Manmohan Singh Funeral: India Mourns As Former PM Cremated With Full State Honours

Former Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh was cremated with full state honours at Nigambodh Ghat in New Delhi on Saturday, December 28, 2024. Singh, who served as India's Prime Minister from 2004 to 2014, was widely recognized as the architect of India's economic reforms.

His funeral was attended by top leaders, including President Droupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, and several senior Congress leaders.

Photo Credit: PTI

The Final Journey

The final journey of Dr. Singh began in the morning from the All India Congress Committee (AICC) headquarters, where Congress leaders, including Mallikarjun Kharge, Sonia Gandhi, and Rahul Gandhi, paid their tributes. The flower-decked vehicle carrying his mortal remains was escorted by a ceremonial army truck, with chants of "Manmohan Singh Amar Rahe" reverberating through the capital.

Dr. Singh's body, draped in the Indian flag, was taken through the streets of Delhi. Following the Sikh traditions, priests chanted hymns at Nigambodh Ghat before Singh's daughter, Upinder Singh, lit the funeral pyre.

Leaders Pay Tributes

Among those who paid their last respects were Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Speaker of the Lok Sabha Om Birla, Congress leaders Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi, and Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan. The national flag was removed from Singh's body and replaced with a saffron cloth before it was placed on the pyre.

A Tribute to India's Architect of Economic Reforms

Dr. Singh, a respected economist, served as the country's Prime Minister for 10 years, overseeing landmark economic reforms that transformed India. His leadership saw significant progress in areas such as trade liberalization and foreign investment. As the architect of India's economic liberalization, his contributions are deeply valued both within the country and internationally.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who called Singh one of the nation's "most distinguished leaders," attended the funeral along with President Murmu. Foreign dignitaries from various countries, including the US, Canada, France, Sri Lanka, China, and Pakistan, expressed their condolences, acknowledging Singh's international contributions.

National Mourning and Memorial

Following Dr. Singh's death, the government has declared a seven-day national mourning. The national flag will be flown at half-mast across the country as a mark of respect. The government has also decided to allocate land for a memorial in Singh's honour.

Dr. Manmohan Singh passed away at the age of 92 on Thursday night due to age-related medical complications at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences in Delhi. His passing marks the end of an era in India's political history.