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Born in Gah village (now in Pakistan) of undivided Punjab in 1932, former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had a deep connection with Punjab. From his college years and university days as a student to his tenure as a professor at Panjab University and his residence in Chandigarh, Singh has left an indelible mark at every stage of his journey.
After Partition, Singh’s family migrated to India and settled in Amritsar, where he graduated from the renowned Hindu College. From 1951 to 1954, he studied at the institution, earning a reputation as a brilliant student and a genius in mathematics, as recalled by his classmates.
His peers and colleagues fondly remember Singh’s calm demeanour, intellectual brilliance, and his contributions.
“I studied with the former PM for two years and he was very good in mathematics. He did not talk much but was much focussed and always gave me tough questions to solve. He was a gem and even teachers liked him a lot,” Hans Raj Choudhary, classmate of Singh, told India India Today.
“I did not meet him recently, but I remember that once we met and he immediately recognised me and asked, ‘Hansraj kiddan hain tu (Hansraj how are you)’. I felt very good about his gesture”.
Ashok Sethi, President of the Alumni Association of Hindu College, said, “As a student, Dr. Manmohan Singh was calm and composed but left a profound impact with his deep knowledge of economics. When he visited the college in 2018 for the convocation, he spent three hours recollecting and sharing stories about his time here, including his associations with his teachers.”
Speaking about Dr. Singh’s contributions, Sethi added, “As Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh always held a special place for Amritsar. He ensured the development of a modern airport for the city, facilitated the establishment of an Integrated Check Post at the Attari border, oversaw the construction of a four-lane road to Amritsar, and always cared deeply for his college.”
During his tenure as Prime Minister, Singh visited Amritsar multiple times. He always stayed at the circuit house, where his family members would come to meet him.
PANJAB UNIVERSITY DAYS
Manmohan Singh shared a deep connection with Panjab University. He was not only a student of the university but also served as a professor there.
Recalling Singh’s early days, Arun Grover, former Vice-Chancellor of Panjab University, Chandigarh, said, “Dr. Manmohan Singh completed his matriculation under this university. At a time when there was no university campus in Chandigarh, a temporary campus was established in Hoshiarpur, where Dr. Singh pursued his MA. He earned a scholarship that enabled him to study at Cambridge University”.
Grover further noted, “When Panjab University relocated to Chandigarh, Dr. Singh joined as a professor and served until 1965. I had the privilege of meeting him three times, including once during his tenure as the Prime Minister of India.”
At a condolence meeting held in honour of the former PM, the Vice-Chancellor assured that a memorial would be established to commemorate his legacy, Grover added.
A HOUSE IN CHANDIGARH
With deep roots in Punjab, Manmohan Singh had a special fondness for Chandigarh, where he worked as a professor and built a home in Sector 11–house number 727, a corner house.
Although the former Prime Minister had not visited the house in recent years, his neighbours still hold fond memories of him.
AS Parashar, a nearby resident, shared, “Dr. Manmohan Singh hasn’t visited this house in recent years, but his wife and other family members have. For the most part, the house has been rented out.”
Expressing his sorrow, Parashar added, “As neighbours, we are deeply saddened by the passing of such a great leader and cherish the memories of our interactions with him.”
A GREAT DECISION MAKER: PAWAN BANSAL
During Manmohan Singh’s tenure as Prime Minister from 2004 to 2014, Pawan Kumar Bansal, a senior Congress leader from Chandigarh, served as a Union Minister in both of his cabinets.
“I had the privilege of working under former PM Manmohan Singh and can confidently say he made immense contributions to the nation, particularly with initiatives like the RTI and RTE,” Bansal told India Today. “He was a man of few words but left a lasting impression with his strong decision-making and deep understanding of economic affairs.”
As tributes pour in from across the globe, Punjab, where Singh studied and taught, is also mourning the loss of the eminent leader.
