The body of Manmohan Singh, the former Indian prime minister whose death has sparked outpourings of grief at home and accolades from abroad, was cremated on Saturday on the banks of the Yamuna River in New Delhi with full state honours.
Singh was laid to rest with full state honours at Delhi's Nigam Bodh Ghat, as the nation bid an emotional farewell to the stalwart Congress leader who was fondly known as the "Architect of India's economic reforms."
The funeral was conducted in the Sikh tradition as priests chanted hymns, after Singh's body, draped in the Indian flag, was carried through the capital on a flower-decked carriage pulled by a ceremonial army truck. The flag was removed and the body covered with a saffron cloth before it was placed on the pyre.
Since Singh died on Thursday at 92, many have taken up his comment near the end of his 10-year rule that "history will be kinder to me than the contemporary media."
He was referring to a perception of weak leadership as he headed a coalition government facing numerous charges of corruption, which was thrown out of office in the 2014 election won by his successor Narendra Modi.
Modi, who called Singh one of the nation's "most distinguished leaders" after his death, attended the funeral, along with President Droupadi Murmu and representatives of various countries. Modi's government has decided to allocate land for Singh's memorial.
Singh, considered the architect of India’s economic liberalisation, had criticised Modi's economic policies such as demonetisation and introducing a goods and services tax. Singh is survived by his wife and three daughters.
Congress Leader Rahul Gandhi accompanied Singh's family on the truck to the Nigambodh Ghat cremation site after the procession from party headquarters in New Delhi, where people joined Congress party leaders and members to pay their last respects.
The leaders of the US, Canada, France, Sri Lanka, China and Pakistan were among those expressing grief at Singh's death and highlighting his international contributions.
US President Joe Biden in a condolence statement called Singh a true statesman and a dedicated public servant who "charted pathbreaking progress that will continue to strengthen our nations — and the world — for generations to come."
"The unprecedented level of cooperation between the United States and India today would not have been possible without the prime minister's strategic vision and political courage," Biden said.
Earlier the Singh's body was taken to the headquarters of his Congress party in New Delhi, where party leaders and activists paid tributes to him and chanted "Manmohan Singh lives forever."
Abhishek Bishnoi, a party leader, said Singh's death was big loss for the country. "He used to speak little, but his talent and his actions spoke louder than his words," he said.
Later, Singh's body was transported to a crematorium ground for his last rites as soldiers beat drums. Government officials, politicians and family members paid their last respects to Singh, whose casket was adorned with flowers and wrapped in the Indian flag. Security personnel honoured him with a ceremonial gun salute.
Agence France-Presse