The state funeral for Manmohan Singh, the former Indian prime minister widely regarded as the architect of the country’s economic reform program, began Saturday as politicians and the public mourned his death.

The funeral for former Prime Minister of India Manmohan Singh is being held in New Delhi. Mr Singh served as Prime Minister between 2004 and 2014 and has been praised by current Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a 'distinguished leader'.

Singh, the first Sikh prime minister, liberalized the economy as finance minister and saved the nation from a balance-of-payments crisis.