New Delhi, India (DT) – The body of Manmohan Singh, the former Indian prime minister whose death has sparked outpourings of grief at home and accolades from abroad, was cremated on Sunday on the banks of the Yamuna River in New Delhi with full state honours.
The funeral was conducted in the Sikh tradition as priests chanted hymns, after Singh’s body, draped in the Indian flag, was carried through the capital on a flower-decked carriage pulled by a ceremonial army truck.
The flag was respectfully removed, and the body was draped in a saffron cloth before being placed on the funeral pyre.
Since Singh’s passing on Thursday at the age of 92, many have reflected on his poignant remark near the conclusion of his decade-long tenure as Prime Minister: “History will be kinder to me than the contemporary media.”
This statement was a response to criticisms of weak leadership during his time heading a coalition government that grappled with multiple corruption scandals. The administration ultimately lost power in the 2014 election, which brought his successor, Narendra Modi, to office.
Modi, who called Singh one of the nation’s “most distinguished leaders” after his death, attended the funeral, along with President Droupadi Murmu and representatives of various countries. Modi’s government has decided to allocate land for Singh’s memorial.
Singh, considered the architect of India’s economic liberalization, had criticized Modi’s economic policies such as demonetization and introducing a goods and services tax.
Singh is survived by his wife and three daughters.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi accompanied Singh’s family on the truck carrying his body to the Nigambodh Ghat cremation site. The funeral procession began at the Congress party headquarters in New Delhi, where party leaders, members, and the public gathered to pay their final respects.
Leaders from the United States, Canada, France, Sri Lanka, China, and Pakistan were among those mourning Singh’s passing, praising his significant contributions on the international stage.
