Manmohan Singh: the MGIMS Man

[Guest guest]

Dear all,

Everybody knows that the turning point in Dr. Manmohan Singh's career came in

June 1991, when PV Narsimha Rao asked him to accept the crown of thorns- the

finance ministry. What followed, if newsprints on papyrus are anything to go by,

is history.

Little do people know outside -and surprisingly even in Sevagram - that in

1991, Dr. Manmohan Singh also responded positively to a request that came from

Sevagram. On Badi behenji's behest, he agreed to join the Kasturba Health

Society (KHS), as a member. A decade later, on 15 January 2001, he was inducted

in to the Kasturba Health Society as a trustee.

For several years, Dr. Manmohan Singh attended the annual meetings of Kasturba

Health Society, often held in his small house in Model Town, north Delhi.

Members of KHS vividly recall Dr. Manmohan Singh's attachment to his three

-decade- old simple wooden chair and a writing desk, which he refused to part

with inspite of having risen so high in public life. Suave and sublime, Dr

Manmohan Singh used to keep a studied silence in these meetings, and all that he

would offer was few pearls of his wisdom at the end of the meeting. His modesty

and humility left a lasting impression on all those who met him.

Four years ago Dr. Manmohan Singh visited MGIMS. He addressed our students and

faculty for about 20 minutes in the college auditorium. Dr. Sushila Nayar

introduced him to the audience as the prime minister - designate: prophetic

phrase indeed. Dr. Manmohan Singh thanked badi behenji for her kind words, but

gently reminded her that it was academics and finance, and not politics, that

enthralled him.

This brings to my mind Saranya Sridhar's tryst with destiny. For those who

joined the e-group late, let me tell that Saranya is an outstanding MGIMS

alumnus (batch of 1997), currently in Oxford. In 2002, along with thousands from

India, he decided to apply for the scholarship. The list of

scholars includes noble laureates, prime ministers, economists, and

distinguished men and women from law, science, economics, art, drama and

literature. He was vying with 18 candidates who entered the final rounds of the

selection process- the interview. The interview was to decide which six of them

would go to the Oxford. Saranya managed to keep his wits intact and excelled in

the interview. An hour later, fortune smiled on him: he had won the scholarship.

The chairman of the selection committee congratulated Saranya and asked him what

place he came from. Barely able to hide his visible excitement, Saranya replied,

" MGIMS, Sir " . The chairperson's bright eyes, behind a pair of thick lenses,

sparkled with delight, and an approving smile descended on his face. It took

Saranya few moments to discover the mystery of that spark, and smile.

The chairman of the selection committee was none other than Dr Manmohan Singh!

SP