Former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh passed away on 26 December at the age of 92. AIIMS New Delhi confirmed his demise in a statement, citing age-related medical conditions.
He lost consciousness at home and was rushed to AIIMS, where resuscitation efforts were unsuccessful.
A renowned economist and statesman, Singh served as India’s Prime Minister from 2004 to 2014 and played a pivotal role in shaping the nation’s economic reforms.
Singh had retired from the Rajya Sabha earlier this year. He previously held the position of Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha from 1998 to 2004. Singh was sworn in as Prime Minister on May 22, 2004, and again on the same date in 2009.
With an exceptional academic background, Singh topped Punjab University in both BA and MA, pursued further studies at Cambridge, and earned a DPhil from Oxford.
He held several top posts even before entering politics, serving as RBI Governor from 1982 to 1985, deputy chairman of the Planning Commission from 1985 to 1987, and later advisor to the Prime Minister on economic affairs during the tenure of Chandra Shekar.
Singh's political career began in 1991 when he entered the Rajya Sabha. Just four months later, he was appointed Union Finance Minister under the PV Narasimha Rao government in June, marking the start of a transformative phase in India’s economy.
Singh devalued the rupee, opened up a spectrum of poorly-performing state-run industries, dismantled the License Raj, lowered taxes to levels hitherto unseen, and made foreign investment an attractive proposition for the first time. It was a sharp break from Nehruvian socialism, which had depended heavily on public sector monoliths and high taxation to turn the wheels of the economy.
Then came Manmohan Singh 2.0, when Sonia Gandhi unexpectedly chose him as Prime Minister after the Congress won the 2004 Lok Sabha polls. As an economist-politician, Singh addressed rural poverty with the groundbreaking employment guarantee scheme. The Right to Information Act, a path-breaking legislation for transparency in public affairs, and the Indo-US civil nuclear pact, too, were breaks from the Nehruvian past and new chapters in India’s growth story on the world stage.
Renowned for his dedication, Singh earned praise from Prime Minister Narendra Modi earlier this year. Modi recalled, "I remember in the other House, during the voting, it was known that the treasury bench would win, but Dr Manmohan Singh came in his wheelchair and cast his vote."
In his final speech in Parliament, Singh strongly criticised demonetisation, describing it as "organised loot and legalised plunder."
The Government of India has announced a seven-day national mourning following the demise of former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh. All government programmes scheduled for Friday have been cancelled.
The Union Cabinet is set to convene at 11 AM tomorrow to discuss arrangements and pay tributes.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed grief over the demise of former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh, calling him "one of India’s most distinguished leaders."
In a post on X, Modi wrote, "Rising from humble origins, Dr Manmohan Singh Ji became a respected economist and served in key roles, including Finance Minister, shaping our economic policies. His parliamentary interventions were insightful, and as Prime Minister, he worked tirelessly to improve lives."
Rahul Gandhi described Dr Singh as a leader of "immense wisdom and integrity."
"Manmohan Singh Ji led India with immense wisdom and integrity. His humility and deep understanding of economics inspired the nation," Gandhi said.
Expressing his personal loss, he added, "I have lost a mentor and guide. Millions of us who admired him will remember him with the utmost pride." He also extended his condolences to Dr Singh’s wife, Gursharan Kaur, and the family.
President Droupadi Murmu described Singh as "one of the greatest sons of Bharat" who made critical contributions to reforming the Indian economy.
Forrmer Deputy National Security Adviser Pankaj Saran, who had worked with Singh during his prime ministerial tenure, said he was a man who symbolised humility and collegiate style of functioning.
"He was a consensus builder. A very simple man who did not expect to become the prime minister," Saran told PTI.
N N Vohra, who was appointed Governor of Jammu and Kashmir during Singh's tenure, said his death is the end of a "truly rare species of political leadership, which was marked by exceptional intellectual capability, honesty, transparency and unparalleled humility."
"A man of very few words, he heard everyone, high and low, and tackled the most complex issues by taking his own decisions which best served the national interest," he said.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah expressed deep sorrow over the passing of former Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh.
Amit Shah conveyed his condolences to Dr. Singh's family and supporters, "The news of the demise of former Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh is extremely sad. From being the Governor of the Reserve Bank of India to the Finance Minister of the country and as the Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh played an important role in the governance of the country," Shah said.
Shah further expressed his sympathies, stating, "I express my condolences to his family and supporters in this hour of grief. May Waheguru grant peace to his soul and give strength to his family to bear this grief."
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge expressed his deepest and heartfelt condolences to Singh's family, friends, and countless admirers. In a post on X, Kharge said that with the passing of Singh, India has lost a visionary statesman, a leader of unimpeachable integrity, and an economist of unparalleled stature.
"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," he wrote on X.
The Congress chief called Singh a man of action rather than words saying that his immense contribution to nation-building will forever be etched in the annals of Indian history
"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. 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 said.
"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," Kharge added.
