New Delhi: Tributes for former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh have poured in from across the globe, ranging from recognition of his role in shaping a resurgent India to deeply personal reminiscences.
In an emotional message on X, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim expressed the “weight of grief” he felt upon hearing of Singh’s passing.
“As prime minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh was the architect of India’s emergence as one of the world’s economic giants,” Ibrahim wrote.
Ibrahim, who was appointed as Malaysia’s finance minister in 1991 and served through the financial crisis, recalled the “rare privilege” of witnessing Singh’s transformative policies firsthand while the two held similar positions during that period.
“The praise that will follow in the days ahead is well-deserved. Dr. Manmohan Singh, though slightly awkward as a politician, was undeniably upright, steadfast, and resolute as a statesman. He leaves behind a legacy that will inspire generations to come,” he added.
But going beyond Singh’s legacy, the Malaysian prime minister revealed a personal story.
“To me, he will be all that and much more. Not many people know this, and it is time that I share it with Malaysians: during the years of my incarceration, he extended a kindness that he didn’t have to — one that was neither politically expedient nor, as one can imagine, appreciated by the Malaysian government at that time. Yet, true to his character, he did it anyway. He offered scholarships for my children, particularly my son, Ihsan. Although I had declined the gracious offer, such a gesture undoubtedly showed his extraordinary humanity and generosity, demonstrative, as the Bard would have it, of a man so full of “the milk of human kindness”. In those dark days, as I navigated the labyrinth of imprisonment, he stood by me as a true friend. Such acts of quiet magnanimity defined him, and they will remain etched in my heart forever. Goodbye, my mitra, my bhai, Manmohan.”
In a statement, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken described Dr. Singh as “one of the greatest champions” of the US-India strategic partnership, crediting him with laying the foundation for the civil nuclear cooperation agreement that transformed bilateral relations. “His leadership in advancing the U.S.-India Civil Nuclear Cooperation Agreement signified a major investment in the potential of the U.S.-India relationship,” he wrote.
He also acknowledged that in India, Singh “will be remembered for his economic reforms that spurred the country’s rapid growth”.
Also read: Soft of Speech but Solid in Struggle, That Was Manmohan Singh
“India has lost a great man,” wrote French President Emmanuel Macron calling Singh “true friend” of France, lauding his lifelong dedication to his country. Germany’s ambassador to India, Philipp Ackermann, highlighted Singh’s role in elevating the India-Germany strategic partnership “to new heights” during his tenure, describing him as a “visionary” who opened India to the world.
China’s ambassador to India, Xu Feihong, expressed his condolences, describing Dr. Singh as an “outstanding leader” widely revered by the Indian people.
Japan’s Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru and foreign minister Iwaya Takeshi sent messages to their Indian counterparts, commending Singh’s contributions to building the “foundation for the development of Japan-India relations of today”.
Another fellow Quad member, Australia also noted that Singh played not just an important role in opening up India to the world, but reminded that the UPA government had “elevated the relationship to Strategic Partnership in 2009”.
Russian President Vladimir Putin stated that “outstanding statesman” Singh had “accomplished a lot in promoting India’s economic development and asserting its interests on the world stage”. He noted that Singh had made a “personal contribution to strengthening friendly ties between the two countries by elevating them to the level of a special privileged strategic partnership”.
“I had the occasion of talking with this remarkable man several times. We will cherish the memory of him,” Putin wrote in his condolence message.
India’s neighbour’s mourn Singh’s loss
In India’s immediate neighbourhood leaders from Afghanistan, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Sri Lanka and Nepal reflected on how Manmohan Singh’s legacy resonated across borders.
Former Afghan President Hamid Karzai described Singh as “one of India’s most illustrious sons”.
“India has lost one of its most illustrious sons. Dr Manmohan Singh was an unwavering ally and friend to the people of Afghanistan. I profoundly mourn his passing and extend my deepest condolences to his family, the government, and the people of India. May his soul find eternal peace,” he said.
Pakistan’s foreign minister M. Ishaq Dar, in his message, highlighted that Singh was born in pre-partition Punjab, now in Pakistan’s Chakwal district.
Describing him as a “distinguished economist and political leader,” Dar stated that Singh would be remembered for his “wisdom and gentle demeanor.”
“Beyond his remarkable achievements in economics, Dr. Singh demonstrated a commitment to promoting regional peace,” the Pakistani minister asserted. He added that Singh’s approach to regional issues reflected “his belief that mutual understanding, dialogue, and cooperation were essential for collective progress.”
“Dr. Singh played a notable role in improving Pakistan-India bilateral relations during his tenure as Prime Minister,” Dar added.
During his time in office, India and Pakistan came closest to resolving the Kashmir issue, but the process was shelved after Former Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf became embroiled in the lawyers’ movement, which ultimately contributed to his ouster.
‘A person of great humility’: Mohammed Yunus
Describing Singh as a “close friend,” Mohammed Yunus, chief adviser in Bangladesh’s interim government, said his “leadership not only shaped the future of India but also strengthened the bond of friendship and mutually beneficial cooperation between Bangladesh and India.”
