It is this characteristic that got him the vote of both, his predecessor, Yaga Venugopal Reddy, and his mentor, Chakravarthi Rangarajan, who was the Andhra Pradesh Governor when the state was grappling with reform and supported what Subbarao was trying to do.
More than that, it is two qualities that made Subbarao score over his immediate rivals in getting the top job. One was proven administrative capability.
"When you're the RBI Governor, you don't have time to say: 'let me put up a note'; 'let me talk to someone'.
It is your call and the buck stops with you. You need to show leadership," said a senior government source, adding that the others in the reckoning were not seen to have similar administrative abilities.
Image: Reserve Bank of India Governor Dr Y V Reddy (R) is greeted by out-going governor Dr Bimal Jalan at the RBI office in Mumbai on September 6, 2003 | Photograph: Sebastian D'Souza/AFP/Getty Images
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