CHANDIGARH: In March 2018, when Manmohan Singh came as the chief guest at the convocation cum-alumni meet of his alma mater, Hindu College, in Amritsar, he recollected his days at the college and how the faculty played a key role in shaping his career, from a noted economist to the nation’s PM.
Much like his college days, the former PM arrived exactly on time with his better half, Gursharan Kaur, recall Hindu College professors who attended the event.
Manmohan Singh, who had taken admission in Hindu College in 1948, had pursued his “intermediate” and further graduation in BA Honours (Economics) from the college, securing back to back scholarships due to his academic excellence.
Hindu College which is currently affiliated to GNDU Amritsar, was then affiliated with Panjab University, Chandigarh. After graduation, he had moved to PU’s Hoshiarpur campus to pursue masters in economics, where he again topped in 1954, paving his way to the Cambridge.
The day he revisited his alma mater Hindu College in 2018, he had patiently met the faculty of each subject.
“He had in-depth knowledge of all subjects, be it history, geography, or any other subject. He met every faculty member individually and talked about their respective subjects of teaching. He re membered his days in the college and talked at length about the professors he studied under. His punctuality could be gauged from the fact that he entered the college exactly at the scheduled time for the convocation. He spent around four hours in the college and came across as a pleasing personality with a glow on his face even at that age. He got photos clicked with the students on their request, asking the commandos in his security to let students interact with him freely,” Hindu College director Rakesh Joshi, who was then an associate professor of Zoology in the college in 2018, said.
Joshi, also the former principal of the college, added that Manmohan’s stint in the college, after his family’s migration from Pakistan, and his rise to the ranks to become Prime Minister of the country was always an inspirational story.
“He came from a modest background with his economically weak family migrating from Pakistan. During his days of study at Hindu College, one of his professors, Jugal Kishore Trikha, who taught economics, played a major role in shaping his career. Professor Trikha used to practice astrology and predicted that Manmohan Singh would one day lead the nation. And when Manmohan Singh came to visit Professor Trikha when he (Manmohan Singh) was RBI governor, he did not sit parallel to Professor Trikha, but at a place below him,” said Joshi.
Joshi said that the college has also reserved the signatures of Manmohan Singh of the times when he was studying there , apart from his ‘quotes and letters’.
In a message for Hindu College on December 7, 2007, as Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh wrote, “I am delighted to learn that my college, Hindu College, Amritsar, has honoured me by inducting me as the first member of the College Alumni Association. I have fond memories of my life at Hindu College. I have often said that I am what I am today because of the investment my family and my well-wishers made in my education. What I learnt at Hindu College has remained with me through life. I sincerely hope generations of students will similarly benefit from their association with the college. I send my best wishes to the staff, students, and alumni of Hindu College.”
Professor Sanjeev Sharma, a former principal of Hindu College, said, “Manmohan Singh lived in a rented accommodation in a street opposite Hindu College. We tried to arrange his visit the college when he was Prime Minister, but due to his other engagements, he could not make it then. But he promised to visit the college and instantly accepted the invitation for the convocation-cum-alumni meet in 2018. When he came, he visited the classrooms and sat on the benches in the college where he once studied. Some of those who were either his batch-mates, seniors, or juniors also attended the meet, and he was in touch with them.”
Professor Joshi said Dr Manmohan Singh also got funds released for the college for the construction of a hall from MPLAD funds from then Rajya Sabha (Punjab) MP Ashwani Kumar, as he (Manmohan) himself was RS MP from Assam.
