When PU refused honorary professorship to Dr Manmohan Singh

As tributes pour in for Dr Singh, who once taught at Panjab University, a professor emeritus shared an unusual anecdote from a Syndicate meeting during Dr R P Bambah’s tenure as vice-chancellor. It was proposed that Dr Singh, then the head of the Planning Commission and former governor of the Reserve Bank of India (1982–1985), be made an honorary professor at the Department of Economics. However, some members questioned whether he had enough academic papers to merit the honour. The resolution was defeated. Years later, after Dr Singh became the prime minister, Panjab University faced severe financial difficulties. The then vice-chancellor, Dr R C Sobti, sought his help and received a grant of ₹400 crore. In gratitude, the Syndicate established a chair in his honour at the Department of Economics.

When he apologised to an Ambala resident’s family

On November 3, 2009, Dr Singh inaugurated PGIMER’s Advanced Cardiac Centre. Tragically, a kidney patient, Sumit Prakash Verma, died on his way to the emergency block after allegedly being denied entry by security personnel. Verma’s family had left a private hospital in Chandigarh at 11:30 am but only reached PGIMER at 12:05 pm — a delay caused by the security restrictions. Although PGIMER denied any lapse, Dr Singh personally wrote to Verma’s widow the following day, expressing his profound sadness over the incident. Subsequently, the Haryana government provided the family with ₹2 lakh in compensation and pledged free education up to class 12 for Verma’s two young sons.

A PSO’s memory of Dr Singh

A retired Chandigarh Police officer recalled his time as Dr Singh’s personal security officer when he served as the Union finance minister. He described Dr Singh as a remarkably simple man who carried a briefcase containing a pack of glucose biscuits, roasted chana, and his kurta-pyjama.

How his house became a protest site

Dr Singh’s house in Chandigarh’s Sector 11, purchased in 1987 for ₹8.62 lakh, became a hub of protests during the 2011 anti-corruption movement led by Anna Hazare. To manage the unrest, the Chandigarh Administration imposed Section 144 of the CrPC to deter the protesters.

Keys to rehabilitating Chandigarh’s biggest slum

In September 2013, Dr Singh inaugurated a housing complex at Dhanas, Chandigarh, built under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) at a cost of ₹2,400 crore. He personally handed over keys to 10 families from Colony No. 5, one of Chandigarh’s largest slums, symbolising the beginning of their rehabilitation.

IISER, Mohali: A request from a friend

Dr Singh’s connection to the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Mohali, stemmed from a request by his friend, Dr Kesar Singh, in 2004. Responding to the appeal, Dr Singh facilitated the establishment of IISER in Punjab. The foundation stone was laid in 2006, and the institute began operations in Sector 81, Mohali, the following year.

Homi Bhabha Cancer Hospital

On December 30, 2013, Dr Singh inaugurated the Homi Bhabha Cancer Hospital in New Chandigarh (Mullanpur), Mohali. It was the first major project in the region, built during SAD leader Parkash Singh Badal’s tenure as chief minister.

Evening walks and warm greetings

Prof Pam Rajput, professor emeritus at the Centre for Women’s Studies and Development, fondly remembers Dr Singh from her days as a student. She recalls seeing him on evening walks near Sector 25 with his friend Prof O P Goyal from the Department of Political Science. “We would greet them, and Dr Singh never failed to respond with warmth,” she said.