Dr. Manmohan Singh

A New Family
While Dr. Singh was growing up among relatives, his father decided to start another family in Peshawar. Criticized and condemned for neglecting his son, Gurmukh took 11-year-old Manmohan to Peshawar after a year in Chakwal. This was the first time that Manmohan would live with his biological father, but he wasn’t particularly thrilled about the change.

However, even in Peshawar, love filled the household. His stepmother, affectionately known as Bhabhiji, loved him as much as her own children. In Peshawar, he enrolled in the Khalsa High School for Boys, where he could now read in English in addition to Urdu and Gurmukhi. In 1945, he secured the top position in the common exam for the eighth grade in the North-West Frontier Province, and his teachers recognized him as a promising star.

Over the years, his father’s financial situation improved. He transitioned from being a clerk to becoming a wholesale shopkeeper, selling dry fruits. Gurmukh continued this occupation until the end of his life, but he didn’t enjoy the same financial comfort as before.

With a deep passion for teaching, at the age of 13, Manmohan decided he wanted to become a teacher. His thirst for knowledge was immense, a trait that still persists today. During our meeting, I observed him discussing my son Adiraj’s college curriculum, displaying a keen interest in everything my son had to say.

Young Manmohan had a love for reading newspapers and stayed informed about current affairs through numerous publications. Although he was interested in all social discourse, he didn’t have any clear political affiliations. However, he did recognize the importance of India’s independence and didn’t celebrate Britain’s victory in World War II.

Like his father, he embraced the values of the Akali Dal, witnessed the freedom struggle, and experienced the partition of India in 1947. Unfortunately, the results of his final year examination were never announced as borders turned into battlegrounds. In July 1947, Gurmukh Singh led his children and family across the border to Haldwani, marking the beginning of a new chapter.

New Beginnings

In 1947, India was shedding its colonial baggage and grappling with religious divides. The result was devastating: a breakdown of social systems, loss of lives, separated families, lost wealth, property, and much more. Dr. Singh’s grandfather and many other relatives were killed in the riots. The surviving ones who chose to live in India knew they had to begin life anew.

Gurmukh Singh stayed in Haldwani for a few months. When his old partner landed in Amritsar, he also shifted there to restart his dry fruit business. Except for a brief period, he lived his entire life in rented accommodation. By this time, his wife’s mental health had also deteriorated.

For young Manmohan, his thirst for learning remained strong, and no hurdle could keep him from gaining knowledge. In Haldwani, he would walk to a library in a Muslim locality to read newspapers. Although he did not have any strong political leanings, he felt a personal loss when Mahatma Gandhi was assassinated.

The aftermath of the partition continued throughout 1947. It was only in March 1948 that education was restored. A new Panjab University was established. Since his results could not be declared, young Manmohan had to sit for his exams again. Given the circumstances under which the family had migrated, he did not have any books, nor did he have any time for preparation. Nevertheless, he came out with a scholarship, scoring 694 marks out of 800.

His father had to take him to Delhi for the exams, where he stayed with a relative in Kashmere Gate. Unfamiliar with the routes, he had to walk several kilometers to the practical examination center near Gole Market and even further to the center in Karol Bagh for his theory exams.

As much as Manmohan harbored a strong desire to pursue academia, his father held firm in his aspiration for his son to become a doctor. Despite receiving a scholarship, Manmohan enrolled in the F.Sc. course at Khalsa College, Amritsar, but his time there proved short-lived as he withdrew after a mere two months. Subsequently, he took on the responsibility of assisting his father in the shop, yet this arrangement too proved to be short-lived. Feeling uneasy and disheartened by the manner in which he was ordered around, he decided to quit.

In September 1948, he found solace in the embrace of Hindu College, where he embarked on a journey through the arts. His chosen subjects included Political Science, French, Economics, Mathematics, and English, although his scholarship was forfeited as a consequence. However, it did not take long for fortune to smile upon him once more. In 1950, he was awarded another scholarship after securing first place in the intermediate examination.

