From Shinzo Abe To Nelson Mandela, Foreign Leaders For Whom India Has Observed State Mourning

As per a statement by Home Ministry all the flags will be flown at half-mast on all buildings where the national flag is flown regularly and there will be no official entertainment on the day.

(from left to right) Shinzo Abe, Nelson Mandela, Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Pope John Paul II

Source : Getty Images

New Delhi: The shock assasination of former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Friday led to the world community grieving with leaders of several nations offering condolences on Abe’s demise who  was shot during an election campaign in the western Japanese city of Nara. Prime Minister Narendera Modi had also paid his tribute to the former Japanese premier and had announced a one-day state mourning in his honour. 

“I am shocked and saddened beyond words at the tragic demise of one of my dearest friends, Shinzo Abe. He was a towering global statesman, an outstanding leader, and a remarkable administrator. He dedicated his life to make Japan and the world a better place,” PM Modi had tweeted. 

“As a mark of our deepest respect for former Prime Minister Abe Shinzo, a one day national mourning shall be observed on 9 July 2022,” he added. 

As the government declared state mourning, all the flags will be kept at half-mast on all buildings in India on Saturday. "The national flag will be flown at half-mast on the day of mourning throughout India on all buildings where the national flag is flown regularly and there will be no official entertainment on the day," the home ministry said in a statement.

Here is a list of foreign leaders on whose demise India has observed state mourning. 

 

• Ayatollah Khomeini: Sayyid Ruhollah Musavi Khomeini, also known as Ayatollah Khomeini was a political and religious leader of Iran who served as the first supreme leader of Iran from 1979 until his death in 1989. He died on June 3, 1989 after which India had announced a national mourning. 

• Pope John Paul II: Head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of the Vatican City State, Pope John Paul II on April 2, 2005. A state mourning of three days was announced by the Government of India back then. 

• Nelson Mandela: Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela, a South-African aparathied activist and country’s first president breathed his last on December 5, 2013 in Johannesburg. As a mark of respect to Mandela, the Government of India had declared a state mourning of 5 days.

• Lee Kwan Yew: First Prime Minister of Singapore Lee Kwan Yew, known as LKY in short passed away on March 23, 2015 after which India had declared a national mourning. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had attended Kwan Yew’s funeral.

• Sultan Qaboos bin Said Al Said: Longest-serving leader in the Middle East and Arab world at the time of his death, Qaboos bin Said was Sultan of Oman who ruled till his death on January 10, 2020. As a mark of respect, a one-day state mourning was declared by the Indian Government on January 13. 

• Anerood Jugnauth: The Mauritian politician and barrister who served both as Prime Minister and President died on June 3, 2021. A day-long state mourning was declared in India on June 5 following Jugnauth’s demise. 
  
  
• Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan: The second president of the United Arab Emirates and ruler of Abu Dhabi served from November 2004 until his death on May 13, 2022. As a mark of respect the Indian government declared one-day state mourning on May 14.