Former Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh, a towering figure in Indian politics and the architect of the 1991 economic reforms, passed away on December 26 at AIIMS Delhi. The 92-year-old leader, who served as India’s Prime Minister for two terms, left an indelible mark on the nation’s history.
Interestingly, few are aware that while Singh spoke Hindi fluently, he could neither read nor write the language. As a result, all his Hindi speeches were meticulously written in Urdu. This unique approach reportedly required Singh to practice extensively before delivering his speeches.
In 2018, during the launch of Congress leader Ashwani Kumar’s book Ehsas-o-Izhar, Singh called Urdu a symbol of India’s “Ganga-Jamni tehzeeb” (composite culture). He emphasized the need to preserve and promote the language, which he described as an integral part of India’s syncretic heritage.
Born on September 26, 1932, in Gah village (now in Pakistan), Singh’s journey from a small village in British India to becoming India’s Prime Minister was extraordinary. On Thursday, December 26, Singh breathed his last at 9:51 PM due to age-related complications, leaving behind a legacy of humility, intellect, and service to the nation.