"The mandate belongs to Madam... I will step down the moment she asks me to," Dr Manmohan Singh, often seen as an accidental prime minister, responded to my inquiry about his expectations on assuming the role of prime minister.

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Just days earlier, 'Madam' Sonia Gandhi had staked her claim to form the government and received an invitation from the then President APJ Abdul Kalam. In a dramatic turn of events that took everyone by surprise, she announced at the Parliamentary Party meeting of the Congress that she would not lead the government herself, instead nominating Manmohan to head it after the Congress party-led opposition won the general elections.

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It was the same Sonia Gandhi who, five years prior, had collaborated with Dr Subramaniam Swamy to bring down the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government by a single controversial vote during a no-confidence motion in the Parliament. She promptly claimed to form an alternative government, only to backtrack when Mulayam Singh Yadav reneged on his promise to support the alternative government on behalf of his Samajwadi Party.

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Manmohan’s casual yet honest remark, acknowledging that the mandate was for 'Madam' and that he became prime minister due to Sonia’s generosity, made headlines.

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Notably, India's first Sikh Prime Minister instantly brought to mind the picture of the nation's first Sikh President, Giani Zail Singh, who was similarly appointed by Sonia's mother-in-law, Indira Gandhi. Out of nowhere, she named Zail Singh as the presidential candidate in 1982, and his election was merely a formality.

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"If Indiraji had asked me to take a broom and sweep the floor, I would have done so," Zail Singh had stated, displaying his loyalty to Indira. Such a statement from the President of India was seen as an insult to the highest office of the land.

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Was Manmohan prepared to follow in Zail Singh's footsteps? Barely four years later, however, he demonstrated he was first a concerned Indian and then an obliged leader. Manmohan was determined to sign the Civil Nuclear Agreement with the United States, despite opposition from the Left Front, a coalition of Marxist parties, due to ideological reasons and pressure from Beijing. The Congress party-led United Progressive Alliance government relied on the Left Front's support for its survival.

Sonia attempted to play the role of mediator, realising the seriousness of the Left Front's threat to withdraw support for the government. However, for once, the amiable and soft-spoken Sikh stood his ground. Sonia was forced to take a backseat as adept negotiations by Manmohan’s close confidants ensured the government's survival with external support from Mulayam Singh and Mayawati.

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The Manmohan government not only completed its tenure without further hindrance but also returned to power with increased numbers in the 2009 general elections, with the Indo-US Civil Nuclear Agreement playing a crucial role. The Left Front emerged as the villain of the narrative, paying the price by being decimated and losing its tally from 61 lawmakers to a mere 24.

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It was not Mamata Banerjee or Manmohan’s successor as prime minister, Narendra Modi, who caused the steady decline of the Left Front in Indian politics. While many may not credit Manmohan for this outcome, his defiance of 'Madam' on the nuclear deal set the stage for the downfall of the Indian Marxists.

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Earlier this month, Manmohan retired as a lawmaker and coincidentally was succeeded by none other than Sonia as a member of the Rajya Sabha after serving in the Upper House for 33 years. At 91, he was too old and frail to continue as a member of parliament. Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised his predecessor, recalling how he arrived in the House in a wheelchair to cast his vote, even against his government.

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The nuclear deal helped improve bilateral ties between India and the United States, with India now reaping the benefits in various ways.

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This was the second act of Manmohan that would be remembered by the nation. The first was his role in rescuing India from the brink of bankruptcy when P V Narasimha Rao, upon becoming prime minister in 1991, appointed Manmohan as his finance minister. While Rao may receive credit for liberalising the Indian economy, the true architect was Manmohan, earning him the moniker 'Moneymohan Singh.'

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The only criticism levelled against Manmohan was his silence as a series of scams and scandals tarnished his government, earning him another moniker, 'Maunmohan Singh.' Although the 2009 mandate was for him and not for 'Madam,' Manmohan did not forget that he became prime minister due to Sonia’s largesse. As Manmohan allegedly took orders and clearances from 'Madam,' Sonia became a de facto prime minister. These corruption-related scandals proved to be the reason for the current sorry state of the Grand Old Congress party.

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Instead of taking a firm stance and ousting his corrupt ministerial colleagues, Manmohan chose to remain silent. If the Manmohan government 1.0 paved the way for the decimation of the Left Front, the Manmohan government 2.0 authored the free fall of the Congress party from its glorious past. His only action was to announce that he should not be projected as the prime ministerial face of the Congress party or UPA in 2014. Perhaps he had read the writing on the wall.

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As Manmohan fades into history after his retirement, advanced age and declining health, one can only hope that he has documented his memories as prime minister, explaining his curious silence and acts of overlooking the plundering of wealth by his corrupt ministerial and party colleagues. If he has, and it is published after he bids the final adieu, it would be nothing less than a bombshell. He could have been anything, but personally, he was honest, incorruptible, and definitely not greedy for power.