Former Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh Cremated with State Honors

New Delhi- Dr. Manmohan Singh, India’s former Prime Minister and a revered statesman, was laid to rest with full state honors on Thursday. The solemn cremation ceremony took place at Nigambodh Ghat, where political leaders and citizens paid their final respects to the visionary leader who transformed India’s economic landscape.

President Droupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and a host of senior Congress leaders, including Sonia Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi, and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, attended the funeral to honor the former premier.

Dr. Singh’s mortal remains were brought to the Congress headquarters at 24 Akbar Road early Thursday morning for public viewing. Emotional tributes poured in from party leaders, workers, and supporters. The iconic slogan “Jab tak suraj chand rahega, Manmohan tera naam rahega” echoed as his final journey commenced.

Final Journey of a Statesman

The funeral procession from the Congress headquarters to Nigambodh Ghat witnessed large crowds chanting slogans in Dr. Singh’s honor. Rahul Gandhi accompanied the hearse, reflecting the profound loss felt by the Congress party and the nation.

At the Congress office, Dr. Singh’s wife Gursharan Kaur and family members joined Sonia Gandhi, Kharge, Rahul Gandhi, and Priyanka Gandhi in paying heartfelt tributes. Party workers queued up to bid farewell, singing the national anthem as a mark of respect to the leader who championed dignity, transparency, and progress.

Legacy of a Leader

Dr. Singh, who passed away at the age of 92, served as India’s Prime Minister from 2004 to 2014. Known as the architect of India’s economic reforms, he was instrumental in policies that brought transformative changes, including the Right to Information Act (RTI), the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), and the Right to Education Act (RTE).

Dr. Singh’s tenure as Finance Minister under P.V. Narasimha Rao’s government marked a turning point in India’s economic history, with liberalization policies that opened India to the global market.

The Central Government has announced that a memorial for Dr. Singh will be constructed to honor his contributions. Congress leaders, however, questioned the delay in allocating a space for the cremation, calling it a deliberate insult to India’s first Sikh Prime Minister.

A Nation in Mourning

Political leaders across party lines, including President Murmu, Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, and Prime Minister Modi, visited Dr. Singh’s residence to pay their respects. His demise marks the end of an era in Indian politics, leaving behind an indelible legacy of integrity and reform.

Dr. Singh’s leadership was a beacon of hope for India’s financial resurgence, and his humility and intellect remain etched in the hearts of millions.