Former Indian External Affairs Minister Natwar Singh passed away on Saturday due to a prolonged illness. He was 92. Singh took his last breath at Medanta Hospital in Gurugram near Delhi, where he was admitted for the past couple of weeks. A family source told PTI, “His son is there at the hospital, and many more family members are coming to Delhi from his native state for the last rites planned in Delhi. He was not keeping well for some time.”
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences on X (formerly Twitter), saying, “Pained by the passing away of Shri Natwar Singh Ji. He made rich contributions to the world of diplomacy and foreign policy. He was also known for his intellect as well as prolific writing. My thoughts are with his family and admirers in this hour of grief. Om Shanti.”
Born in 1931 in the Bharatpur district of Rajasthan, Singh was a career diplomat who transitioned into politics. He served as India’s External Affairs Minister for the period 2004-05 during the UPA-I government led by the then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. He was also a former Congress MP and a prolific author, writing on topics ranging from a maharaja’s life to the intricacies of foreign affairs.
Throughout his illustrious career, Singh held various significant roles, including serving as the ambassador to Pakistan and working closely with Prime Minister Indira Gandhi’s office from 1966 to 1971. In recognition of his contributions to the nation, he was honored with the Padma Bhushan in 1984.
Singh authored several books, including ‘The Legacy of Nehru: A Memorial Tribute’ and ‘My China Diary 1956-88’. His autobiography is titled ‘One Life is Not Enough’.
