Former External Affairs Minister and veteran Congress leader K Natwar Singh passed away on Saturday night at the age of 93, after a prolonged illness. Singh, a distinguished diplomat and politician, had been admitted to Medanta Hospital in Gurugram for the past several weeks, where he breathed his last.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi took to social media platform X to express his condolences, stating, “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 his prolific writing. My thoughts are with his family and admirers in this hour of grief. Om Shanti.”
Congress leader and Rajya Sabha MP Randeep Singh Surjewala also confirmed Singh’s demise, expressing his sorrow, “The news of the demise of former Foreign Minister Natwar Singh ji is sad. May God give strength to his family to bear this loss and grant peace to the departed soul.”
Born in 1931 in Bharatpur, Rajasthan, Singh had a storied career, serving as the External Affairs Minister from 2004 to 2005 under Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh during the UPA government. Prior to his political career, Singh was a seasoned diplomat, having joined the Indian Foreign Service in 1953. His contributions to diplomacy and foreign policy earned him the Padma Bhushan in 1984.
In 1984, Singh transitioned from diplomacy to politics, resigning from the Indian Foreign Service to contest elections as a member of the Congress party. He won the election and served as a Union Minister of State until 1989. Beyond his political and diplomatic achievements, Singh was also a prolific author, writing extensively on topics ranging from the life of a maharaja to the intricacies of foreign affairs.