NEW DELHI: Whether it was the Gandhi family, the Congress worker, the man on the street, or the woman in the metro, Delhi stood up in applause and mourning on Saturday to say a final goodbye to Manmohan Singh, the self-effacing former PM who touched as many hearts with his dignity as lives with his economic policies.
At the AICC headquarters and along the hearse’s route to Nigambodh Ghat, the unusually grey winter morning reflected the solemn mood on the street as thousands gathered to pay respects, the chorus of “Manmohan Singh amar rahein” and “jab tak suraj chand rahega, Manmohan Singh tera naam rahega” by Congress workers ringing out as a steady beat in a somber procession. The Congress workers also sought Bharat Ratna, India’s highest civilian honour, for Singh.
If Firaq Gorakhpuri’s words – “ab aksar chup chup se rahe hain, yun hi kab lab khole hain/pehle firaq ko dekha hota ab to bahut kum bolen hain” – capture the essence of Singh, the stately tribute from the common citizen was a fitting one. Across ages and backgrounds, people from different walks of life and politicians across the spectrum of Right, Left and Centre turned up for Singh’s final journey. It was a rare unifying thread in the politically polarised capital of today.
The Gandhi family, led by Sonia – who formed a partnership with Singh as UPA chairperson during his two terms as PM from 2004-14 – was the first to offer wreaths at AICC’s Akbar Road headquarters, where Singh’s remains were brought at 9.12am from his residence on Motilal Nehru Road and laid in state at the main hall, enclosed in a glass casket and draped by the Tricolour.
Singh’s family – wife Gursharan Kaur and daughters Upinder Singh, Daman Kaur and Amrit Kaur – was there. In a black overcoat, with a black hair band, Sonia was accompanied by son Rahul, who was in his usual half-sleeve white T-shirt and trousers, and daughter Priyanka Gandhi Vadra. The trio had arrived at the AICC headquarters around 8.50am and waited.
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and senior members like P Chidambaram, Salman Khurshid, Ashok Gehlot, Pawan Bansal and Ajay Maken were among those who came to pay respects. Senior leadership and functionaries alike, many came with their families as a mark of respect to Singh.
Sonia, Rahul, Priyanka and senior Congress functionaries stood like a family beside Gursharan and the daughters throughout the funeral. Rahul sat next to Singh’s family members in an Army truck that pulled the cortege from Akbar Road to Nigambodh Ghat, where priests and family members recited hymns from the Gurbani and chants of “Satnam Waheguru” filled the air.
Singh’s last rites were performed with full state honours that were accompanied by a 21-gun salute. The funeral pyre was lit by his eldest daughter Upinder. Singh (92) passed away on the night of Dec 26. Before Singh’s remains were consigned to flames, security forces also performed a three-rifle volley and buglers played ‘Last Post’ as a mark of honour. Personnel from the Army, Navy and Air Force as well as Delhi Police had participated in the procession, marching in formation.
“Ghazab ke insaan the. Itni saadgi aur insaniyat politicians mein kum milti hai (He was an exceptional man blessed with simplicity and humanity that one rarely sees in politicians),” said Subhash, who had come from Anand Parbat at 6.20am to bid farewell to Singh. “He was a professor, not a politician and he remained one,” said Aradhana, who had come from south Delhi for the “leader” who she had always admired. For many others who waited patiently, outside Singh’s house, at the AICC headquarters and near Nigambodh Ghat to catch a final glimpse of him, this was a presence they had to mark, as much for the architect of India’s liberalisation as the convergence of traits he personified – intellect, humility and unlimited grace.