In the past few days, two world leaders-- President Jimmy Carter and Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh, were given final farewell with state funerals accorded by their nations, leaving behind a rich legacy to be cherished by the world.

The Legacy

They led their respective nations at different times, impacted public life and policy of their nations differently. But one thing was common in both: the two great leaders lived simple and highly dignified, dedicated their entire lives completely to the service of the humanity. President Jimmy Carter served the U.S. as the president from 1977 to 1981. Dr Manmohan Singh served India as the Prime Minister from 2004 to 2014. As the president, President Carter is remembered for his handling of the hostage crisis in Iran, but what he would be remembered more is his service to the humanity after his presidency, when he began work for his Habitat for Humanity mission, along with his wife Rosalynn. The two first couple founded Carter Center in Atlanta. The center focused on making peace and spreading health and democracy around the world. President Carter was awarded Nobel Peace Prize later, for this work. He also received United National Human Rights Prize, and Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Bill Clinton jointly with his wife, and many other smaller awards.

On the other hand, Dr Manmohan Singh to India was something like the Architecture of the New India, which today symbolizes economic resurgence, technology, globalisation, and a liberalized economy due to which one can find presence and operations of numerous multinational companies in Indian soil, as well as Indian multinational companies operating in many countries across the globe. Completing his studies at Cambridge and Oxford Universities, Dr Singh began his life as a professor of economics, became the Economic Advisor to Government of India, then the Governor of Reserve Bank of India. When time was ripe for Indian economy to go liberal, Dr Singh, at the position of Finance Minister in Prime Minister Narasimha Rao Government, decided to end License Raj and opened up the Indian economy, restructuring institutions as well as the India market. The era was marked by high growth rate of Indian economy, joint ventures of Indian companies with foreign companies, spurt in technical and engineering institutions across India, and a huge employment opportunity that brought about huge purchasing power to the Indian middle class that had now been rooted. As the Prime Minister of India, Dr Singh would be remembered for many pathbreaking social security laws that came up during his tenure, apart from smoothly managing Indian economy during the global economic slow-down.

The Passing Away

President Jimmy Carter passed away on December 29, 2024 at an age of 100. Dr Manmohan Singh passed away on December 26, 2024 at the age of 92. Both remained active in public life even after they completed their respective terms in high office.

How were President Carter and Dr Singh given Final Farewell?

U.S. President Joe Biden ordered that the U.S. flag be flown half-staff in honor of the late President Carter, symbolizing the mourning of the nation, as a mark of saying final goodbye. The U.S. flag will fly half-staff till January 28, 2025 as per the order of President Biden. As per practice in the U.S., when a former president passes away, the national flag flies half-staff for 30 days in all U.S. office building including the embassies in different nations and military bases, as a mark of national morning in memory of the departed leader. President is the commander-in-chief of the U.S. armed forces and he is given a befitting farewell.

Former President Carter’s final journey began on Tuesday (January 2, 2025) from Atlanta to come to Washington. Pallbearers from the Armed Forces Body Bearers team escorted Carter’s remains. President Carter was given 21-gun salute honour at Dobbins Air Reserve Base, amidst rendition of “Hail the Chief”. A ceremony was held in President Carter’s honour in Washington, attended by dignitaries, before he was finally laid to rest in Geogia.

Dr Manmohan Singh’s state funeral was marked by India Government announcing a mourning for seven days, during which Indian flag flew half-staff on all buildings of the Federal Government as well as the Provincial Governments in the Union of India. Dr Singh passed away on December 26, 2024. His final journey began on from the All India Congress Committee headquarters in New Delhi on Saturday (December 28, 2024) morning after Congress leaders paid homage to their departed leader. A flower-bedecked vehicle carrying the mortal remains of the late prime minister moved amidst chanting of ‘Manmohan Sing, Amar Rahe’—Long Live Manmohan Singh. a large crowd walked along with the late leader in his final journey that went to Nigambodh Ghat, where the cremation of the late leader had been scheduled, amid the chanting of religious hymns. Dr Singh’s eldest daughter Upinder Singh lit the funeral pyre of the late leader and gave him the final adieu at the Nigambodh Ghat.

Both the Leaders had modest upbringing

President Carter grew up in a modest home. The Great Depression hardships he went through. Dr Singh similarly faced the pain of Partition of India-Pakistan. He completed his studies through difficulties and lived a very modest life all through, despite occupying high offices.

While Late Carter is survived (his wife Rosalynn Carter passed away in November 2023) by his children Amy, Chip, Jack and Jeff; and their children, Dr Singh is survived by his wife Gursharan Singh, daughters Upinder, Daman and Amrit—and their children.