India Bids Farewell to Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh with Full State Honours

New Delhi: India gathered to mourn the loss of one of its most celebrated leaders, former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who passed away on Thursday at the age of 92. Singh, known as the architect of India’s economic liberalization, was accorded a state funeral in New Delhi on Saturday.
The solemn ceremony was attended by dignitaries, both domestic and international, alongside thousands of mourners. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, President Droupadi Murmu, Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar, and senior Congress Party members, including Rahul Gandhi, paid their final respects. Modi hailed Singh as “one of the country’s most distinguished leaders,” noting his profound impact on India’s development.






A Nation in Grief
Manmohan Singh’s funeral procession, with his coffin flanked by an honour guard, moved through the streets of Delhi as citizens lined up to pay their tributes. His eldest daughter performed the last rites at the crematorium in a moving ceremony that resonated across political and cultural divides.
Foreign dignitaries, including Bhutan’s King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck and Mauritius’s Foreign Minister Dhananjay Ramful, joined the nation in honouring Singh’s legacy. The ceremony featured a 21-gun salute, reflecting his towering stature in Indian history.
The Indian government declared seven days of national mourning, with flags flying at half-mast across the country.

Tributes Pour In
Prime Minister Modi reflected on Singh’s contributions, stating, “His wisdom and humility were always visible. He made extensive efforts to improve the lives of millions as a leader.” Rahul Gandhi, expressing personal loss, described Singh as a “mentor and a guide.”
Global leaders, including US President Joe Biden, emphasized Singh’s role on the international stage. Biden remarked, “His strategic vision and political courage deepened India-US cooperation, and he will be remembered as a true statesman and a kind, humble individual.”






A Legacy to Remember
Manmohan Singh’s career spanned decades, marked by his transformative economic reforms as Finance Minister in 1991, which set India on a path of unprecedented growth. As Prime Minister from 2004 to 2014, he championed policies that lifted millions out of poverty and strengthened India’s global economic standing.
In his historic 1991 budget speech, Singh famously declared, “No power on Earth can stop an idea whose time has come,” a statement that encapsulated his vision for a new India.
Singh was the first Sikh to hold the office of Prime Minister and is remembered for his emotional apology for the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, a gesture that sought to heal deep wounds. Despite the controversies that marked his second term, Singh’s humility, intellect, and dedication left an indelible mark on the nation.

The End of an Era
Manmohan Singh’s passing marks the end of an era for India. As the nation reflects on his remarkable contributions, his legacy as a statesman, reformer, and kind-hearted leader remains etched in the hearts of millions.
The man who once redefined India’s future now rests, leaving behind a nation forever shaped by his vision and leadership.