India Bid Farewell to Revered Ex-PM Manmohan Singh at State Funeral

In a poignant farewell, India mourned the loss of Manmohan Singh, one of the country's most respected leaders, during a state funeral held in the capital, New Delhi. Singh, who served as Prime Minister from 2004 to 2014, passed away on Thursday at the age of 92. He is celebrated as the architect of India’s economic liberalization, a transformative period that spurred significant growth and lifted millions out of poverty. The funeral on Saturday was attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who referred to Singh as one of India's "most distinguished leaders." Emotional mourners lined the streets to pay their final respects as Singh's coffin, draped in an Indian flag and adorned with flower garlands, was transported to the cremation grounds flanked by an honor guard. His eldest daughter lit the funeral pyre amid an assembly of dignitaries including President Droupadi Murmu, Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar, and key figures from Singh's Congress Party. Additionally, international representatives such as Bhutan's King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck and Mauritius Foreign Minister Dhananjay Ramful were present. The ceremony included a 21-gun salute in acknowledgment of his contributions to the nation. Following Singh's passing, the Indian government declared seven days of national mourning. Modi expressed admiration for Singh’s wisdom and humility, acknowledging his efforts to uplift lives as Prime Minister. Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi noted a personal loss, describing Singh as "a mentor and a guide." World leaders also paid tribute, with US President Joe Biden highlighting Singh's role in fostering the strong bilateral relations between India and the United States, calling him a "true statesman." Singh's legacy includes a pivotal moment in 1991 when he, as Finance Minister, initiated a series of reforms that reshaped India's economic landscape. His famous remark in his first budget speech—"No power on Earth can stop an idea whose time has come"—still resonates today. Although his tenure was not without controversy, marred by corruption allegations during his second term, Singh remains a symbol of ideological change and progress in India. His unique position as the first Sikh to hold the office and a leader who formally apologized for the 1984 anti-Sikh riots marks an important chapter in the nation’s history. As India confronts this loss, it remembers Manmohan Singh not just as a politician, but as a figure who shaped the socio-economic fabric of a billion lives during his time in office.