Veteran Congress Leader And Former External Affairs Minister K Natwar Singh Passes Away At 93

Senior Congress leader and former external affairs minister K Natwar Singh passed away on Saturday night (10 August) after a prolonged illness, as per a report by India Today.

Singh was 93 years old and was receiving treatment at Medanta Hospital in Gurugram, near Delhi, for the past few weeks.

He was born in 1931 in Rajasthan's Bharatpur district and initially began his career as a diplomat before transitioning to politics.

His political career began when he was elected as a Member of Parliament from Bharatpur in the 1984 elections, marking his shift from the Indian Foreign Service to politics.

Singh joined the Indian Foreign Service at the age of 22 in 1953, embarking on an illustrious diplomatic career.

He then served as India's External Affairs Minister from 2004 to 2005 during Manmohan Singh's tenure as Prime Minister. He had previously served as Minister of State in the External Affairs Ministry from 1986 to 1989, under Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi's government.

Additionally, he held the position of Union Minister of State for Steel, Mines, Coal, and Agriculture from 1985 to 1986 in the cabinet of Rajiv Gandhi.

He served as India's Deputy High Commissioner to the United Kingdom from 1973 to 1977 and later as High Commissioner to Zambia in 1977. His diplomatic career advanced further when he was appointed India's Ambassador to Pakistan from 1980 to 1982, a critical period in Indo-Pakistani relations.

Singh had a stellar academic background. He studied history at St Stephen's College in Delhi and later pursued further education at Cambridge University in the UK.

In recognition of his contributions, Singh was awarded the Padma Vibhushan, India's second-highest civilian honour.

Many eminent people, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma, have expressed their sorrow and grief over Singh's passing.

Also read - Hindenburg Allegations: SEBI Chairperson Madhabi Puri Buch Denies Allegations of Conflict of Interest, Confirms Compliance with Disclosure Requirements