New Delhi: The family of former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh has given its written approval for his memorial to be constructed at Rashtriya Smriti Sthal, the designated site for samadhis of national leaders near Raj Ghat, Delhi.

Following a visit to the site last week, Singh’s wife, Gursharan Kaur, sent a formal acceptance letter to the government. His daughters, Upinder Singh and Daman Singh, along with their spouses, had earlier surveyed the 900 sq m plot, which has now been confirmed for the memorial.

Final plots at Rashtriya Smriti Sthal

The Rashtriya Smriti Sthal complex consists of nine samadhi sites with a uniform architectural design. Currently, only two vacant plots remain at the complex. The other plot was offered to the family of former President Pranab Mukherjee in January 2025. The plot now allocated for Dr Singh’s memorial is situated between the samadhis of former Prime Ministers and Presidents, including Chandra Shekhar (in front), R Venkataraman (behind), and Giani Zail Singh and Pranab Mukherjee (on either side).

Confirming the development, Upinder Singh stated that a formal acceptance had been sent to the government. She explained:

"The land is to be allotted to a Trust, and we will shortly set that up. The stipulation is that we can apply for a one-time grant of up to ₹25 lakh for the construction of the memorial."

According to government norms, the memorial will be constructed in line with the standard architectural design of samadhis at the Rashtriya Smriti Sthal.

In a 2013 Cabinet decision, Dr Manmohan Singh’s government had approved Rashtriya Smriti Sthal as a common memorial site for former Presidents, Vice Presidents, and Prime Ministers to avoid creating individual memorials across Delhi. Ironically, his own final resting place will now be among the last to be established at the site.

However, unlike previous leaders, Dr Singh’s last rites were not conducted at Rashtriya Smriti Sthal. Instead, his cremation took place at Nigambodh Ghat on the banks of the Yamuna on December 28, 2024.

Government’s approval and congress request

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) confirmed that the government accepted the request from the Congress party and Singh’s family for a dedicated memorial plot. The Ministry stated:

"It has been communicated to the Congress President and the family of the late Dr Manmohan Singh that the Government will allocate space for the memorial. In the meanwhile, cremation and other formalities can happen because a trust has to be formed and space has to be allocated to it."

With the family’s approval now in place, the process of setting up Dr Manmohan Singh’s memorial is set to begin, ensuring that the legacy of India’s 13th Prime Minister is honoured at one of the nation's most significant memorial sites.