Manmohan Singh‘s three daughters—Upinder, Daman, and Amrit—have made notable contributions in their respective fields of academia, writing, and law. They were present at their father’s funeral at Delhi’s Nigambodh Ghat on Saturday, where they joined his wife, Gursharan Kaur, and dignitaries like President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi in paying their respects.
Upinder Singh: Historian and Educator
Upinder Singh, the eldest daughter, is a renowned historian and the Dean of Faculty at Ashoka University. She has authored influential works on Indian history, including A History of Ancient and Early Medieval India and The Idea of Ancient India. In recognition of her contributions to social sciences, she was awarded the Infosys Prize in 2009. Upinder is married to author Vijay Tankha, who specializes in Ancient Greek Philosophy.
Daman Singh: Writer and Author
Daman Singh, the second daughter, is an accomplished writer. She authored Strictly Personal, a biography of her parents, and The Last Frontier: People and Forests in Mizoram, which focuses on social issues such as forest conservation. Daman is married to Ashok Patnaik, an IPS officer and former CEO of India’s National Intelligence Grid (NATGRID).
Amrit Singh: Human Rights Lawyer
The youngest of the three, Amrit Singh is an esteemed human rights lawyer based in the United States. She is a law professor at Stanford Law School and has worked extensively with the Open Society Justice Initiative on global human rights issues. Amrit holds degrees from prestigious institutions, including Yale Law School, Oxford, and Cambridge.
Manmohan Singh’s Legacy
Manmohan Singh, Prime Minister of India from 2004 to 2014, is remembered for his transformative role in modernizing India’s economy. His leadership was instrumental in key initiatives such as economic liberalization, the Right to Information Act, and the India-US civil nuclear agreement. Despite facing criticism, his humility and dedication earned him the respect of peers and the public. Following his passing, tributes flooded in, with many recalling his iconic quote: “History will be kinder to me than the contemporary media.”
