New Delhi : 

Senior Congress leader and former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh (92) passed away in Delhi. Admitted to AIIMS due to serious illness, he breathed his last on Thursday night while undergoing treatment.

Born on September 26, 1932, in Ma, Punjab (now in Pakistan), Manmohan Singh was a statesman and an architect of economic reforms that transformed India. He earned degrees in economics from Panjab University, Cambridge, and Oxford, culminating in a D.Phil in 1962.

Manmohan Singh began his illustrious career as an economist and served as the Governor of the Reserve Bank of India (1982-85). His tenure as Finance Minister in the P.V. Narasimha Rao government (1991-96) marked a turning point in India’s economic history, initiating liberalization and reform.

In 2004, Singh became India’s Prime Minister, leading the nation for a decade until 2014. He holds the distinction of being the first non-Hindu to serve as Prime Minister and presided over the country during a period of significant economic growth, achieving a record GDP growth rate of 10.2%. His government also implemented historic policies, including reserving 27% of seats for backward classes.

A recipient of the Padma Vibhushan in 1987, Singh’s contributions to India’s economic and political landscape remain unparalleled. He is survived by his wife Gurusharan Kaur and daughters Upender and Daman Amrit.

Manmohan Singh’s legacy as a visionary leader, economic reformer, and dedicated public servant will be remembered for generations.