Pres. Muizzu signs condolence book in memory of ex-Indian PM Manmohan Singh

President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu, on Sunday, signed the condolence book opened at the High Commission of India in the Maldives in memory of the late former Indian prime minister Dr. Manmohan Singh.

Singh passed away on Thursday at the age of 92.

In his message, President Muizzu described Singh as a great statesman and reminisced about his historic visit to the Maldives in November 2011, marking a momentous milestone that further cemented the bonds of friendship between India and Maldives.

The message also conveyed sympathies to Singh’s family the government and people of India, on behalf of the Government and people of the Maldives, during this time of profound loss.

The President had earlier offered condolences via a post on X on Friday, in which underscored Singh’s historic visit to the Maldives in November 2011 marked a significant milestone in advancing economic and social development in the Maldives.

He added that Singh’s unwavering commitment to progress and his leadership in strengthening the ‘Look East Policy,’ played a crucial role in fostering development and cooperation across the South Asian region.

Singh, the first Sikh in office, passed away after being admitted to a hospital in New Delhi following a sudden loss of consciousness on Thursday. He had already been receiving treatment for age-related health issues.

Singh was born into a poor family in what was then British-ruled India and is now part of Pakistan. He studied by candlelight to secure a spot at Cambridge University before moving on to Oxford, where he earned a doctorate with a thesis on the impact of exports and free trade on India's economy.

He gained recognition as an economist, later serving as India's central bank governor and a government advisor. Though he had no apparent interest in politics, Singh was unexpectedly appointed as finance minister in 1991.

From 1991 to 1996, Singh played a key role in implementing reforms that rescued India's economy from a major balance of payments crisis. He championed deregulation and other policies that opened the previously isolated country to the global market.

Singh’s rise to the position of prime minister in 2004 was even more surprising.

He was invited to take on the role by Sonia Gandhi, who had led the centre-left Indian National Congress party to a surprising victory. Born in Italy, Gandhi was concerned that Hindu-nationalist critics would exploit her foreign roots to undermine the government if she were to assume leadership of the country.

Singh served as one of India's longest-serving prime ministers, holding the position from 2004 to 2014, and earned a reputation for his strong personal integrity.

During his tenure, India’s GDP initially grew rapidly, with a significant milestone being an 8.5 percent expansion.

The later years of Singh’s stint as prime minister were, however, marred by sclerotic growth, a stalling of reforms and allegations of corruption against certain members of the government.

He is survived by his wife and three daughters.