Singhvi was also a linguist and a prolific author, having served as a member of the Third Lok Sabha between 1962 and 1967. He was conferred the Padma Bhushan in 1998 and elected to the Rajya Sabha in 1999. 

This man of many parts, unlike most of his ilk, achieved fame and glory because of unerring and sheer devotion and enthusiasm in whatever he did. However, among the doyen’s foremost achievements was his contribution in the formation of the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas day for Indian diaspora, which has, today, become the only formal and acknowledged platform and podium for the diaspora (NRIs/PIOs), and Indian authorities, public and media alike to interact and exchange ideas. 

This came about when in September, 2000, the Indian government set up a high level committee on the diaspora, under the chairmanship of Singhvi, then MP, to prepare a comprehensive report on the Indian diaspora. The primary intent of the initiative was to inform the Indian public of the achievements of the diaspora and to sensitise it to their problems and their expectations from their mother country. 

“We deeply sympathize with his family. He really cared for the overseas Indian community, touring extensively in diaspora nations. It was his initiative to begin the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas. He used to interact closely with the GOPIO members”

—Mahyendrah Utchanah
President, GOPIO International

The appointment of the committee represented a benchmark in Indian history. The Singhvi Committee Report created waves recommending for the first time in Indian history that dual citizenship should be permitted to foreign citizens of Indian descent settled in certain countries, within the rubric of the Citizenship Act. 

The first Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (Overseas Indian Day) was inaugurated in 2003. However, it was not until January 7, 2005, that Singhvi’s aspirations were fully rewarded. On that memorable day, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh announced the government’s decision to allow dual citizenship to all overseas Indians who had left India after 1950 to settle abroad, if their home nations allowed dual citizenship. The announcement was made while inaugurating the third Pravasi Bharatiya Divas, which was attended by more than 1,900 Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) from seventy countries. Honouring the role played by NRIs in the global context, Manmohan Singh said, “India needs US $150 billion in investment in its infrastructure and that investment by dual Indian citizens could help fulfill that need…We are committed to make it attractive for you to invest in India.”

Singhvi, a chief architect in bringing about NRI-homeland dialogue across the table, is survived by his wife Kamala, son Abhishek Singhvi who is a senior advocate and a spokesman for the Congress and daughter Abhilasha.

November 2007