Former Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh died at the age of 92 on Thursday, hours after he was hospitalized in the capital city. The news of his death sparked a wave of tributes and condolences from political leaders across party lines and prominent figures in the business world.
Before becoming prime minister in 2004, Singh served as the governor of the Reserve Bank of India in 1982 and as finance minister in 1991. As finance minister, he spearheaded a series of transformative reforms that deregulated the Indian economy and opened it to foreign investment.
India’s “Most Distinguished Leaders”
Remembering the great leader, India’s current Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed Singh’s role in developing the country’s economic policy.
A “Rare Politician”
President of India Droupadi Murmu praised how Singh seamlessly balanced the worlds of academia and administration.
Singh’s Role In Building International Relations
Singh played a crucial role in enhancing India’s relationship with the United States and other countries. In 2006, during U.S. President George W. Bush’s visit to India, Singh successfully negotiated a landmark deal granting India access to U.S. nuclear technology. He also worked to bolster India’s relationship with Russia, regularly attending the India-Russia Annual Summit, which began in 2000. The summit aimed to enhance bilateral cooperation and foster collaboration among BRIC nations.
“Dr. Singh was one of the greatest champions of the U.S.-India strategic partnership, and his work laid the foundation for much of what our countries have accomplished together in the past two decades,” wrote the U.S. Department of State on Singh’s death.
Opening Doors To The World
Gautam Adani, India’s second-richest person and chairperson of Indian conglomerate Adani Group, paid tribute to Singh by remembering his role in reshaping India.
Transformative Economic Reforms In 1991
The US-India Strategic and Partnership Forum (USISPF) honored Singh’s enduring legacy, emphasizing his transformative economic reforms in 1991 that propelled India from an inward-focused economy to a global economic powerhouse. The forum also highlighted the 2007 US-India Civil Nuclear Agreement as a reflection of his dedication to deepening bilateral ties.
