Prominent economists have mourned the passing away of former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. IMF Deputy Director Gita Gopinath said the economic reforms he ushered in as finance minister in 1991 inspired countless young economists like herself.

Member of the Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister, Sanjeev Sanyal said, his generation of Indians was the creation of the economic reforms introduced by Finance Minister Manmohan Singh in 1991. He said in his message, that the two most significant years of the twentieth century for India were 1947 and 1991. He said, one brought political freedom and the other economic freedom. Mr Sanyal said Manmohan Singh will always be remembered for announcing the Great Liberalisation.

Condolence messages also came in from industrialists. JSW Group chairman and MD, Sajjan Jindal, said he was saddened by the passing away of the visionary leader behind India’s economic liberalisation. He called him a statesman of humility and wisdom and said, India owes him a debt of gratitude.

The US-India Business Council also expressed deep condolences. It praised Dr Singh for his pivotal role in the 2008 Civil Nuclear Agreement between the two countries and economic reforms that shaped modern bilateral ties.