The state funeral of former Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh began on Saturday, as mourners gathered in the capital to bid farewell to the leader who oversaw the country’s economic liberalisation.
92-year-old Singh, who was Prime Minister from 2004 to 2014, died on Thursday.
On Saturday morning, Singh’s mortal remains were brought to his Congress party headquarters in New Delhi, where leaders and supporters paid tribute to him.
Later, Singh’s body was taken to the crematorium for cremation amid the beating of drums by soldiers.
Singh was celebrated for intelligence and integrity
The Government of India had declared seven days of state mourning.
All cultural programs have been cancelled, while the national flag is flown at half-mast on government buildings across India.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to attend the funeral. Paying tribute to the former leader, Modi described Singh as one of India’s “most distinguished leaders”.
Rahul Gandhi, the current leader of the opposition Congress party, had said that Singh “led India with immense intelligence and integrity.”
US President Joe Biden described him as a “true statesman” for promoting economic progress and strengthening ties with the US.
a mild-mannered technocrat
Born in 1932 in then British-ruled India (now Pakistan), Singh earned degrees from Cambridge and Oxford and held key senior civil service positions, including governor of the central bank.
A mild-mannered technocrat, Singh is best remembered for his work as Finance Minister in overseeing India’s economic liberalization in 1991, averting a potential economic crisis.
He first became the Prime Minister of India in 2004, followed by a second term in 2008.
Singh was celebrated for leading India into a period of rapid economic growth and signing a historic nuclear deal with the US.
ss/wd (AP, AFP)