December 28th 2024.
The town of Koraput was filled with a sense of sadness as the news of Manmohan Singh's passing spread on Thursday night. However, as his final journey began in New Delhi on Saturday morning, two tribals from a remote district in Odisha were filled with bittersweet memories of the beloved leader. Raila Muduli and Chandra Pradhani, who were honored by Singh in 2012 for their efforts in biodiversity conservation, could not hold back their tears as they recalled their cherished moments with the former prime minister.
Muduli, a farmer from Boliguda village, and Pradhani, a resident of Nuaguda, expressed their deep grief over the loss of Singh, who passed away at the age of 92 due to age-related medical complications at Delhi's All India Institute of Medical Sciences. The two tribals had received Certificates of Recognition from Singh himself during the 99th Indian Science Congress held in Bhubaneswar 12 years ago for their contribution to preserving biodiversity.
Raila, a member of the Bhumia tribe, shared his experience of receiving the award from Singh, saying he was at a loss for words as he stood in front of the gentle and soft-spoken leader. He remembered feeling nervous, but Singh's encouragement and words of wisdom stayed with him and motivated him to continue his dedicated work in biodiversity conservation.
Chandra, on the other hand, couldn't help but shed tears as he reminisced about his brief interaction with Singh. He recalled how the former prime minister smiled at him and motivated him to keep up his efforts in preserving biodiversity. Chandra considers Singh's words as a source of inspiration that will stay with him for years to come. He even expressed his regret at not having more opportunities to meet the leader.
Prasant Parida, the director of the M S Swaminathan Research Foundation in Jeypore, also praised the efforts of Raila and Chandra in representing Koraput at the event where Singh acknowledged their community's contribution. He mentioned that in 2012, Koraput was recognized as a Globally Important Agricultural Heritage System by the Food and Agriculture Organization, thanks to the hard work of these two tribals.
As Singh's last rites were to be performed in the national capital with full state honors, the entire nation was in mourning. Singh, who is widely regarded as the architect of India's economic reforms, served as the prime minister for 10 years from 2004 to 2014. The Union Home Ministry has announced a seven-day national mourning, during which the national flag will be flown at half-mast as a mark of respect for the former prime minister. The legacy of Manmohan Singh will continue to inspire and guide the people of India for generations to come.
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