Former Foreign Minister Natwar Singh Passes Away at 95, Nation Mourns the Loss of a Diplomat and Statesman

Bharatpur, August 11, 2024:
Natwar Singh, the former Foreign Minister of India and a distinguished diplomat, passed away late Saturday night at the age of 95 while receiving treatment at a hospital in Gudgu village. Known for his exemplary diplomatic skills and political acumen, Natwar Singh served as the Foreign Minister in the Manmohan Singh government from May 2004 to December 2005.

Born on May 16, 1929, in Bharatpur, Rajasthan, Natwar Singh embarked on a long and illustrious journey from being a diplomat to a politician. He joined the Indian Foreign Service (IFS) in 1953 and represented India on the Executive Board of UNICEF. He played significant roles in several United Nations committees between 1963 and 1966 and was appointed to the Prime Minister’s Secretariat under Indira Gandhi in 1966. From 1971 to 1973, he served as India’s Ambassador to Poland, and from 1980 to 1982, he was India’s Ambassador to Pakistan.

Natwar Singh was awarded the Padma Bhushan in 1984 for his contributions to Indian diplomacy. The same year, he resigned from his government position to enter electoral politics, where he was elected twice to the Lok Sabha and once to the Rajya Sabha. Natwar Singh left a lasting impact on Indian foreign policy and was known for his close association with the Nehru-Gandhi family.

Following the news of his demise, social media has been flooded with messages of condolence. Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma expressed his sorrow on social media, stating, “The news of the passing of former Foreign Minister of India and Padma Bhushan awardee, Shri Natwar Singh, is extremely sad. May Lord Shri Ram grant peace to the departed soul and give strength to the bereaved family in this time of grief.”