7 Things You Probably Did Not Know About Dr Manmohan Singh?

Dr Manmohan Singh, the former Prime Minister of India died at the age of 92. Brilliant economist, academician, and politician, he was a humble and noble man who left unforgettable marks in the history of India, and in the hearts of millions. While India, and his friends across the globe mourn his loss, here are few lesser known things about Dr Singh.

1. One Interesting fact about Dr Manmohan Singh was that he could not read the Devnagari script, and thus Hindi. The script include languages like Sanskrit, Prakrit, Hindi, Marathi, Konkani, and Nepali. Every speeches that he delivered in Hindi during his premiership were written to him in Urdu/Nastaliq script.

2. In 2005, when Dr Manmohan Singh was giving a speech at the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), student protesters disrupted his speech by sloganeering and black flags. They were protesting against the then PM’s economic policies. The students were immediately given notice and were expelled. The very next day, PMO dialed the University and asked not to take any actions against the students as protesting was their democratic right.

Also Read: ‘Protest Is A Democratic Right’: When Dr. Manmohan Singh Defended Student Voices At JNU

3. Dr Singh’s bodyguard, Asim Arun, who is now in BJP, recalled the humbleness of the former PM. Arun was the head of Close Protection Team for the Prime Minister. He recalled that the economist had a Maruti 800, which was used to be parked behind the shiny black BMW for the Prime Minister. Dr Singh would repeatedly tell Arun that he do not like to travel in the car for the PM, but his Maruti 800. The bodyguard would explain to him that for security reasons, he cannot travel in his favourite car. But whenever the PM convoy was passing through, Dr Singh would look at his Maruti with longing.

4. Dr Singh was born in Gah, West Punjab, in what is today Pakistan. His family migrated to Indian during the 1947 partition. Journalist Kamran Rehmat shared story when Dr Manmohan Singh was a school kid. His friend from the village, Muhammed Ashraf, have vague but valuable memories of his school friend. He said that Dr Singh was called Monha, and he was a studious and hardworking student. The two went to primary school together, and used to walk five miles to reach the school. Dr Singh used to study in candlelight, and sometimes would even do his friend’s homework. Ashraf told the stories to Rehmat eight years after Dr Singh became the Prime Minister of India.

Also Read: The Best CV Of A Prime Minister: Dr Manmohan Singh

Ashraf also recalled an incident about a berry tree. While coming back from school after exam, young Dr Singh and his friend saw a berry tree. The latter take down the berries by throwing sticks and stones. His friend ate all the berries. Ashraf said the tree still remained in the village. When authorities were going to cut the tree for constructing a road, he told that it belongs to Manmohan Singh.

5. Dr Manmohan Singh was an exceptionally bright student. He passed the matriculation exam (which he had to take second time due to the India-Pakistan partition), without enough preparations. He would walk kilometres (about to 5-7) to attend the exam. He shared the information in his daughter Damas Singh’s book ‘Strictly Personal, Manmohan & Gursharan’.

6. Dr Manmohan Singh had an unshakeable trust in secularism and Indian Constitution till the end. It was a miracle how India recovered from the 1991 economic crisis. The economist was a strong advocate of the South Commission ( which was tasked with analysing those particular challenges facing countries in the South, Dr Singh was its General Secretary at the time). From the strong argument of the Commission to surrendering to IMF in 1991, none could grasp it at the moment what was happening. But later understood how staunch Dr Singh’s belief in India’s secularism and constitution were, which has brough lights to one of India’s darkest times. He was indeed the architect of India’s economic reforms.

Also Read: A Legacy Of Wisdom: Dr Manmohan Singh’s Top Quotes That Continue To Inspire

7. During the time of Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s imprisonment, Dr Manmohan Singh offered scholarship to Ibrahim’s children, particularly his son Ihsan. It was kept between the two friends for a long time. But upon hearing the news of the demise of his beloved friend, deeply saddened Ibrahim shared the incident to shed some light the extraordinary generosity of Dr Manmohan Singh.

Here’s is a bonus:

When Dr Singh was appointed as the Finance Minister by Prime Minister Narasimha Rao in 1991, India’s economic atmosphere was tumbling down the steep. When he reached the PMO, he handed over an envelop to an official Ramu Damodaran, asking him to ensure the amount is credited to PM’s Relief Fund. When Damodaran opened the envelop, it was a cheque of huge sum of money. Note accompanying the envelop read, “Representing the difference in rupee value of my assets abroad consequent upon devaluation”. The money came from the gain he attained from his assets abroad as the devaluations of the rupee had taken place a few days earlier. He calculated the gain in Indian Rupee value, and donated it to the PM Relief Fund.