A strong advocate for reviving SAARC, Yunus highlighted the former prime minister’s role in fostering regional cooperation in South Asia. “He urged South Asian countries to collaborate and build on the rich legacy of his ideas, as a tribute to Dr. Manmohan Singh,” said the Bangladesh foreign office’s press communique on Yunus’s message.
In his condolence missives to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, Yunus reflected on his personal memories of Singh, including their interactions following the conferment of the Nobel Peace Prize in 2006 on Yunus. They also met in January 2007 and again in December 2009 when Yunus was invited to deliver the Professor Hiren Mukerjee Annual Parliamentary Lecture.
Yunus remembered Singh as “a person of great humility, a visionary leader, a statesman known for his unwavering commitment to the welfare of India’s people,” adding that he would be “remembered for his contributions to India’s economic transformation.”
Also read: Manmohan Singh: Humility, Unwavering Integrity, Dedication to Public Service Set Global Benchmark
‘Influence transcended national boundaries’: Dissanayake
Sri Lankan President Anura Dissanayake hailed Singh as “a visionary leader” whose “influence transcended national boundaries.”
He underscored Singh’s role as a “tireless advocate for international collaboration”, forging alliances such as BRICS and contributing to landmark achievements like the Indo-US nuclear agreement. “His humility, intellect, and dedication to public service will forever inspire future generations,” Dissanayake said.
The 55-year-old Leftist also praised Singh’s transformative domestic policies, including the Right to Education Act and the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGA), describing them as reflecting “his steadfast commitment to equity and inclusivity.”
Sri Lanka’s neighbour, the Maldives, also asserted that Singh’s policies had regional benefits.
“His historic visit to the Maldives in November 2011 marked a significant milestone in advancing our economic and social development. Dr. Singh’s commitment to progress, and his leadership to strengthen ‘Look East Policy’ played a pivotal role in fostering development and cooperation across the South Asia region,” posted Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu.
Bhutan’s Prime Minister, Tshering Tobgay, expressed deep sorrow, calling Singh “a remarkable statesman and a cherished friend of Bhutan.” Tobgay highlighted that Singh’s “wisdom, compassion, and leadership touched many lives and also strengthened the bond between our two countries.”
Nepal Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli expressed profound sadness at Dr. Singh’s passing, lauding his “wisdom, humility, and dedication” as qualities that “shaped India and inspired the region.” Oli added, “Nepal will forever remember his support for democracy and lasting friendship.”
Singh’s death prompted his former counterparts in world capitals to share their memories of interactions with him.
‘Helped the world navigate the global financial crisis’: Former UK Prime Minister
Former Nepal Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai recalled several landmark agreements, including the double taxation avoidance treaty, the investment protection agreement, and the decision to establish an eminent persons group, which were finalised during his official visit to India in October 2011.
Writing in Nepali, Bhattarai shared a memorable discussion with then Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Reza Gilani during the 2011 SAARC Summit in the Maldives. The conversation focused on enhancing multilateral connectivity among South Asian countries and creating an open market area. “I jokingly told both of them that the future of SAARC would be determined by the relationship between India and Pakistan, so you should work hard to make it better, and we will all help the rest of SAARC, but it is painful to see that SAARC is almost dead now,” he wrote.
Last month, Nepal exported power to Bangladesh for the first time via India. Bhattarai noted that the foundation for this idea was laid during discussions with Singh. “I remember meeting Dr. Manmohan Singh and the then Prime Minister of Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina, on the sidelines of the Non-Aligned Summit held in Tehran in August 2012. During the meeting, there was a serious discussion about exporting Nepal’s hydropower to Bangladesh via India, and both of them were positive,” he wrote.
One of Manmohan Singh’s contemporaries in London, former UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown credited his “incorruptible” friend for helping the world navigate the global financial crisis. “Sad to hear of the death of Manmohan Singh. I remember him as the incorruptible former Indian Prime Minister who helped the world through the global financial crisis and as a friend whose integrity could never be doubted,” Brown said.
Among the few serving world leaders who had also worked with Singh, Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva referred to him as “my friend.”
“We were contemporaries in government in the first decade of the 21st century and worked together to strengthen relations between our countries and build a fairer world. Singh was involved in the creation of IBSA, bringing together Brazil, South Africa, and India, and in the founding of BRICS,” Lula wrote in Portuguese.
Their last meeting took place in New Delhi in 2012, when Lula was out of power. He wrote that they talked about development, combating poverty and hunger, and cooperation in the Global South.
Former Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe, who is currently on a private visit to India, paid his tributes personally at Singh’s residence.
Chargé d’affaires of the embassy of Palestine, Dr. Abed Elrazeg Abu Jazer said in his statement: “India has lost a wise politician and economist, and a humble human being who combined copious experiences, where all his valuable contributions added to the balance of India, its global status and its distinguished presence.”
