The man who served as the Governor of the Reserve Bank of India and the International Monetary Fund once could not afford his food as it cost two shillings and six pence, so he settled down with a Cadbury’s chocolate bar, for which he paid five pence. These were his Cambridge days when he was studying there on a scholarship and used to eat at the dining hall of the institute because it was relatively cheaper. However, sometimes, he could not afford even this frugal meal. His childhood days were more humble, which inculcated in him the human values that shaped the economy of India decades later.

When Was Manmohan Singh Born?

This was Dr. Manmohan Singh, who started living in a small village Gah, situated in the Jhelum district of Punjab, now in Pakistan. Born in 1932, Mohan, as he was called those days, was admitted to the village school in 1937.

Veteran journalist Rajeev Shukla writes in his book, ‘Scars of 1947: Real Partition Stories’, “He was born on 26 September 1932 in Gah village of Jhelum district (part of present-day Pakistan). In those days, keeping official birth records was not a common practice. Hence, some people refer to 4 February 1932 as his date of birth too. But the widely recognized date is 26 September.”

Manmohan Has No Memory Of Mother

Manmohan Singh’s father Gurmukh Singh Kohli used to work as a clerk and supplement his income by trading dry fruits in Peshawar. His mother Gurmukh Singh Kohli succumbed to typhoid when he was such a small kid that he had no memory of her.

He was raised by his grandparents. The school village had arrangements only up to Class V and so he moved to Peshawar to live with his father.

Knack For Education, Brilliance

The knack for education and Manmohan’s scholastic aptitude became evident from his early days as he proved himself as a brilliant and meritorious student.

Also Read: Untold Story Of How Adversity Shaped Manmohan Singh’s Legacy, Rajeev Shukla Reveals
Rajeev Shukla writes, “Manmohan had a knack for reading and read many books, including those on history and Urdu literature in Gurumukhi and English. He was a bright boy. He topped his school and stood third in the province for the class 8 exams conducted in the year 1945.”

Manmohan Singh appeared for the Matriculation examination in 1947 at the most turbulent times, when the communal tension was at its highest point and sporadic riots were taking place.

The worst came when the country was partitioned, and Peshawar went to Pakistan, consequently, the result of the examination was never declared. Mohan traveled from Haldwani to Delhi in 1948 and took the Matriculation exam for the second time.

The Train To Haldwani

Mohan’s journey from Gah to Haldwani was triggered by sporadic incidents of communal violence taking place in June 1947, when his father decided to shift the family to a safer place.

Like many people who left their homes and hearths during those turbulent days, Gurmukh Singh Kohli too moved with beddings and a few other belongings, thinking he would return to his native village soon. Mohan could never return to his native village.

The Massacre At Gah

Gah had a mixed population, though the Muslims outnumbered the Sikhs and the Hindus. The elders of the village decided to sit together so that they could find ways to live peacefully and unitedly. However, some Muslim youths attacked the meeting and massacred all the elderly Sikhs and Hindus gathered there. Manmohan’s grandfather, who raised him and whom he was very fond of, was among those who were killed.

Journalist Rajeev Shukla in his iconic book writes, “One of his uncles who lived in Chakwal sent an unfortunate four-word telegram to his brother (Manmohan’s father) in Peshawar that read, ‘Mother Safe, Father Killed’. Manmohan was about fifteen years old at the time and says that he still remembers that dreadful telegram message.”

Mohan’s House Gutted

After the communal violence erupted across the country, Gah was not spared, all the houses were burned to the ground, including those of Mohan. His uncle who used to live in Chakwal till 1947, visited Gah with a police contingent and took escorted the remaining Sikh and Hindu women safely to Chakwal.

Manmohan’s aunt and her mother chose self-immolation to escape the marauding mob.

After moving to Haldwani, Manmohan Singh’s father quit his job at the private firm and set up his own small business in Peshawar. He used to go visit Peshawar to take care of the shop and Manmohan used to wait at the railway station for long.

Mohan Refuses To Sit At Shop

When the communal violence crossed all limits in the country, Gurmukh Singh Kohli closed down his business in Peshawar, moved to Amritsar, and opened a shop in Majith Mandi area, though he lived in
a nearby area of Kanak Mandi.

He wanted his son to sit at the shop and take care of the business. Rajeev Shukla writes, “Manmohan told his daughter in a conversation, which she included in her book, ‘We didn’t have differences, but I didn’t like sitting in the shop. I felt that due respect was not given to me.’ Manmohan’s father did not treat him
well and used to give him menial jobs, due to which Manmohan got very sad, and returned to his studies.”

Manmohan Cannot Pay Hostel Fees

Manmohan Singh got admitted in Hindu College because Khalsa College was situated far away and his father could not afford the hostel expenses, as he was struggling to establish his business and earn money enough to take care of the family.

He studied humanities with economics, political science, mathematics, English and French and topped the
university in 1950.

Manmohan Gets Scholarship

He also got a scholarship from the Panjab University to study at the Hoshiarpur College. His father was in a better financial condition now and could afford his hostel fees.

Journalist Rajeev Shukla writes in his book, “His economics theory teacher, Rangnekar, encouraged Manmohan Singh to apply for a scholarship to the University of Cambridge to continue his studies as he foresaw a bright academic future for him. Cambridge University was the mecca of economics, which would give the required global exposure to the very bright Manmohan Singh.”

Manmohan Singh got a scholarship to study at Cambridge University, and left India in 1955 for London.

Rest is history.