India Celebrates Dr. Manmohan Singh: Memorial and Funeral Announced

On Friday, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) said that the Indian government will create a memorial to honor Dr. Manmohan Singh, the 13th Prime Minister of India. Home Minister Amit Shah informed Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge of this decision right after a Cabinet meeting.

The MHA shared that they received a request from the Congress Party to have space for a memorial for Dr. Singh, who sadly passed away on December 26, 2024. Amit Shah immediately communicated this news to Kharge and Singh’s family. In the meantime, the formalities for his cremation can take place because a trust needs to be formed for the memorial.

Congress wants the memorial to be at the same place as Dr. Singh’s funeral. Kharge wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Amit Shah, stating it’s important to honor Dr. Singh’s legacy at his funeral site, just like other leaders.

In his letter, Kharge praised Dr. Singh’s significant role in changing India’s economy. He recalled that Dr. Singh, as Finance Minister, was crucial in helping India through tough times, leading it towards economic success.

Dr. Singh, who passed away at age 92, was Prime Minister from 2004 to 2014. He is remembered for his calm leadership during crises and for modernizing India’s economy. Before being Prime Minister, he was the Finance Minister and also served as the Governor of the Reserve Bank of India.

Dr. Singh’s funeral will be held on December 28 at Nigambodh Ghat in New Delhi. The government announced that he will receive a State funeral. His remains will be available for public viewing at the Congress headquarters before the funeral.

The Congress Party criticized the government for taking too long to decide on the memorial location, with leader Jairam Ramesh calling it disrespectful to Dr. Singh, who was India’s first Sikh Prime Minister. In response, the BJP accused Congress of making this a political issue, reminding them how they treated other former leaders.

Dr. Singh’s life was remarkable, especially for his steady leadership during tough economic times and his efforts to improve India’s economy. The planned memorial aims to honor his important contributions and inspire future generations.