Former External Affairs minister Natwar Singh passes away at 93

PTC News Desk: After a protracted illness, veteran Congressman and former External Affairs Minister K Natwar Singh passed away on Saturday night, according to family members who spoke to news agency PTI. His age was ninety-three. After a few weeks of therapy at Medanta Hospital in Gurugram, close to Delhi, he passed away there.

K Natwar Singh, who was born in the Bharatpur area of Rajasthan in 1931, worked as a diplomat before entering politics. He had been in Manmohan Singh’s ministry from 2004 to 2005 as the minister of external affairs. In the government of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, he also held the position of Union Minister of State for Steel, Mines, Coal, and Agriculture from 1985 to 1986.

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. pic.twitter.com/7eIR1NHXgJ

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) August 11, 2024

Following that, he worked for the Rajiv Gandhi administration once again as Minister of State in the External Affairs Ministry from 1986 to 1989. Having been elected from Bharatpur in the 1984 elections, it was his first term as an MP. He left the Indian Foreign Services at this time to pursue a career in politics.

Singh began a long diplomatic career in 1953 at the age of 22, when he enlisted in the Indian Foreign Service. From 1973 to 1977, he was India’s Deputy High Commissioner to the United Kingdom. In 1977, he became High Commissioner to Zambia. When he was named India’s ambassador to Pakistan in 1980–1982, a particularly pivotal year in Indo-Pakistani relations, his career took off even further.

Singh has a similarly strong academic background. He continued his education in Cambridge University in the United Kingdom after studying history at St. Stephen’s College in Delhi. His academic interests also led him to study at Peking University in China, demonstrating his profound interest in worldviews.

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The highest civilian honor in India, the Padma Vibhushan, was also given to him.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his sorrow on the death of the former minister of external affairs, saying, “I’m saddened by the loss of Shri Natwar Singh Ji. He made significant contributions to foreign affairs and diplomacy. In addition to his prolific writing, he was renowned for his intelligence. During this time of sadness, my thoughts are with his family and admirers. Om Shanti.

Chief Minister of Rajasthan Bhajanlal Sharma has sent his sympathies for the deceased former Union minister. Speaking to X, he said, “It is very sad to learn about the passing of Ms. Natwar Singh, the former Minister of External Affairs for the Government of India and recipient of the Padma Vibhushan award. I ask Lord Shri Ram to grant the deceased soul a position at his feet and to give the grieving family courage during this difficult time.”

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