Dr. Manmohan Singh and Malaysian PM Anwar Ibrahim
Following the death of India’s two-time former Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh on Thursday night, tributes have been pouring in from across the globe, with many recalling his vision, wisdom, and leadership qualities. Prime Minister of Malaysia Anwar Ibrahim penned a heartfelt note for his “honoured and cherished friend.”
Describing the late former prime minister as the “midwife of India’s emergence as one of the world’s economic giants,” the Malaysian PM recalled the “rare privilege” of witnessing the early years of Singh’s policies “first-hand” while they both served as finance ministers of their respective countries in the 1990s.
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“We shared a fervent commitment to the war against corruption—even collaborating on unravelling a major case,” he shared in an X post.
Ibrahim described him as “slightly awkward as a politician” but “undeniably upright, steadfast, and resolute as a statesman” who leaves behind a legacy that will inspire future generations.
“To me, he will be all that and much more,” he wrote before revealing an anecdote between the two that was previously not known to many.
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During the time of Ibrahim’s imprisonment, Dr. Manmohan Singh offered scholarships to Ibrahim’s children, particularly his son Ihsan.
“… he extended a kindness that he didn’t have to—one that was neither politically expedient nor, as one can imagine, appreciated by the Malaysian government at that time. Yet, true to his character, he did it anyway,” shared the Malaysian PM.
Although Ibrahim declined the offer, he noted Singh’s gesture, which showed his “extraordinary humanity and generosity.” Quoting William Shakespeare’s Macbeth, Ibrahim observed that Singh’s gesture was “demonstrative of a man so full of ‘the milk of human kindness.’”
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“In those dark days, as I navigated the labyrinth of imprisonment, he stood by me as a true friend. Such acts of quiet magnanimity defined him, and they will remain etched in my heart forever,” said Ibrahim.
“Goodbye, my mitra, my bhai, Manmohan,” signed off the Malaysian PM.
The weight of grief bears down on me at the news of the passing of my honoured and cherished friend: Dr Manmohan Singh.
Obituaries, essays and books a plenty there will surely be about this great man, celebrating him as the architect of India’s economic reforms. As Prime… pic.twitter.com/44bA3s7vst
— Anwar Ibrahim (@anwaribrahim) December 27, 2024
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Dr. Manmohan Singh died on Thursday night at the age of 92. He is widely attributed as the architect of the Indian economy for transforming and making it one of the fastest-growing economies in the world.
Despite facing challenges such as the 2008 global financial crisis and the 2012 Delhi gang rape, among others, Singh is generally credited with leading India through a period of economic growth and social development.
