P. V. Narasimha Rao

Pamulaparthi Venkata Narasimha Rao (?????????? ???? ???????? ???? in Telugu, ??????????? ?????? ??????? ??? in Devanagari) (June 28, 1921 – December 23, 2004) was the ninth Prime Minister of the Republic of India, and led possibly the most critically important administration in national history.

National Security, and National Unity

Apart from preventing the titanic national economy, and lives of over 850 million people from financial disaster and bankruptcy, Rao also faced two massive challenges that could easily have caused disintegration and disaster in the country.

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TERRORISM The Himalayan state of Jammu and Kashmir began facing an avalanche of Muslim fundamentalist terrorists (many veterans of the Soviet-Afghan war), sweeping in through porous borders from Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir to explode bombs, murder policemen, civilians and government officials, and attack Hindu and Sikh minorities. It was soon discovered that training camps for these militants previously directed at evicting the Soviet army from Afghanistan, were now producing terrorists for Kashmir. Violence rocked and shut down Kashmir, which heavily depended on tourism, and also struck major cities like Delhi and Mumbai. Similar terrorism spread into the northeastern states of Assam, Tripura and Nagaland.

Related Topics:
Soviet-Afghan war - Pakistan - Pakistan-occupied Kashmir - Delhi - Mumbai - Assam - Tripura - Nagaland

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BABRI MOSQUE CRISIS The long-agitating VHP activists finally launched themselves upon the Babri Mosque in Ayodhya on December 3, 1992. After struggling peacefully and litigating for a Ram Janmbhoomi Mandir to be constructed at the site of the dilapidated, abandoned mosque, the passions boiled over. The site is said to be the birthplace of Lord Rama of the Ramayana, an incarnation of Lord Vishnu, Supreme God - Legendary hero to 1 billion Hindus even today. The VHP and BJP wanted to remove the mosque imposed there upon the ancient, sacred site by Muslim invaders. After decades of non-action by politicians and courts, activists hurled pickaxes and shovels to reduce the dilapidated structure to rubble. But this violent imagery, carelessly carried on television, unleashed the most vicious communal violence in modern history. Over 10,000 Hindus and Muslims were killed all over the country, and almost every major city like Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Ahmedabad, Hyderabad and Chennai was struggling with vicious mobs. Only one year later, riots again broke out, killing hundreds of people as 3 vicious bombs exploded in Mumbai, the nation's commercial and cultural capital. These bombs killed hundreds of people, and were set-off as retaliation for the violence a year ago, by Muslim gangsters operating from Pakistan and Dubai.

Related Topics:
VHP - Babri Mosque - Ayodhya - Rama - Ramayana - Vishnu - Kolkata - Ahmedabad - Hyderabad - Chennai - Dubai

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The terrible earthquake in Latur, Maharashtra, also killed 10,000 people and displaced hundreds of thousands in 1994-95. Terrible floods struck Bihar, Assam and Orissa, which caused millions of already poor people incredible hardship in desperate conditions.

Related Topics:
Latur - Maharashtra - Bihar - Assam - Orissa

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These vicious, tragic and horrifying episodes of violence could have set ablaze a nation burdened by terrible poverty, overpopulation, crime and natural disasters. It was Rao's firm and able leadership, which while failed to prevent many tragedies, did restore calm, peace, order and reassure many hundreds of millions of citizens who were deeply anxious about their families and their country's future. Calling out the Army and energizing the government and police, Rao oversaw proper distribution of humanitarian aid, relief to victims and their families, the punishment of offenders and restoration of confidence in the government. In Kashmir and the Northeast, Rao launched major counter-offensives that captured, killed thousands of terorrists and destroyed their bases of supply and support. Rao banned the VHP, and radical Islamic groups that were causing unrest and disharmony. Although never a vocal or iconic leader, the modern success and peace in the country can largely by attributed to his five years of steely leadership.

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Prime Minister Rao also energized the national nuclear security and ballistic missiles program, which ultimately yielded in the 1998 Pokhran nuclear tests. It is speculated that these tests were actually planned in 1995, during Rao's own tenure itself. Rao increased military spending, and set the Army on course to fight the emerging threat of terrorism and insurgencies, as well as Pakistan and China's nuclear potentials.

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In foreign policy, Rao improved relations with Western Europe, the United States and China. Cold war barriers were broken down to usher a fresh age of optimism in the country.

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