Mumbai:

Once or twice a month, the then Governor of the Reserve Bank of India would walk to Mumbai’s famous Strand Book Stall in the Fort area to check out the latest arrivals. Little did the bookstore’s staff know that this soft-spoken book-lover would become the country’s prime minister.

A former staff member of Strand, which shut down a few years ago, recalled warm memories of Dr Manmohan Singh who died in Delhi on Thursday night at age 92.

Singh was the RBI governor between 1982 and 1985. Occasionally, he would visit the bookshop, a walking distance away, dressed in a ‘Band Gala’ suit or Kurta-Pyjama.

“Many of us have seen him at the store at lunchtime in those days,” said T Jagath, who worked at Strand for over two decades.

Jagath, now Chief Operating Officer of Kitab Khana bookstore, remembers Singh’s unassuming manners.

“I used to handle the management and literature section. He would ask for books on management, finance, and economy,” Jagath said.

“Sometimes I would find a book for him from the shelf,” he said, adding that Singh would call him by his name.

Sometimes, T N Shanbhag, the owner of Strand, would personally help him with books and show new arrivals.

“We used to wait for him in the afternoons as we knew he might drop in any day,” said Jagath.

India has lost a great economist and a good human being, he added.

“During my stint at Strand, I have seen seven to eight RBI governors. But Manmohan Singh was a very different personality amongst them,” said Jagath.

“Such a great man, very soft-spoken and down-to-earth; he used to treat all of us politely,” he said.

“No other political personality can match Dr Singh’s stature,” Jagath added. 

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Dr Manmohan Singh’s last rites will be performed today around 11:45 am on Saturday. The Centre has declared a seven-day state mourning throughout the country as a mark of respect to Dr Singh. During this period, the national flag will be flown half-mast across India.

The Congress has also declared that all official programs of the party, including the Foundation Day celebration will be cancelled for the next seven days and will resume on January 3.

A row has erupted between the Centre and Congress over the allotment of space for Dr Singh’s memorial. The Congress condemned the allocation of the Nigambodh Ghat for the final rituals instead of a location where a memorial could be built in his honour.

Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge spoke to Prime Minister Narendra Modi about exploring the possibility of building a memorial for Dr Singh at the same site where the last rites would be held. “Apropos our telephonic conversation this morning, wherein I made a request to hold Dr Manmohan Singh’s last rites, which will take place tomorrow i.e. 28th December 2024, at his final resting place that would be a sacrosanct venue for a memorial of the great son of India. This is in keeping with such tradition of having memorials of statesmen and former prime ministers at the very place of their funerals,” Mr Kharge wrote in a letter on Friday.

However, BJP spokesperson CR Kesavan hit back at Congress, calling the party’s behaviour “ironic”. “It is indeed ironic that a Congress President is writing to PM Narendra Modi ji about traditions and the funeral place becoming the sacrosanct venue for a memorial. One should remind Kharge ji how the Congress-led UPA government never built a memorial in Delhi for former PM Narasimha Rao ji, who passed away in 2004,” he said.

The Centre also clarified that it will allocate a space for Dr Singh’s memorial – which was also conveyed to Mr Kharge and Dr Singh’s family. However, it said that in the meantime, cremation and other formalities can take place because a “trust has to be formed and space has to be allocated”.

Sharmistha Mukherjee, the daughter of former President late Pranab Mukherjee, criticised Mr Kharge over the party’s demand for a separate memorial for the former Prime Minister. In a statement on X, she claimed that when her father and the former Indian President died in August 2020, the Congress leadership did not even bother to convene a condolence meeting by the Congress Working Committee (CWC). According to her, a senior leader of the Congress told her that memorials are not held for Indian Presidents. 

Manmohan Singh died of age-related medical complications at the age of 92 on Thursday night. He had been in poor health for the last few months. Known as the ‘architect of India’s economic reforms’, Dr Singh was the PM for two terms in the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance government from 2004 to 2014.

Born in 1932, Dr Singh studied at the University of Cambridge in the UK where he earned a First Class Honours degree in Economics in 1957. He also had a degree in Economics from Nuffield College at Oxford University. Dr Singh became a member of the Rajya Sabha in 1991 and was the Leader of the Opposition between 1998 and 2004. He was awarded India’s second-highest civilian honour, the Padma Vibhushan, in 1987.

Many world leaders, including French President Emmanuel Macron, Canada’s former Prime Minister Stephen Harper, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, and Malaysian PM Anwar Ibrahim, have expressed condolences over the death of Dr Singh.

New Delhi:

Weeks before leaving office as Prime Minister in 2014, Dr Manmohan Singh made a statement that would be repeated even after his death. “I honestly believe history will be kinder to me than the contemporary media or for that matter, the Opposition parties in Parliament,” he said, responding to NDTV’s Sunil Prabhu who asked Dr Singh about his perceived inability to rein in ministers and act decisively in certain situations.

