A TRIBUTE TO INDIA’s FINANCIAL WIZARD

LT COL NOEL ELLIS

27/XII/2024

Last night one heard a heart-breaking news of the passing away of Dr Manmohan Singh. A sardar with a big Dil and a sharp Dimag. My heartfelt condolences to the family and every citizen of India.

Let me share an anecdote of a chance encounter with his office three decades ago. It was in 1993-94, he was the then ‘Finance Minister’ of India.

The story goes that we were part of the "Ski-Himalaya Expedition". The expedition was preparing to traverse a 1500 km ski touring voyage from Karakoram Pass to the base of Mount Kailash in Nepal passing through the states of J&K, Himachal Pradesh and UP.

Those days, it was not easy to fund the expedition. We found a few sponsors. Let me confess, we were under the Army adventure cell for the preparations. The internal ‘red tapeism’ was killing us. Delays in procuring equipment due to the complex ‘Kagzi Karwai’ was taking too much time. Our window of skiing was limited to the months of Jan, Feb, and March. We were in the month of Dec already and still running from pillar to post to procure equipment.

Our expedition leader knew equipment providers in the UK. The directorate was insisting on buying second hand and discarded equipment from Nepal. This was unacceptable to Harry, our expedition leader. He ordered new equipment from the UK. Within three days, our equipment was dispatched by the High Commissioner of India in the UK through an Air India flight who were our sponsors.

Next day, we went to collect the equipment from Palam. The customs people surprised us by asking us to pay a duty of 120% on import of that equipment. 8 lakhs became 20 lakhs which was beyond us. Our adventure was going to be a misadventure and a non-starter. How do we tackle this situation?

The customs people gave us another shock by adding the ‘demurrage’ clause which would increase everyday if we delayed the release of our equipment. Equipment had to be collected, checked, sent to Leh by air and then on to DBO (Daulat Beg Oldie) in Ladakh, which was our base to start our journey. We were shattered.

One day, while having Rs 5 wala ‘chole bhature’ which was our usual lunch at the ‘central secretariat’ bus stand across the north block, we met an angel from the Finance Ministry. As we were discussing the nuances of our expedition, one man offered to help. We pounced on the opportunity.

Cutting the long story short, we had been given an assurance that we could import mountaineering equipment if we declared it for non commercial purposes. We had no issues at all.

During those days, due to the preparation of the Budget, the Finance Ministry used to go into hibernation and no visitors were allowed. Even the thoroughfare through its corridors was restricted. So how do we check on the progress of our letter?

Next morning, which was a Friday, that paper was handed over to a clerk who was handling the ‘sports desk’ in the finance ministry. Saturday and Sunday, North, South block including the AHQ used to be on a weekend chutti. Monday, at 8 am we were at the gates of the Finance Ministry to check the progress.

No one would let us enter. We tried showing our Army I cards but did not work. Somehow, we managed an entry. We met that Babu, who told us that the file had been moved the same day with a stamp of VERY IMPORTANT. Within minutes we were at the Finance Secretary Mr Montek Singh Alhuwalia’s office.

Babu asked his PA, who informed that that file had been approved and sent to the PM on Sunday itself. With our hearts thumping, we ran to see the PS to the PM. PS said that FM was in a meeting but knew that the file had been cleared and signed by him.

As he opened the side door, I got a glimpse of his signature ‘sky blue pagri’. PS brought the file and showed us his signatures in green ink as approved. Our happiness knew no bounds.

The PS could not hand over the file to us directly due to official reasons but gave us an attested xerox copy of the note to get our equipment released. I vividly remember the note had waived off all custom duty and demurrage charges till the date we collected the equipment. Hurray!

This is how I fondly remember the legend in an era when pop corn will be taxed soon. That discussion for another day. Thank you, Dr Manmohan Singh, for your service to the nation.

You were often called ‘Maun’ Mohan Singh. Today, your rivals and critiques are paying rich tributes to you and have left them completely Maun and speechless. Rest in peace sir. India shall miss you.