Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh passes away

Former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh, widely respected as an architect of modern India’s economic reforms, passed away on Thursday at the age of 92. He was admitted to the emergency department of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Delhi. Singh is survived by his wife Gurcharan Singh and three daughters.

An official statement from AIIMS confirmed his demise, stating, “With profound grief, we announce the demise of Former Prime Minister of India, Dr Manmohan Singh. He was being treated for age-related medical conditions and suffered a sudden loss of consciousness at home on the evening of December 26, 2024. Immediate resuscitative measures were initiated at home, and he was brought to the Medical Emergency at AIIMS, New Delhi, at 8:06 PM. Despite exhaustive efforts, Dr Singh could not be revived and was declared dead at 9:51 PM.”

Dr Singh served as India’s Prime Minister from 2004 to 2014 and was widely celebrated for his humility, intellect, and economic expertise. As Finance Minister under Prime Minister P.V. Narasimha Rao, Singh played a pivotal role in implementing the landmark economic reforms of 1991, earning him the title of “Father of India’s Economic Liberalisation.”

Born on September 26, 1932, in a village in Punjab province of undivided India, Singh’s academic journey was remarkable. After completing his matriculation at Punjab University in 1948, he pursued higher studies at the University of Cambridge, UK, earning a First Class Honours degree in Economics in 1957. He later completed a D. Phil in Economics from Nuffield College, Oxford University, in 1962.

Dr Singh’s career in public service began in 1971 when he joined the Government of India as Economic Advisor in the Commerce Ministry. He later held several key positions, including Chief Economic Advisor, Secretary in the Ministry of Finance, Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission, Governor of the Reserve Bank of India, and Chairman of the University Grants Commission.

In his political career, Singh was a member of the Rajya Sabha from 1991 onwards and served as Leader of the Opposition from 1998 to 2004. As Prime Minister, he oversaw transformative initiatives like the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), the Right to Information Act, and the Indo-US civil nuclear deal, which significantly enhanced India’s global strategic stature.

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Dr Singh’s passing marks the end of an era for Indian politics and economics, leaving behind a legacy of reforms and leadership that reshaped the nation’s trajectory.

Several top personalities condoled Dr. Singh’s demise, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, Wayanad MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and many more.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid heartfelt tributes to Dr Singh on X (formerly Twitter), acknowledging his contributions to the nation. “India mourns the loss of one of its most distinguished leaders, Dr Manmohan Singh Ji. Rising from humble origins, he rose to become a respected economist. He served in various government positions, including as Finance Minister, leaving a strong imprint on our economic policy over the years. His interventions in Parliament were also insightful. As our Prime Minister, he made extensive efforts to improve people’s lives,” PM Modi wrote.

Reflecting on their interactions, he added, “Dr Manmohan Singh Ji and I interacted regularly when he was PM and I was the CM of Gujarat. We would have extensive deliberations on various subjects relating to governance. His wisdom and humility were always visible. In this hour of grief, my thoughts are with the family of Dr Manmohan Singh Ji, his friends, and countless admirers. Om Shanti.”

President Murmu said the former PM made critical contributions to reforming Indian economy and will always be remembered for his service to the nation, unblemished political life and his utmost humility.

Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi said that he had lost a mentor.

“Manmohan Singh Ji led India with immense wisdom and integrity. His humility and deep understanding of economics inspired the nation. My heartfelt condolences to Mrs. Kaur and the family. I have lost a mentor and guide. Millions of us who admired him will remember him with the utmost pride,” he wrote in a post on X.

“Undoubtedly, history shall judge you kindly, Dr. Manmohan Singh ji! With the passing of the Former Prime Minister, India has lost a visionary statesman, a leader of unimpeachable integrity, and an economist of unparalleled stature. His policy of Economic Liberalisation and Rights-based welfare paradigm profoundly transformed the lives of crores of Indians, virtually creating a Middle Class in India and lifting crores out of poverty,” Kharge wrote on X.

“I mourn the loss of a lifelong senior colleague, a gentle intellectual and a humble soul who embodied the aspirations of India, having risen through the ranks with unwavering dedication,” Kharge said.

“I am proud to have been a part of his Cabinet as Labour Minister, Railway Minister and Social Welfare Minister. A man of action rather than words, his immense contribution to nation-building will forever be etched in the annals of Indian history,” he wrote.

“In this moment of sorrow, I extend my deepest and heartfelt condolences to his family, friends, and countless admirers. May they get the strength to overcome this huge loss. His enduring legacy of ushering in India’s growth, welfare, and policies of inclusivity will forever be cherished. May his soul rest in eternal peace,” he added.

“Few people in politics inspire the kind of respect that Sardar Manmohan Singh ji did,” Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra wrote in a post.

“His honesty will always be an inspiration for us and he will forever stand tall among those who truly love this country as someone who remained steadfast in his commitment to serve the nation despite being subjected to unfair and deeply personal attacks by his opponents,” she continued.

Union health minister, JP Nadda, posted on the micro-blogging site X, “The passing of Former Prime Minister and Economist Shri Manmohan Singh ji is an immense loss for the nation. A visionary statesman and a stalwart of Indian politics, throughout his remarkable career in public service, he consistently voiced for the welfare of the downtrodden. His leadership earned admiration and respect across party lines. Shri Manmohan Singh ji’s legacy will continue to inspire generations in their pursuit of nation-building. My heartfelt condolences to his family, friends, and admirers.”

P Chidambaram, who served as Finance Minister under Dr Singh, said that it was a deeply emotional moment for him to speak.

‘The life and work of Dr Manmohan Singh and the period from 1991 till 2014 will be a golden chapter in the history of India. I worked closely with him for many years. I have not met a person more humble and self-effacing than Dr Singh. He wore his scholarship lightly and never claimed credit for any of his historic achievements,” he wrote.

“The story of India turned after Dr Singh became Finance Minister. And the present middle class of India was virtually the creation of his policies as Finance Minister and Prime Minister,” he added.

“Throughout his tenure, he had great empathy for the poor. He did not hide the fact that many millions of India are poor and reminded us that government’s policies must lean in favour of the poor. Examples of his empathy are MGNREGA and the restructuring of PDS and the extension of the mid-day meal scheme. His story has not been told fully. His achievements have not been recorded fully. I am sure when we look back upon the 23 years that Dr Singh was in active politics, we will realize his true contribution,” he further added.