Manmohan Singh Age, Height, Family, Career, Net Worth, Lifestyle & Facts

PERSONAL INFORMATION

Full Name: Manmohan Singh Kohli

Nickname: Mohan

Profession(s): Economist, Bureaucrat, Politician

Date of Birth: 26 September 1932 (Monday)

Birthplace: Gah, Chakwal, Punjab, British India (Now Punjab, Pakistan)

Age (at the time of death): 92 Years

Zodiac sign: Libra

Nationality: Indian

Hometown: Amritsar, Punjab, India

Religion: Sikhism

Caste: Khatri; Kohli (sub-caste; Kukrain) [1] Hindustan Times

Food Habit: Non-vegetarian Note : He prefers vegetarian food

Marriage Date: 14 September 1958

Age: 92 Years

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EDUCATION

School: • A Village school in Gah, Peshawar (Name Not Known) • Khalsa High School for Boys, Peshawar, British India (now, Government high school no.1 Chakwal) • Panjab University (Class 10 & 12th) (First class in 10th & First Class with first position in 12th)

College/ University: • Hindu College, Amritsar • Government College, Panjab University, Hoshiarpur (now, in Chandigarh) • University of Cambridge, Cambridge, England • Nuffield College, Oxford University, England

Educational Qualification(s): • B.A. (Hons.) in Economics from Government College, Panjab University, Hoshiarpur (now, in Chandigarh) in 1952 • M.A. in Economics from Government College, Panjab University, Hoshiarpur (now, in Chandigarh) in 1954 • Economic Tripos (First Class Honours) from University of Cambridge in 1957 • Doctorate in Philosophy from the Nuffield College, University of Oxford in 1960

PHYSICAL STATISTICS

Height: 5’ 6” (168 cm)

Eye Colour: Black

Hair Colour: Grey

FAMILY & RELATIONSHIPS

Marital Status (at the time of death): Married

Wife/Spouse: Gursharan Kaur (Homemaker)

Children: Son – None Daughter(s) – 3 • Amrit Singh (Human Rights Lawyer) • Daman Singh (Writer) • Upinder Singh (Historian)

Parents: Father – Gurmukh Singh (a Clerk) Mother – Amrit Kaur Step-mother – Sitawanti Kaur

Grandparents: Grandfather – Sant Singh Grandmother – Jamna Devi

Siblings: Brother – 1 (Name Not Known; died at a very young age) Half-Brother(s) – 3 • Surinder Singh Kohli (Politician) • Daljit Singh Kohli (Politician; joined BJP in 2014) • Surjeet Singh Kohli (Politician) Sister – None Half-Sister(s) – 6 • Gobind Kaur • Pritam Kaur • Nirman Kaur • Narinder Kaur • Gyan Kaur • 1 More (Name Not Known)

Wife: Gursharan Kaur

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

Awards, Honours, Achievements: 1952: Panjab University awarded him the University Medal for standing first in B.A. (Honors Economics) 1954: Panjab University awarded him the Uttar Chand Kapur Medal for standing first in M.A. (Economics) 1955: Awarded Wright’s Prize for distinguished performance, St. John’s College, Cambridge 1956: Adam Smith Prize by the University of Cambridge, UK 1957: Elected Wrenbury Scholar, University of Cambridge, U.K. 1976: Honourary Professor, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi 1982: Elected Honourary Fellow, St. John’s College, Cambridge 1982: Elected Honourary Fellow, Indian Institute of Bankers 1983: Panjab University awarded him Doctor of Letters 1985: Elected Honourary President, Indian Economic Association 1986: National Fellow, National Institute of Education, N.C.E.R.T. 1987: Padma Vibhushan by the Government of India 1993: Euromoney Award, Finance Minister of the Year 1993: Asiamoney Award, Finance Minister of the Year 1994: Asiamoney Award, Finance Minister of the Year 1994: Elected Distinguished Fellow, London School of Economics, Centre for Asia Economy, Politics and Society 1994: Elected Honourary Fellow, Nuffield College, University of Oxford 1994: Honourary Fellow, All India Management Association 1995: Jawaharlal Nehru Birth Centenary Award of the Indian Science Congress Association for 1994-95 1996: Honourary Professor, Delhi School of Economics, University of Delhi 1997: Lokmanya Tilak Award by the Tilak Smarak Trust, Pune 1997: Justice K.S. Hegde Foundation Award for the year 1996 1997: Nikkei Asia prize for Regional Growth by the Nihon Keizai Shimbun Inc 1999: H.H. Kanchi Sri Paramacharya Award for Excellence by The Centenarian Trust 1999: Honourary Fellow of the National Academy of Agricultural Sciences, New Delhi 2000: Annasaheb Chirmule Award by the Annasaheb Chirmule Trust 2002: Outstanding Parliamentarian Award by the Indian Parliamentary Group 2005: The University of Oxford awarded him an honourary Doctor of Civil Law degree 2005: Top 100 Influential People in the World by Time Magazine 2006: The University of Cambridge awarded him an honourary Doctor of Civil Law Degree 2009: Panjab University created a Dr. Manmohan Singh chair in their economics department Note: He received D.Litt. and D.Sc. degrees from Guru Nanak University, Delhi University, Sri Venkateswara University, University of Bologna, University of Mysore, Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agricultural University, Kurukshetra University, Thapar Institute of Engineering & Technology, Nagarjuna University, Osmania University, University of Roorkee, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar University, Indian School of Mines, and Pt. Ravishankar Shukla University.