College life resonated deeply with Manmohan, evoking within him a profound sense of joy and belonging. Engaging in activities such as hockey and football, he found great pleasure in intellectual debates on topics spanning economics, literature, and politics. “I can’t imagine my father playing these games,” says Daman, chuckling. Actively participating in student organizations and immersing himself in debates and cultural endeavors, Manmohan embodied a vibrant and popular presence on campus. Nevertheless, despite his widespread appeal, he experienced defeat in his bid for the presidency of the students’ union—a title that would forever accompany him.

He seized every opportunity to attend guest lectures delivered by esteemed individuals such as Ram Manohar Lohia, Aruna Asif Ali, and Sardar Patel, leaving an indelible impression. His admiration for Jawaharlal Nehru was particularly profound. Although his political ideology remained fluid and undefined, he derived immense pleasure from listening to discourses by the Akali Dal, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, and other socialist organizations.

Interestingly, he also became a member of the All India Sikh Students’ Federation. A solemn young man, he gravitated towards cheerful individuals, finding a kindred spirit in his college friend Sudarshan Bhaskar.

During this phase, Manmohan’s interest in economics burgeoned, driven by a steadfast belief that it held the key to alleviating hunger and poverty. His daughter relays his sentiment from the biography, “I was always interested in issues of poverty, why some countries are rich and some are poor.”

At home, the dynamics had undergone yet another transformation as Bhabhiji’s mental health deteriorated, leading to her admission to the mental hospital in Amritsar. Despite her inability to recognize him, Manmohan faithfully visited her every week. With his grandmother, Jamna Devi, advanced in age and unable to manage a large household, she sought assistance from a distant relative named Krishna Kaur. Krishna Kaur, a widow with a young son, began to contribute a few hours daily, eventually leading to her marriage with Gurmukh Singh. Manmohan’s new stepmother affectionately came to be known as ‘Biji.’

As Gurmukh’s family expanded, it became increasingly complex. Manmohan, being the eldest of the ten siblings, remained dedicated to his studies. In 1952, he achieved the top position in the BA Honours Economics examination. His teacher recommended that he pursue a Master’s degree in economics.

The department for this program was located in Hoshiarpur, a place where 20-year-old Manmohan resided in a hostel. Engaging in seminars, college societies, attending lectures, and immersing himself in a well-equipped library, he kept himself occupied. The department even hosted visiting faculty from the University of Illinois, exposing him to new global perspectives. His circle of friends expanded to include individuals like Madan Lal Sudan, Satish Bindra, and Hari Dutt.

During his educational journey, he found excellent mentors in Dr. Rangnekar and Dr. Handa. Despite the mounting discussions about career choices, Manmohan remained steadfast in his teenage ambition of becoming a teacher, considering it a more noble profession compared to civil services. Little did he know at the time that life had different plans in store for him.

 

Punjab University College, Department of Economics, 1954: Manmohan in row 1, second from right; Satish Bindra in row 1, fourth from right; Lalita Anand in row 2, seventh from left; M.L. Sudan in row 3, fourth from right; Hari Dutt in row 3, extreme right; B.S. Minhas in row 3, second from left, followed by D.R. Handa, A.S. Kahlon, K.C. Palta, K.K. Dewett, S.B. Rangnekar

In June 1954, Manmohan secured the top position at Panjab University. It was Dr. Rangnekar who persuaded him to pursue studies at the University of Cambridge for Economics Tripos, as it was regarded as the ‘Mecca of Economics.’ However, going to Cambridge was no easy feat. All arrangements had to be coordinated through the Indian High Commission, and financial concerns weighed on his mind. Nevertheless, the exceptional student obtained all the necessary permissions. To address the financial aspect, Vice Chancellor Dewan Anand Kumar allowed Manmohan to carry forward his research scholarship of 160 pounds (Rs.176 per month) that he had received while awaiting confirmation from England, as his stay at Cambridge would cost 575 sterling pounds per year. However, this generosity came with the condition that he would work at the university for two years upon his return.

In 1955, his dream came true as he gained admission to St John’s College, Cambridge.

• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5