Former Indian prime minister Manmohan Singh, whose policy of liberalisation launched his country on the path to becoming a global economic power, died on Thursday at the age of 92 in a hospital in Delhi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who succeeded Mr Singh in 2014, led the tributes for the late leader. "India mourns the loss of one of its most distinguished leaders, Dr Manmohan Singh Ji," Mr Modi wrote on X, using a term of respect.
"Rising from humble origins, he rose to become a respected economist. He served in various government positions as well, including as finance minister, leaving a strong imprint on our economic policy over the years. As our prime minister, he made extensive efforts to improve people’s lives."
The All India Institute of Medical Sciences said Mr Singh was admitted to the hospital on Thursday evening after losing consciousness at his home and died about two hours later, at 9.51pm.
India's finance minister from 1991 to 1996, Mr Singh served two terms as prime minister from 2004 to 2014. He is credited with having overseen an economic boom in Asia's fourth-largest economy in his first term, although slowing growth in later years marred his second stint.
Born in 1932 in the mud-house village of Gah in what is now Pakistan, he studied economics to find a way to eradicate poverty in the vast nation and had never held elected office before he became prime minister.
He won scholarships to attend Cambridge, where he obtained a first in economics, and Oxford, where he completed his PhD.
Mr Singh held a number of senior civil posts, served as a central bank governor and also worked in global agencies such as the UN.
He was appointed in 1991 by then prime minister PV Narasimha Rao of the Congress party to pull India back from the worst financial crisis in its modern history
In his first term, Mr Singh steered the economy through a period of 9 per cent growth, lending the country the international influence it had long sought. His government shared the country's newfound wealth through welfare schemes such as a jobs programme for the rural poor.
He also sealed a landmark nuclear deal with the US that he said would help India meet its growing energy needs.
His efforts to further open up the economy were frequently frustrated by political wrangling in his own party and demands made by coalition partners.
Known for his simple lifestyle and with a reputation for honesty, Mr Singh was not personally regarded as corrupt. But he came under attack for failing to crack down on members of his government as a series of scandals erupted in his second term, leading to mass protests.
He announced his intention to retire after the 2014 general election, with Congress leader Sonia Gandhi's son Rahul set to take his place if the party won.
But Congress crashed to its worst-ever result at that time as Mr Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party won a landslide.
With reporting from agencies.
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