Manmohan Singh, India’s 14th Prime Minister and the first Sikh to hold the office, passed away at the age of 92 after a sudden loss of consciousness.
The former leader had been receiving treatment for age-related health issues. Singh is remembered as one of India’s most successful leaders, credited with steering the country to unprecedented economic growth and lifting millions out of poverty.
Born into a poor family in what is now Pakistan, Singh overcame many hardships to study at prestigious universities like Cambridge and Oxford.
He became a respected economist, eventually serving as the Reserve Bank of India governor and as a key government advisor.
His political journey began unexpectedly when he became India’s finance minister in 1991, where he implemented crucial reforms that rescued the economy from a balance of payments crisis and opened India to global markets.
Singh became prime minister in 2004, after Congress party leader Sonia Gandhi, concerned about potential political opposition, asked him to lead.
During his tenure, India experienced strong economic growth and introduced welfare programs. Singh also facilitated the historic 2008 nuclear deal with the U.S., strengthening Indo-American relations.
However, his second term was marred by political infighting and corruption scandals, which tarnished his legacy.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed the nation’s sorrow, praising Singh’s contributions.
Singh is survived by his wife and three daughters.
