Former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh was a man of unparalleled humility and always admired simple things in his life, even when he was at the helm of the country. Rarely one to express emotions, Manmohan Singh, in an early interview, opened up about the happiest phase of his life, which was during his stint at Panjab University. Dr Singh who obtained a master's degree in economics from Punjab University in 1954 became an assistant professor of Economics at the same university, from 1957 to 1966. To his credit, Dr Singh became a full-time professor at the university at the age of 33.
Dr Singh revealed how he was inspired by scholars like Dr S B Rangnekar, the then head of the university's Economics Department. In an interview with The Indian Express, he said: "Dr. Rangnekar and his wife Shalini considered me a part of their family. That was the happiest time of my life." Rangnekar was also instrumental in Dr Singh's decision to pursue further studies at Cambridge University.
His students remembered him as an excellent teacher who possessed a unique combination of clarity and mastery of the subjects. Dr Singh would come fully prepared for every lecture and students never dared to be late for his classes.
Singh later donated 3500 books to the Guru Tegh Bahadur Library of Panjab University. In 2018, the Chandigarh College of Architecture created a special space on the university premises to keep Dr Manmohan Singh's book collection.
Love for Chandigarh
Watch: House No. F-10 at Panjab University, Chandigarh, was the residence of Dr. Manmohan Singh, the former Prime Minister, during his time as a professor at the university pic.twitter.com/L0kRupknde
— IANS (@ians_india) December 27, 2024
Dr Singh, who became the leader of the biggest democracy for a decade, never hid his love for Chandigarh. Even after he shifted his base to Delhi, Dr Singh has a special attachment to Chandigarh. The first Sikh to hold the office of Prime Minister, Singh was also instrumental in giving New Chandigarh its first government project.
Former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh with Uttar Pradesh Minister of State Asim Arun, who was his bodyguard from 2004 to 2007 | X
'My vehicle is Maruti 800'
In his tribute, Asim Arun, Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Social Welfare, Scheduled Castes and Tribal Welfare in the Uttar Pradesh government, shared an interesting anecdote from his stint as the former Prime Minister's bodyguard for three years from 2004 to 2007.
Arun was part of the Close Protection Team (CPT) of the Special Protection Group (SPG). Though the Prime Minister had to travel in the BMW, assigned by the SPG for his protection, Dr Singh disliked it and preferred his Maruti 800, which would always be parked behind the BMW.
"Manmohan Singhji would frequently tell me: 'Asim, I don't like travelling in this car, that one (the Maruti) is my vehicle.' I would explain, 'Sir, this car isn't for your luxury, it has security features which is why SPG has chosen it.' But whenever the motorcade would pass in front of the Maruti, he would always look at it longingly. As if reaffirming to himself that 'I am a middle-class person and it's my job to care for the common man," Asim shared on Twitter.
