NEW DELHI — Former Indian prime minister Manmohan Singh died yesterday at the age of 92.
Credited with economic reforms that propelled India to become a growth powerhouse, Singh, who was from the Congress party, held office from 2004 to 2014, is mourned by politicians across the political divide who remember his clean, incorruptible persona and work to improve the lives of India’s billions.
Singh was hospitalised in New Delhi after losing consciousness at home yesterday but could not be resuscitated, AFP reported, citing a statement by the All India Institute of Medical Sciences.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi posted on X after news of Singh’s death, saying India “mourns the loss of one of its most distinguished leaders”.
“As our Prime Minister, he made extensive efforts to improve people’s lives,” Modi said.
Opposition Congress leader Rahul Gandhi issued a statement, hailing Singh as “a mentor and guide,” also making mention of the latter’s leadership that was marked by “immense wisdom and integrity”.
Other tributes mentioned his “unimpeachable integrity”, “unblemished political life” and “utmost humility”.
Singh, an economist, completed his PhD at Oxford and had a string of senior civil service posts, including as central bank governor, and roles in global agencies such as the United Nations.
He joined Congress in 1991 under then prime minister P.V. Narasimha Rao and is credited with helping steer India back from financial crisis.
Described by some as a reluctant politician, Singh, with his quiet demeanour, is today seen as the architect of India’s economic reforms.
He also strengthened India’s ties with the US, after the landmark nuclear deal between the two countries aimed at helping India meet its growing energy needs.
Dubbed “Mr Clean” for his incorruptible public image, Singh was hoping to pass on the baton to former prime minister Sonia Ganchi’s son Rahul after the 2014 elections, but Congress was swept aside in the polls the landslide victory of Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
In later years, Singh was vocal in his criticism of Modi’s economic policies, and rising communal tensions fostered by BJP that he feared would threaten India’s democracy. – December 27, 2024