment and Forests to act on them.

In 2009, we met him again along with Param pujya Swami Tejomayanand Ji of Chinmaya Mission, Swami Nikhilanand Ji, Smt. Tara Gandhi Ji our chairperson (granddaughter of Mahatma Gandhi), and the Archbishop of Delhi. During this meeting, we handed him a resolution from a seminar, which included a key demand to constitute a Ganga Committee.

In October 2009, I received a letter from the Prime Minister’s Office informing me that Dr. Manmohan Singh Ji had personally chosen me as an Expert Authority Member of the National Ganga River Basin Authority under his chairmanship. This honor gave me the opportunity to work closely with him over five years and witness his unparalleled dedication to protecting the Ganga and the Himalayas.

Under his leadership, significant milestones were achieved:

The halt of two massive dam projects, Lohari Nagpala and Pala Maneri, and the suspension of a 12-kilometer-long tunnel in Uttarakhand.

Declaration of a 135-kilometer stretch from the Bhagirathi Glacier as a “No-Go” area, safeguarding its sanctity.

Despite immense pressure from corporate houses and coalition partners, Dr. Manmohan Singh Ji stood firm in his resolve, prioritizing the nation's environmental and cultural heritage over short-term gains. He created NGT, which is intended to play a very important role in the rejuvenation and preservation of our life and health, sustaining the invaluable natural ecosystems of Mother Nature. His creation of Mgnrega for providing employment with justice to rural poor people will play an important role for our rural development and empowerment.

A true Bharat Ratna, he was a man of unparalleled vision and commitment. His loss is a profound one for the nation.

My humble tribute to this Yug Purush, an extraordinary leader whose contributions will remain etched in the heart of India forever.

Om Shanti 🙏🙏🙏

Mrs. Rama Rauta

Chairperson, Gandhian Modern Eco-village (4G Ashram)

Founder, Save Ganga Movement

Former Member, Expert Advisory Committee, Ganga Rejuvenation, Ministry of WR, RD & GR, Govt. of India

Former Expert Member, National Ganga River Basin Authority, Govt. of India

President, National Women's Organization, Pune