Former PM Manmohan Singh's Last Rites Today, Centre To Build Memorial To Honour 'Visionary' Leader

New Delhi: The last rites of former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who passed away on Thursday night at the age of 92, will be performed today at Nigambodh Ghat in Delhi at 11:45 am with full State honours.  

Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to hold the funeral at a location where a memorial could be built to honour Singh’s contributions. Kharge said this would be a fitting tribute to Singh’s stature and in line with the tradition of building memorials for former prime ministers at their cremation sites.  

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) confirmed the arrangements, stating, “It has been decided by the Government that State funeral will be accorded to Dr. Manmohan Singh. The funeral will take place at 11:45 am on 28th December 2024 at Nigambodh Ghat, New Delhi.”  

Singh’s body will be kept at the All India Congress Committee (AICC) headquarters from 8:30 am to 9:30 am for people and Congress workers to pay their last respects. The final journey will begin at 9:30 am from the AICC headquarters to Nigambodh Ghat, Congress General Secretary K C Venugopal said.  

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who was among the first to pay homage at Singh’s residence on Friday, called his passing a major loss for the nation. “Dr. Manmohan Singh’s death is a big loss. The country has lost an eminent statesman, renowned economist, and distinguished leader,” Modi said.  

Draped in the Tricolour, Singh’s body was placed at his residence, 3 Motilal Nehru Road, where his family, including his wife Gursharan Kaur and daughters, were present. Several leaders, party workers, and the public paid their respects at the sprawling Lutyens’ Delhi bungalow that was Singh’s home for over a decade.  

Singh, known as the architect of India’s economic reforms and a skilled consensus-builder in politics, passed away at AIIMS Delhi late Thursday night. The government has announced a seven-day State mourning as a mark of respect for the former prime minister.  

Manmohan Singh is survived by his wife Gursharan Kaur and three daughters. His contributions as an economist and leader remain an integral part of India’s modern history.

Manmohan Singh's Political and Personal Life

An economist, Dr Singh served as the prime minister of India under Congress-led UPA governments for two consecutive terms i.e. in 2004 and 2009. He also held the post of finance minister in the Narasimha Rao government of 1991 which made the Indian economy 'liberalised' and gave the Indian economy a boost.

Born in Gah village in West Punjab (now in Pakistan ) on September 26, 1932, the former PM's life was a testament to service, scholarship, and leadership.

Singh received a Master’s degree in Economics from Panjab University in Chandigarh, and later earned a doctorate from the University of Oxford.

Throughout his life, Singh held several key positions in several sectors of the government.

From 1972 to 1987, he held different posts including that of the chief economic adviser finance secretary, RBI governor and deputy chairman of the Planning Commission (India). He also served as the Alternate Governor for India at the Asian Development Bank and the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, and Member (Finance) at the Atomic Energy and Space Commission.

Manmohan Singh: The 2-Time PM

Having served as PM from May 22, 2004, to May 26, 2014, Singh's legacy will forever be remembered for the historic economic reforms introduced during his tenure as Finance Minister in 1991 when he liberalised an Indian economy which was staring at a huge crisis.

His areas of contributions spanned beyond economics. As Prime Minister, he prioritised inclusive growth, social welfare, and diplomacy, steering India through global economic challenges and bolstering its position in global context.

(With Inputs from Agencies)