On Friday, India announced a seven-day period of national mourning following the death of former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, one of the architects of the country’s economic liberalization in the early 1990s.
Singh, who served as prime minister from 2004 to 2014, passed away late Thursday night at the age of 92 in a hospital in New Delhi. A state funeral will be held in his honor.
“As a mark of respect for the late dignitary, it has been decided to observe seven days of national mourning across India,” the Indian government stated on Friday, noting that the mourning period will last until January 1st.
“It has also been decided to accord a state funeral to the late Dr. Manmohan Singh,” the statement added, mentioning that the national flag will also be flown at half-mast.
The Indian cricket team, currently competing against hosts Australia in the fourth test match, took to the field on Friday wearing black armbands to honor Singh.
The official date for the state funeral was not immediately announced, but a senior member of the Congress Party suggested that it would likely take place on Saturday.
Dr. Singh’s most pivotal role came in 1991 as Finance Minister under P.V. Narasimha Rao’s government, where he led India’s economic liberalisation. This transformative period opened the country to foreign investment and reduced government control over the economy, unleashing competitive markets and driving significant growth.
As India’s 13th Prime Minister from 2004 to 2014, Dr. Singh became the longest-serving PM after Jawaharlal Nehru and Indira Gandhi. His tenure saw several landmark initiatives, including the introduction of the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA), later renamed MGNREGA, which aimed to enhance livelihood security in rural areas.
Photo: Peoplematters
