Author: Nidhi Verma
NEW DELHI (Reuters) – The body of Manmohan Singh, the former Indian prime minister whose death sparked outpourings of grief at home and praise abroad, was cremated on the banks of the Yamuna river in New Delhi on Sunday with full state honours.
The funeral was held in Sikh tradition with priests singing hymns, after Singh’s body, draped in an Indian flag, was carried through the capital on a flower-draped carriage pulled by a ceremonial army truck.
The flag was removed and the body covered with a saffron cloth before being placed on the pyre.
Since Singh died on Thursday at the age of 92, many have embraced his comment near the end of his 10-year reign that “history will be kinder to me than the modern media”.
He was referring to the perception of weak leadership when he headed a coalition government facing numerous allegations of corruption, which was ousted in the 2014 election won by his successor Narendra Modi.
Modi, who called Singh one of the nation’s “most respected leaders” after his death, attended the funeral, along with President Droupadi Murmu and representatives of various countries. The Modi government has decided to allot land for Singh’s memorial.
Singh, considered the architect of India’s economic liberalization, has criticized Modi’s economic policies such as demonetisation and the introduction of the Goods and Services Tax.
Singh left behind his wife and three daughters.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi accompanied Singh’s family in a truck to the Nigambodh Ghat cremation site after a procession from the party headquarters in New Delhi, where people joined Congress leaders and members to pay their last respects.
Leaders of the US, Canada, France, Sri Lanka, China and Pakistan were among those who expressed grief over Singh’s death and highlighted his international contributions.
