Former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh passed away on Thursday at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in New Delhi. He was 92.
An AIIMS statement said Dr Singh was being treated for age-related ailments and experienced a “sudden loss of consciousness” at home. Despite the medical team’s best efforts, he was declared dead at 9:51 PM.
Tributes poured in from across the political spectrum.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences, remembering Dr. Singh as one of India’s “most distinguished leaders.” In a heartfelt post on X, PM Modi lauded his predecessor’s humility and wisdom, recalling their interactions during Dr. Singh’s tenure as Prime Minister and Modi’s stint as Gujarat’s Chief Minister.
“His interventions in Parliament were insightful, and he made extensive efforts to improve people’s lives,” Modi wrote.
The Congress Party, where Dr Singh served for decades, cancelled all scheduled events as a mark of respect.
Dr Manmohan Singh served as India’s 14th Prime Minister from 2004 to 2014, presiding over a decade of significant economic growth and social reforms. Before his tenure as Prime Minister, he was the architect of India’s economic liberalization as Finance Minister between 1991 and 1996, implementing bold reforms that transformed the country’s economic landscape.
Rising from modest beginnings, Dr. Singh earned global respect as an economist and statesman. His legacy includes landmark programs such as the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act and the Food Security Bill.
His efforts to pass the Indo-US nuclear deal exemplified his determination and commitment to India’s strategic interests. Former U.S. President Barack Obama once described him as one of the world’s most admired leaders.
Dr. Singh’s final years were marked by health challenges, yet his presence remained symbolic of his indomitable spirit. The image of him casting his vote in a wheelchair during the 2022 presidential elections symbolised his resilience and dedication.
As India bids farewell to a statesman who helped shape its modern economic and political trajectory, his words from 2014 might be worth remembering: “History will be kinder to me than the media has been.”
