Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh passed away at the age of 92 on Thursday. He was cremated on Saturday with full state honors at Nigambodh Ghat, a funeral ground in Delhi. Many important people, family members, and thousands of fans attended the service. His eldest daughter, Upinder Singh, lit the funeral pyre, and his wife Gursharan Kaur was also there. Leaders from the Congress party, along with foreign dignitaries, came to pay their respects. A 21-gun salute honored Singh.
On a cloudy day, President Droupadi Murmu led the nation in tributes to Singh, who served as prime minister from 2004 to 2014. She laid a wreath of flowers at the place where his body rested, covered by the national flag. Other officials, including Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, also paid their respects. Many leaders from Singh’s own party, Congress, were present, with Sonia Gandhi calling him her “friend, philosopher, and guide.”
Former leaders and dignitaries from Bhutan and Mauritius also honored Singh. In the U.S., President Joe Biden expressed his condolences, saying Singh had a significant impact on India-U.S. relations. Russian President Vladimir Putin and other global leaders shared similar sentiments, recognizing Singh’s contributions to his country.
Singh was known for his key role in India’s economic rise. As finance minister, he started many changes that helped the country grow economically, especially after a crisis in 1991. He made policies that boosted both private investment and social welfare programs. Under his leadership, India became Asia’s third-largest economy, achieving impressive growth and setting up safety nets for its citizens.
However, Singh’s funeral also sparked controversy as the Congress party criticized the location, claiming it was not fitting for someone of his stature. They wanted him to be cremated at Rajghat, the resting place for many of India’s leaders.
Born in 1932 in Punjab, Singh faced challenges growing up but went on to achieve great success in economics and governance. He earned a doctorate from Oxford University and dedicated his life to serving India. In his last speech in 2014, Singh expressed his pride in how far the country had come, while also emphasizing the need to keep working hard for future growth.
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