In brief
Manmohan Singh, India's longest-serving Prime Minister, is remembered for his transformative leadership and profound impact on the nation's economy.
India has come together in mourning for former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who was given a state funeral in Delhi following his passing at the age of 92. Singh, who served as Prime Minister from 2004 to 2014, was widely recognized as the architect of India's economic reform and liberalization. The funeral took place on Saturday, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and numerous dignitaries, including President Droupadi Murmu and Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar, attending the solemn ceremony. As Singh's coffin, adorned with an Indian flag and floral garlands, was processed through the streets of Delhi, thousands of mourners lined the route to pay their respects. His eldest daughter honored her father by lighting the funeral pyre at the crematorium, where Singh’s impact on the nation was remembered with reverence. Modi paid tribute to Singh, referring to him as one of India's “most distinguished leaders” whose “wisdom and humility” resonated during their interactions. Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi expressed his personal loss, noting that he had lost "a mentor and a guide." The former Prime Minister’s contributions to India’s economic landscape cannot be overstated. He famously declared that "no power on Earth can stop an idea whose time has come" during his first budget speech. His tenure is credited with lifting millions out of poverty and establishing India as one of the fastest-growing economies globally. Singh’s legacy is particularly significant as he was the first Sikh to hold India’s highest office and the first leader after Jawaharlal Nehru, who served from 1947 until 1964, to be re-elected following a full term. Despite facing allegations of corruption during his second term that affected his party’s fortunes in the 2014 elections, Singh remains a figure of admiration, with global leaders like US President Joe Biden emphasizing his diplomatic vision and humane character. Following Singh's death on Thursday, the Indian government declared seven days of national mourning, underscoring the profound loss experienced across the country.