This response, dismissed by some at the time as self-assurance amid mounting criticism, has gained resonance following his death last night at the age of 92

READ | How Manmohan Singh Became “Accidental PM” After Shock UPA Victory In 2004

Dr Singh died at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in New Delhi. As condolences pour in from across party lines, his legacy as a silent architect of India’s economic reforms is being revisited.

“I honestly believe that history will be kinder to me than the contemporary media, or for that matter, the Opposition parties in Parliament,” Dr Manmohan Singh said in 2014. Just ten years later, he is already being proven right,” wrote Congress leader Shashi Tharoor. 

READ | “People Say I Was…”: When Manmohan Singh Defended “Silent PM” Charge

Similarly, BRS leader KT Rama Rao described Dr Singh as a “silent architect of modern India”.

“A silent architect of modern India, a visionary, a true intellectual, and a gracious human being! History will indeed be kinder and grateful to you. My heartfelt condolences to the friends and family of Former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh ji. His legacy will continue to inspire many generations to come,” Mr Rao said. 

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray, reflecting on Dr Singh’s impact on the liberalisation of India’s economy, said, “For someone like me, born in the 90s, the opening up of India to the world and vice versa was like growing up in a decade where each day was new. 

He credited Dr Singh with putting India on the global stage and recalled his dignified response to criticism during his tenure.

READ | “Epitome Of Simplicity”: PM Modi’s Video Tribute To Manmohan Singh

“He truly put our nation on a world stage. As he said about himself while taking on all the unfounded criticism, ‘history would be kinder’, we as Indians truly believe, that the present too will be kinder to his statesman-like legacy, as we all bid him a sorrowful goodbye,” Mr Thackeray said. 

Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge paid homage to Dr Singh’s enduring legacy, echoing his 2014 statement. “Undoubtedly, history shall judge you kindly, Dr. Manmohan Singh ji!” Mr Kharge posted on social media. 

Dipankar Bhattacharya, CPIML leader, recalled the allegations and criticisms that Dr Singh faced during his tenure. “He was grilled for scams that would never be proved, for his reticence that’d be held against him as a sign of weakness. But today India will perhaps agree to his 2014 remark: ‘history will be kinder to me than the contemporary media’,” Mr Bhattacharya stated.

Telangana Chief Minister  Revanth Reddy described Dr. Singh as “one of the greatest economists, leaders, reformers, and above all, a humanitarian of our times.” 

“He showed how decency and class are much needed aspects of political & public life. He is a legend in whose passing away, India has lost a great son. Truly, in his own words, history will treat him far more kindly, and respectfully, than his own times perhaps did. My prayers and deepest condolence for the bereaved family members.” Mr Reddy added. 

Dr Singh’s quiet demeanour often masked the monumental impact of his policies. As Finance Minister in the early 1990s, he spearheaded economic reforms that liberalised India’s economy, paving the way for rapid growth and global integration. His tenure as Prime Minister from 2004 to 2014 saw significant achievements, including the Indo-US civil nuclear agreement and an ambitious expansion of social welfare programs.

 

New Delhi:

In his signature white kurta-pyjama and blue turban, Manmohan Singh, then 71, took the oath of office as India’s 14th Prime Minister on May 22, 2004. Members of Dr Singh’s family, political allies, and predecessors – including Atal Bihari Vajpayee – looked on as a quiet and reserved leader assumed the reins of power at a ceremony conducted by then-President Dr APJ Abdul Kalam at the Rashtrapati Bhavan.

Until the 2004 election results were announced, it was widely assumed that the incumbent NDA government led by Atal Bihari Vajpayee would secure a second term. The BJP’s high-profile “India Shining” campaign dominated the airwaves. Political analysts and exit polls had overwhelmingly predicted a BJP-led victory. However, the Congress party, under Sonia Gandhi’s leadership, spearheaded a comeback.

READ | “People Say I Was…”: When Manmohan Singh Defended “Silent PM” Charge

The Congress-led UPA coalition emerged victorious, securing enough support from regional allies to form the government. Sonia Gandhi, expected by many to assume the prime ministership, instead made a decision that surprised many: she stepped aside in favour of Manmohan Singh, citing her “inner voice”.

Sonia Gandhi’s Italian roots have been a contentious political issue since she entered active politics in 1998. In 2004, despite Congress’s electoral success, the issue resurfaced when BJP leaders like Sushma Swaraj and Uma Bharti reignited the controversy. Ms Swaraj even threatened dramatic protests, including shaving her head, should Mrs Gandhi become Prime Minister.

READ | Manmohan Singh’s Poetic Banter With Sushma Swaraj In Parliament

Sonia Gandhi also faced resistance internally. In his autobiography, One Life Is Not Enough, former External Affairs minister and Congress leader Natwar Singh recounted a tense moment at Mrs Gandhi’s residence, where Rahul Gandhi strongly urged his mother not to accept the position, citing his worries in light of the assassinations of his father, Rajiv Gandhi, and grandmother, Indira Gandhi.

