"Friend, philosopher, guide": Sonia Gandhi remembers Manmohan Singh

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Congress leader and Rajya Sabha MP Sonia Gandhi mourned the death of former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh - who died late last night at Delhi's All India Institute of Medical Sciences at the age of 92 - in a short but deeply emotional statement released Friday evening. She hailed Dr Singh as "the epitome of wisdom, nobility, and humility" and confessed that his death had come as a personal loss.


"He was my friend, philosopher, and guide. He was so gentle in his manner but so resolute in his deeply-held convictions. His commitment to social justice, secularism, and democratic values was deep and unwavering. To spend any time with him was to come away enlightened by his knowledge and sagacity, moved by his honesty and integrity, and awed by his genuine humility," she wrote.


𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐢𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐲 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐢𝐫𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐧 𝐒𝐦𝐭. 𝐒𝐨𝐧𝐢𝐚 𝐆𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐡𝐢 𝐣𝐢'𝐬 𝐦𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐟 𝐃𝐫 𝐌𝐚𝐧𝐦𝐨𝐡𝐚𝐧 𝐒𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐡 𝐣𝐢.

In Dr Manmohan Singh's passing, we have lost a leader who was the epitome… pic.twitter.com/3rE8I8u8TE
— Congress (@INCIndia) December 27, 2024



"He leaves a void in our national life that can never be filled. We in the Congress Party, and the people of India, will forever be proud and grateful we had a leader like Dr Manmohan Singh."


Ms Gandhi led an avalanche of tributes for Dr Singh, including similarly heartfelt notes from her son and daughter, Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra. In his message too Mr Gandhi said he had lost a "mentor and guide", underlining the importance Dr Singh played within the Gandhi family.


Ms Gandhi Vadra said, "Few in politics inspire the kind of respect Manmohan Singhji did. His honesty will always be an inspiration... and he will forever stand tall among those who truly love this country."

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Dr Singh and Ms Gandhi, leading lights of the Congress through the glory days of the party-led UPA era, when it won back-to-back national elections, may have had very different roles but for a decision taken by the latter in May 2004 - to relinquish claim to the Prime Minister's chair.

READ | 

How Manmohan Singh Was "Accidental PM" After UPA's Shock 2004 Win


"I knew my limitations... I knew Manmohan Singh would be a better Prime Minister..." she said over a decade later, recollecting what had been a contentious, even controversial, decision.

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"Knew My Limits...": Sonia Gandhi On Making Manmohan Singh PM


Dr Singh, having already guided the economy through the liberalisation process as Finance Minister (from 1991 to 1996), returned to lead again, only this time it was the entire nation.

READ | 

Manmohan Singh, The Technocrat Who Transformed India's Economy


And those leadership qualities, known already to some, soon became apparent to the country, his critics and rivals, and the world. Ms Gandhi underlined this when she wrote, "A luminous and beloved guiding light for the Congress Party, his compassion and vision transformed and empowered the lives of millions of Indians... He was respected and admired by leaders and scholars all over the world."

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"Greatest Champion": World Leaders Honour Ex-PM Manmohan Singh


"Dr Manmohan Singh brought brilliance and distinction to every high office that he held (the long list of which included Governor of the Reserve Bank). And he brought pride and honour to India."


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