Dr. Manmohan Singh, former Prime Minister of India, a figure critical to India’s economic transformation, passed away on December 26, 2024, at 92 years of age.
Following a sudden loss of consciousness in his New Delhi residence, he was admitted to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS).
He was dead at 9:51 PM IST, despite being given immediate medical attention.
Early Life and Education
Singh was born in Gah, Punjab (now in Pakistan), on September 26, 1932. Singh’s early life was imbued with pain and difficulty, on account of both bareness and an exceptional academic career.
He continued his studies at the University of Cambridge and then went on to receive a doctorate in economics from the University of Oxford.
The basis of his academic endeavors was to place him well for his future roles in formulating India’s economic policies.
The Architect of Economic Reforms
From 1991 to 1996, Singh was a transformative Finance Minister of his time.
1991 was an economic crisis year in India. In the direction of liberalizing, therefore, in favor of a mix market-open economy, which affected huge economic growth and proved a significant force in the global market, he pioneered monumental reforms to turn India from a protectionist-based economy.
Prime Ministership
In 2004, he became India’s first Sikh Prime Minister, ruling for ten years until 2014. Singh’s leadership would always be characterized by economic development, social welfare, and improved international relations.
In 2008, having finalized a historic civil nuclear agreement with the United States, he ushered in a new chapter in Indo-U.S. relations.
Challenges and Controversies
Singh’s administration was accused of several corruption and financial scandals, especially during his second term, in spite of his personal integrity.
The controversies, ambitious as those surrounding the Commonwealth Games in 2010, shrouded his administration’s accomplishments and factored in the Congress Party losing the 2014 general elections.
Health and Final Years
Singh’s health had started deteriorating over the last two years. He underwent multiple coronary surgeries, one of which was a very large procedure in 2009.
In May 2020, he was hospitalized due to a reaction to a drug, and in October 2021, he was admitted because of complaints of weakness and fever.
Nevertheless, he continued to command great respect in Indian politics and was sought after for his views and guidance on various national issues.
Nation Mourns a Statesman
The news of Singh’s demise drew grief and tribute across a wide spectrum of politicians.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi called him “one of the finest leaders India has ever produced,” who made immense contributions to the country’s economic policies.
President Droupadi Murmu and Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar expressed their condolences, commenting on Singh’s long service to the nation and his making of modern India.
Legacy
Dr. Manmohan Singh’s legacy is probably like Arjuna’s–with its many sides.
As an economist, he was the creator of the complex bunch of reforms that moved India to a liberalized economy conducive to growth and development.
As a prime minister, he chose to marry development with justice–taking care of all backward communities while keeping India’s image soaring in the international arena.
His years saw a heady mix of great accomplishments and tremendous challenges, symbolizing the intricacies of ruling a diverse and dynamic nation.
Singh once famously said, “History shall judge me more favorably than my contemporaries.”