Mrs Gandhi’s refusal to accept the top post paved the way for Manmohan Singh’s ascent. As a soft-spoken technocrat with no mass political base, Dr Singh was an unlikely choice. A career economist who had served as Finance Minister in PV Narasimha Rao’s government during the 1991 economic liberalisation, Dr Singh had earned respect in policy circles but lacked the typical attributes of a political leader. His lone attempt to contest a Lok Sabha seat, from South Delhi in 1999, ended in defeat, and Dr Singh remained a Rajya Sabha member throughout his political career.

READ | “Greatest Champion”: World Leaders Pay Tributes To Ex-PM Manmohan Singh

Despite being termed the “Accidental Prime Minister,” Dr Singh’s decade-long tenure was marked by some great achievements. His government launched transformative programs like the Right to Information (RTI), the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MNREGA), and the Right to Education (RTE).

Dr Singh’s tenure, however, was not without controversies. In 2008, his government faced a confidence vote after the Left parties withdrew support over the Indo-US nuclear deal. Dr Singh staked his political capital on the agreement, arguing it was crucial for India’s energy security. His government survived the trust vote by a narrow margin.

The UPA lost power in 2014, with Narendra Modi’s BJP securing a landslide victory. Dr Singh exited public life with characteristic grace, stating, “I honestly believe history will be kinder to me than the contemporary media or for that matter, the Opposition parties in Parliament.”

New Delhi:

Former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh died at the age of 92 due to age-related medical conditions on Thursday. Condolences have poured in from across the world for the two-time ex-PM and the architect of India’s economic reforms. Many world leaders have highlighted his contributions and warm relations with their nations.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken called Manmohan Singh one of the “greatest champions” of the US-India strategic partnership.

“The United States offers our sincere condolences to the people of India for the passing of former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh. Dr Singh was one of the greatest champions of the US-India strategic partnership, and his work laid the foundation for much of what our countries have accomplished together in the past two decades. His leadership in advancing the US-India Civil Nuclear Cooperation Agreement signified a major investment in the potential of the US-India relationship,” Blinken said.

He added, “At home, Dr Singh will be remembered for his economic reforms that spurred India’s rapid economic growth. We mourn Dr Singh’s passing and will always remember his dedication to bringing the United States and India closer together.”

Former Prime Minister of Canada Stephen Harper expressed grief over the death of Manmohan Singh.

“I am saddened to learn of the passing of my former colleague, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. He was an individual of exceptional intelligence, integrity, and wisdom. Laureen and I wish to convey our condolences to all his family and friends,” he wrote in a post on X.

I am saddened to learn of the passing of my former colleague, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. He was an individual of exceptional intelligence, integrity, and wisdom. Laureen and I wish to convey our condolences to all his family and friends.

— Stephen Harper (@stephenharper) December 26, 2024

Former Afghan President Hamid Karzai described Dr Singh as an “unwavering ally and friend to the people of Afghanistan”.

“India has lost one of its most illustrious sons. Dr Manmohan Singh was an unwavering ally and friend to the people of Afghanistan. I profoundly mourn his passing and extend my deepest condolences to his family, the government, and the people of India. May his soul find eternal peace,” he said.

#India has lost one of its most illustrious sons. #Dr_Manmohan_Singh was an unwavering ally and friend to the people of #Afghanistan. I profoundly mourn his passing and extend my deepest condolences to his family, the government, and the people of India.
May his soul find… pic.twitter.com/ZrY5bCFVIR

— Hamid Karzai (@KarzaiH) December 26, 2024

Former Maldivian President Mohamed Nasheed also expressed condolences, saying, “So sad to hear Manmohan Singh has passed. I always found him a delight to work with, and like a benevolent father figure. He was a good friend of the Maldives.”

So sad to hear Manmohan Singh has passed. I always found him a delight to work with, and like a benevolent father figure. He was a good friend of the Maldives. @HCIMaldives pic.twitter.com/I0vnfimKpl

— Mohamed Nasheed (@MohamedNasheed) December 26, 2024

“It is moment of poignant sorrow and grief for India and for Russia. Dr Manmohan Singh’s contribution to our bilateral ties was immeasurable. His suave demeanor was always endearing as unquestionable was his expertise as an economist and his commitment to the progress of India,” he said.

It is moment of poignant sorrow and grief for India and for Russia. Dr Manmohan Singh‘s contribution to our bilateral ties was immeasurable. His suave demeanor was always endearing as unquestionable was his expertise as an economist and his commitment to the progress of India. pic.twitter.com/rxjUQsFgj5

— Denis Alipov (@AmbRus_India) December 26, 2024

Manmohan Singh was Prime Minister for two terms in the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance government from 2004 to 2014.