I T IS FITTING that Manmohan Singh, who unshackled Indian trade and industry as the country’s finance minister in 1991, was the son of an importer. His father’s firm in Peshawar brought dry fruit and spices to India from Afghanistan.

Between 1972 and 1987 he held different posts including that of the chief economic adviser finance secretary, RBI governor and deputy chairman of the Planning Commission (India).

A state funeral has begun for Manmohan Singh, the former Indian prime minister widely regarded as the architect of the country’s economic reform program