Thu Dec 26 21:30:10 UTC 2024: ## India Mourns Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh
**New Delhi, India** – Former Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, a renowned economist and the first Sikh to hold the office, passed away Thursday at the age of 92. His death has prompted widespread mourning across India.
Singh, who served as Prime Minister from 2004 to 2014, is widely credited with spearheading India’s economic liberalization in the early 1990s as Finance Minister. His 1991 budget, described as “radical” by economists, opened India’s economy to foreign investment, drastically reduced import duties, and dismantled the restrictive “Permit Raj” system. This period laid the foundation for India’s subsequent economic growth. Former US President Barack Obama lauded Singh as “wise, thoughtful, and scrupulously honest.”
While praised for his economic reforms, Singh faced criticism for his perceived weak leadership style and his reliance on the Gandhi family, the political powerhouse within the Indian National Congress party. Despite this, he successfully navigated India through several international crises, including the 2008 global financial downturn, and maintained relatively stable relationships with neighboring countries like Pakistan and China.
His tenure also saw significant achievements in foreign policy, including a landmark nuclear deal with the United States, and the launch of a national rural employment guarantee scheme. However, his second term was plagued by corruption scandals which ultimately contributed to the Congress party’s devastating defeat in the 2014 general elections. Singh was later cleared of any wrongdoing in these scandals.
Born in 1932 in what is now Pakistan, Singh’s family migrated to India during the Partition. His life journey, from humble beginnings to becoming a globally respected economist and Prime Minister, serves as an inspiring legacy. He is survived by his wife, Gursharan Kaur, and three daughters. Tributes have poured in from across the political spectrum, recognizing his significant contributions to India’s economic and political landscape.
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