Former Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, widely considered the architect of the country’s economic reform program, was cremated after a state funeral on Saturday, with politicians and the public mourning his death.
The veteran leader, who was also credited with reaching a landmark nuclear agreement with the United States, died late Thursday at the age of 92.
Singh’s body was transported on Saturday morning to the headquarters of his Congress party in New Delhi, where party leaders and activists paid tribute to him and chanted, “Manmohan Singh lives forever.”
Abhishek Bishnoi, party leader, said Singh’s death was a great loss for the country. He said: “He spoke little, but his talent and actions spoke louder than his words.”
Later, Singh’s body was taken to the crematorium for his last rites while soldiers beat drums.
Government officials, politicians and family members paid final tributes to Singh, whose coffin was decorated with flowers and draped in the Indian flag. The security men honored him with a gun salute.
Indian President Draupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who described Singh as one of the country’s “most prominent leaders”, participated in the funeral, in addition to several ministers.
Singh’s body was then taken to a crematorium to the tune of religious hymns and cremated.
The authorities declared a seven-day mourning period and canceled all cultural and entertainment events during that period. Government buildings across India fly the national flag at half mast.
