A former premier was an elegant technocrat who was recognized as the mastermind behind India’s economic growth.
- India to observe one week of mourning over the death of its ex-Prime Minister.
- No announcement was made of the specific date for the state funeral.
- A congress party member when asked said it would be held on Saturday.
India has declared seven days of mourning on the death of former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who was instrumental in opening up the economy in 1991.
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He served as PM for only one term between 2004 and 2014 before being succeeded by Narendra Modi Singh breathed his last at the age of 92 on Thursday night at a hospital in New Delhi. He will also be given a state funeral.
In honoring the dignity of the departed dignitary, it has been deemed appropriate that seven days of mourning throughout the country be declared, which should last till the New Year, as decided by the Indian government on Friday.
”On the same and about this, it has also been determined that a state funeral shall be granted to the late Dr Manmohan Singh and that the national flag shall be flown half mast,” it said.
To pay their respect to Singh India’s cricket team wearing black armbands confronted the hosts Australia in the fourth Test on Friday.
No specific date was given for the state funeral but a senior Congress leader indicated that the funeral would take place on Saturday.
Understated technocrat
The former premier was an engineer with a low profile who was promoted for having successfully managed economic growth in Asia’s fourth-largest economy in the first term of his service in the second term his government was marred by major corruption scandals, slowing economic growth, and high inflation.
Singh became extremely unpopular in his second term, and the uninspiring campaign by the Nehru Gandhi dynasty’s Rahul Gandhi, the current leader of the opposition in the lower house contributed to the first comprehensive victory for Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2014.
Singh, born in 1932 to a mud-house village of Gah, in what is now Pakistan, pursued economics to understand how to eliminate poverty in a country that has as many people as India and never planned or commanded a parliamentary constituency before assuming the presidential office.
He gained scholarships to both Cambridge where got a first in economics and Oxford where he did his doctorate.
Singh had senior civil jobs and civil service positions in succession, was a governor in a central bank, and served in a variety of capacities with organizations like the UN.
He was appointed in 1991 by then Congress prime minister P.V. Narasimha Rao to steady India out of the worst fiscal crisis in its modern world.
During his first term, Singh managed to stabilize the economy and reach nine percent of growth each year giving the country the profile it always wanted overseas.
He also signed another historic tube agreement with the United States over nuclear energy asserting that it meant to help India meet augmented energy requirements in the coming days.
FAQs
What is a state funeral?
A state funeral is a ceremonial event organized by the government to honor a person of significant national importance. It involves military honors, a procession, and national mourning.
Why is Manmohan Singh receiving a state funeral?
Manmohan Singh, as a former Prime Minister of India, significantly contributed to the country’s economic reforms and governance, making him deserving of this honor.
When and where will the state funeral take place?
The exact date and location will be officially announced by the government. Typically, it occurs in the capital city, New Delhi.
Will there be a public holiday during the state funeral?
Governments sometimes declare a national or state holiday as a mark of respect during state funerals. This decision will be announced based on the government’s directive.
How can the public pay their respects?
Arrangements are often made for citizens to pay their last respects, either through a public viewing or at designated venues during the funeral procession. Details will be shared closer to the event.