In his sleep on Thursday, December 26, 2024, at the age of 92, Dr. Manmohan Singh died at the AIIMS hospital in Delhi. His death marks the end of an age in Indian politics and business.
Grief and tributes poured in from leaders and citizens for the death of the former Prime Minister of India. Years later, the silent determination of Singh as a Prime Minister and the architect of economic reforms for India will still be remembered.
Rest in peace, Dr. Manmohan Singh. A true statesman whose legacy will continue to inspire. You will be missed.
His Early Life
Dr. Manmohan Singh was born on September 26, 1932, in Gah, Punjab Province, British India, now in Pakistan. He was a victim of the Partition and moved to India with his family in 1947. He finished his early education in Punjab and later took higher education in the United Kingdom. Dr. Manmohan Singh earned his First Class Honours degree in Economics from the University of Cambridge in 1957 and his D.Phil. in Economics from Nuffield College, Oxford, in 1962.
Academic and Professional Career:
Dr. Manmohan Singh started teaching in academia at Punjab University and the Delhi School of Economics. In 1971, he joined the Government of India as an Economic Advisor in the Ministry of Commerce. He later became Chief Economic Advisor in the Ministry of Finance in 1972. Dr Manmohan Singh also served as the Governor of the Reserve Bank of India from 1982 to 1985.
In honor of the late leader, the Central government has called for seven days of state grief. There will also be a state funeral.
The Signature Look
Dr. Manmohan Singh’s hallmark look was a bandhgala suit, a white kurta, and a turban. It was something that became his signature look and set him apart as a leader who would wear traditional Indian attire with dignity and grace.
Bandhgala Suit: The bandhgala is a traditional Indian suit, and it was part of Singh’s staple wardrobe. The outfit was characterized by its high collar and structured silhouette, giving an air of formality and sophistication. Singh was particularly fond of dark-coloured bandhgalas that matched his distinguished looks.
White Kurta: Simple elegance; purity and austerity was something very much depicted through this kurta made of white, underlining how simple Dr. Manmohan Singh could yet stand up and perform in a rather large stature. This simple outfit further complemented by underneath its bandhgala makes one look elegant, classic and traditional.
Turban: The turban had nothing to do with it-it was an essential part of who he was as a Sikh-its wearing a symbol of his religion not simply a fashion statement to which he took pride as was one of the definite points about his appearance.
Economic Reforms
He is also famous for starting India’s economic reforms during the early 1990s. As Finance Minister between 1991 and 1996, he liberalized the Indian economy by devaluing the rupee, lowering taxes, privatizing state-run industries, and encouraging foreign investment. The reforms that were initiated in Dr. Manmohan Singh’s tenure transformed the economy of India and led to great economic growth.
He initially came into politics by joining as a member elected to the Indian parliament’s Upper House called Rajya Sabha in the year 1991. During that period, he played eight consecutive years as a Leader of the Opposition from 1998 till 2004. In the parliamentary elections, the Indian National Congress triumphed in 2004, and the party offered him to take on the position of Prime Minister. Between 2004 and 2014, Manmohan served his tenures for two terms in successive terms of Prime Minister’s posts. During his leadership, Dr. Manmohan Singh remained the first Sikh to the post and the first five-year incumbent since Jawaharlal Nehru when he secured re-election during term service.
Legacy and Honors
Manmohan Singh’s contribution toward Indian economic development and his stint as the Prime Minister brought several accolades and honors towards his name. He bagged honorary degrees from more than one university and some esteemed prizes like the Padma Vibhushan and Adam Smith Prize. Dr. Manmohan Singh will be inspiring generations to serve with dedication and intellectual pursuits, by way of what he did for public life and his intellect.
Tributes
The leaders of different political parties and international personalities have remembered Dr. Manmohan Singh who has played a very vital role in transforming the economy of India and also devoted life to public service. And his death marked the end of an age that people will remember for a long time.
Manmohan Singh’s style shows what he stands for and who he is. It is his bandhgala, white kurta, and turban that made him famous, and they will always be a part of his heritage.
As we celebrate the great work of Dr. Manmohan Singh in India, we are also celebrating the grace and elegance that the world of politics will remember him for. He is one of the finest examples of both a statesman and a style icon who will be remembered by future generations.
