[Watch] Former External Affairs Minister Natwar Singh Passes Away At 93, Know More About Him

New Delhi: Former External Affairs Minister and veteran Congress leader K Natwar Singh passed away at a hospital in Gurugram near New Delhi after suffering from prolonged illness. He was 93.

He had been undergoing treatment for a few weeks at the hospital. The former minister’s last rites will be performed at Lodhi Road Crematorium on August 12 (Monday).

Prime Minister Narendra Modi condoled his demise.“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,” the PM wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar recalled how Singh’s writings, especially on China, provided ‘valuable insights into our diplomacy.’ “Deeply saddened by the passing away of K Natwar Singh, distinguished diplomat and former External Affairs Minister. His many contributions include a vital role in the July 2005 India – US nuclear deal. His writings, especially on China, provided valuable insights into our diplomacy. Condolences to his family. Om Shanti,” the minister wrote on X.

Congress MP Sashi Tharoor also mourned his passing away and stated that it was ‘hard’ to have someone like him today in the present political space. “Mourning the passing of former External Affairs Minister K. Natwar Singh. Though i had not met him for some years, i have long admired his erudition, diplomatic savvy and literary sensibilities. Few in politics or government read as widely as he did or had as sharp a command of language and nuance. Hard to imagine another like him emerging in our political space today,” wrote Tharoor on X.

He was born in 1931 in Rajasthan’s Bharatpur district. He was a diplomat before he joined politics.
In Manmohan Singh’s government, he had served as the External Affairs Minister between 2004 and 2005. He had also served as the Union Minister of State for Steel, Mines and Coal and Agriculture in the cabinet of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi from 1985 to 1986.

He served as Minister of State in the External Affairs Ministry during 1986-89 in the Rajiv Gandhi government. In 1984, he was elected as an MP for the first time from Bharatpur.

In 1953, he had joined the Indian Foreign Service at 22. He served as India’s Deputy High Commissioner to the United Kingdom from 1973 to 1977 and as High Commissioner to Zambia in 1977. He was also appointed as India’s Ambassador to Pakistan from 1980 to 1982.