New Delhi, 27 December (UITV)- Former Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh passed away on 26 December 2024. He was 92 years old and was admitted to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Delhi on Thursday, where he breathed his last. Dr. Singh was unwell and was having difficulty breathing, after which he was admitted to the hospital. After his death, a wave of mourning has spread across the country.
The central government has announced seven days of national mourning on the demise of former Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh. Along with this, all government programs to be held on Friday have been canceled. Dr. Singh’s funeral will be held on Saturday with full state honors. There is a wave of mourning across the country on his demise and condolences are being expressed by government institutions and citizens to pay tribute to his contribution. Dr. Manmohan Singh will always be remembered for his works and policies.
After the death of the former Prime Minister, the national flag was flown at half-mast at Rashtrapati Bhavan. This is a tradition, which is followed when a big leader of the country, prominent artist or a person who has done important work for the nation passes away. The Government of India has declared seven days of national mourning on his demise and has decided to perform his funeral with full state honors.
Many rules and traditions apply to the declaration of state mourning. When a prominent leader or a person who has contributed to the nation dies, state mourning is usually declared in the country. Earlier only the President had the right to make this declaration, but after recent changes, this right is now also with the states. As a result, many times the central and state governments declare separate state mourning.
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During state mourning, holiday is not declared in government schools or other government institutions, as stated in the 1997 notification of the Central Government. However, when the President or Prime Minister dies while in office, a government holiday is declared. Nevertheless, if the central or state government wants, it can declare a holiday.
According to the Flag Code of India, during state mourning, the national flag is flown at half-mast at major government institutions, such as the Legislative Assembly and the Secretariat. In addition, no formal or government programs are held and official entertainment is also prohibited during this period. Only essential work is carried out during this period. Thus, state mourning recognizes the grief and sentiments of the country and no ceremony or celebration is organized during this time.
Dr. Manmohan Singh was born on 26 September 1932 in a small village in the Punjab province of undivided India. His childhood was full of difficulties, but he never gave up his commitment to education. In the year 1948, he completed his matriculation from Punjab University. After this, he pursued his further education from Cambridge University, UK. In 1957, he earned a first class honors degree in economics. After this, in 1962, he received a D.Phil degree in Economics from Nuffield College, Oxford University.
Dr. Manmohan Singh’s personal life was also full of simplicity. He raised three daughters with his wife Mrs. Gursharan Kaur. His family always supported him and was a partner in his work.
Dr. Manmohan Singh’s political and administrative journey started in 1971 as an economic advisor in the Ministry of Commerce. Appreciating his work, he was appointed as the Chief Economic Advisor in the Ministry of Finance in 1972. After this, he played important roles as the Chairman of the Reserve Bank of India, Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission and Advisor to the Prime Minister. Apart from this, he was also the Chairman of the University Grants Commission.
From the year 1991 to 1996, Manmohan Singh served as the Finance Minister of India. This time was very important for the Indian economy, because through economic reforms he gave India a new direction at the global level. He led the Indian economy towards liberalization and took many important steps to attract foreign investment. As a result, India’s economy improved rapidly and the country made its mark in the global market.
Dr. Manmohan Singh was the 14th Prime Minister of India from 2004 to 2014. After he became the Prime Minister, many important changes took place in India and he gave many directions to the country. Under his leadership, India faced many global crises, including the financial crisis of 2008. After he became the Prime Minister, India made its mark as a major economic power globally.
Dr. Singh’s working style was very humble, calm and professional. He took many important decisions during his tenure, which left a deep impact on Indian politics and society. Due to his hard work and integrity, he will always be remembered as an honest and dedicated leader.
Dr. Manmohan Singh has received many awards and honors for his outstanding contribution. Some of the major honors are as follows:
Padma Vibhushan (1987): India’s second highest civilian honor, which was given to Dr. Manmohan Singh for his work and contribution.
Asia Money Award (1993 and 1994): Dr. Manmohan Singh
Dr. Singh was awarded these awards as Finance Minister.
Euro Money Award (1993): He was also honored by Euro Money as the Finance Minister of the Year.
Jawaharlal Nehru Birth Centenary Award (1995): He was given this award by the Indian Science Congress.
Adam Smith Prize of Cambridge University (1956): Under this award, Dr. Singh was honored for his outstanding educational work.
Wright Prize (1955): He received this award for distinguished performance by St. John’s College, Cambridge.
In addition, Dr. Singh has also been given honorary degrees by many universities. These include Cambridge, Oxford and other major universities.
The death of Dr. Manmohan Singh is a great national loss. He was a great leader of Indian politics and economy, who gave a new direction to the country during his tenure. His contribution will always be remembered and his life will remain a source of inspiration for the youth. After his demise, the country has paid tribute to him with a sense of grief and respect. The work he did and his leadership will always be recorded as an important chapter in Indian history.
