Manmohan Singh's father Sardar Gurmukh Singh Kohli ran a dry fruits business in Majith Mandi, Amritsar, where the family had settle down after Partition. His father once told the young Manmohan that he should spend some time at the family shop and look after the business. 'Please, I have no interest in running a shop,' the future prime minister replied. 'Kindly let me study.'
Seeing his abiding interest in studies, Gurmukh Singh once commented: 'Manmohan, tu ek din wadha aadmi banega. Ho sakda hai pardhan mantri ban jaye [You will be a great man one day. Maybe you will become prime minister].'
His words have proved prophetic.
Manmohan Singh's name figures at the top of the academic Roll of Honour (1950-51) at the Hindu Sabha College, Amritsar. Current principal R C Verma points out the name.
Also see: Manmohan takes charge