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Montek Singh Ahluwalia: A combination of balance, optimism and resilience

Looking into yesterday while he assesses today, Ahluwalia retains his entrenched belief in India's ability to overcome

Montek Singh Ahluwalia, former deputy chairman, Planning Commission of India
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Montek Singh Ahluwalia, former deputy chairman, Planning Commission of India (Illustration: Binay Sinha)

Anjuli Bhargava
Lunch with BS is a known animal for Montek Singh Ahluwalia, former deputy chairman of the Planning Commission. When I suggest a virtual tête-à-tête during the pandemic, he proposes in jest that I either Swiggy or Zomato him a nice meal from a fancy restaurant. I laugh, suggest we make do with a coffee over Zoom for now and promise to take him out for lunch when I am in Delhi next.
 
Having interacted with him closely when he was in the Planning Commission, prior to our Zoom chat I tell him over email that I miss his sharp