MONEY FACTOR

Car: Maruti 800 (1996 Model)

Salary (as a Member of the Rajya Sabha): ₹50,000/month + Other Allowances

Assets/Properties: • Two flats worth ₹7.27 crore- one in Chandigarh and another in New Delhi • 150.8 gm Gold Jewellery worth ₹3.45 lakh

Net Worth (approx.): ₹11.6 crore (as in 2013)

OTHER INFORMATION

Doctoral Advisor: Ian Malcolm David (I.M.D.) Little

Thesis: “India’s export performance, 1951–1960, export prospects and policy implications”

Book: India’s Export Trends and Prospects for Self-Sustained Growth (1964)

Major Designation(s): 1957-1959: Senior Lecturer in Economics, Panjab University 1959-1963: Reader in Economics, Panjab University 1963-1965: Professor of Economics, Panjab University 1966–1969: Worked for the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) 1969: Appointed as an advisor to the Ministry of Foreign Trade by Lalit Narayan Mishra 1969-1971: Professor of International Trade at the Delhi School of Economics, University of Delhi 1972-1974: Deputy for India on IMF Committee of Twenty on International Monetary Reform 1972-1976: Chief Economic Adviser in the Ministry of Finance November 1976 – April 1980: Secretary in the Finance Ministry, Member (Finance) of the Atomic Energy Commission, and Member (Finance) of the Space Commission 1976-1980: Alternate Governor for India, Board of Governors of IBRD 1976-1980: Alternate Governor for India, Board of Governors, Asian Development Bank 1976-1980: Director, Reserve Bank of India 1976-1980: Director, Industrial Development Bank of India 1976-1980/1980-1982: Associate, Meetings of IMF Interim Committee and Joint Fund-Bank Development Committee 1977-1979: Leader of the Indian Delegation at the Aid India Consortium Meetings 1980–1982: Member-Secretary of the Planning Commission 1980-1982: Leader of the Indian Delegation at Indo-Soviet Joint Planning Group Meeting 1980-1983: Chairman, India Committee of the Indo-Japan Joint Study Committee 1982-1985: Governor of the Reserve Bank of India 1982-1985: Alternate Governor for India, Board of Governors of the IMF 1982: Leader of the Indian Delegation to Indo-Soviet Monitoring Group Meeting 1983-1984: Member of the Economic Advisory Council to the Prime minister 1985-1987: Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission 1987-1990: Secretary General of the South Commission, an independent economic policy think tank headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland 1990-1991: Advisor to Prime Minister of India on Economic Affairs during the tenure of V. P. Singh 1991: Chairman of the University Grants Commission 1991-1995: Governor of India on the Board of Governors of the IMF and the International Bank of Reconstruction & Development December 2000: Appointed as a member by the Secretary-General, United Nations, of a Group of eminent persons to advise him on Financing for Development

Political Party: Indian National Congress (INC)

Political Journey: 1991: Elected to the upper house of Parliament, the Rajya Sabha, from Assam for the first time June 1991 – May 1996: Served as the Finance Minister of India in the P. V. Narasimha Rao Government 1993: Leader of the Indian delegation to the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, Cyprus 1993: Leader of the Indian government’s delegation to the Human Rights World Conference, Vienna 1995: Re-elected to the Rajya Sabha from Assam 1996-1997: Served as the Chairman, Parliamentary Standing Committee on Commerce 1998-2004: Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha 1999: Contested for the Lok Sabha from South Delhi but lost to BJP’s Vijay Kumar Malhotra by over 30,000 votes 2001: Elected to the Rajya Sabha from Assam for the third time 2004: On 22 May, became the 13th Prime Minister of India to the 14th Lok Sabha 2007: Elected to the Rajya Sabha from Assam for the fourth time 2009: On 22 May, elected the Prime Minister of India to the 15th Lok Sabha 2013: Elected to the Rajya Sabha from Assam for the fifth time 2014: On 17 May, resigned from the post of the Prime Minister of India; after Congress’ loss in the 2014 Lok Sabha Elections 2019: Elected to the Rajya Sabha from Rajasthan

Date of Death: 26 December 2024

Place of Death: AIIMS, New Delhi

Death Cause: Age-related medical issues

Address: 9, Safdarjung Lane, New Delhi

Hobbies: Poetry, Reading, Writing, Listening to Music

Favourite Leader: Mahatma Gandhi

Favourite Poet: Iqbal

Favourite Colour: Grey

Favourite Food: Missi Roti, Vadiyaan, Pulao & Chhole

INTERESTING BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Dr. Manmohan Singh was born into a Sikh family in the quaint village of Gah, located in what was then British India. Following his birth, his parents traveled to Panja Sahib, a significant Sikh shrine situated fifty kilometers from Rawalpindi. In accordance with tradition, a priest opened the sacred Guru Granth Sahib at random, and the first word that appeared began with “M,” leading to the name “Manmohan.” Tragically, Singh’s mother passed away during his early childhood, leaving him to be raised by his paternal grandmother. His father, Gurmukh Singh, worked as a clerk in a firm that imported dry fruits from Afghanistan, often spending long periods away from their home in Gah. The early years of Singh’s life were marked by a sense of loss, but they also laid the foundation for his remarkable journey ahead.

Singh’s educational journey began in Gah, where he attended the village school, known for its humble surroundings and where he was assigned roll number 187. The schoolmaster, Daulat Ram, played a crucial role in nurturing his early academic pursuits. After completing his primary education, Singh moved to Chakwal to attend Khalsa High School for Boys, a transition that coincided with a significant change in his personal life. At the age of 11, he reconnected with his father, who had remarried and brought Manmohan to live with his new family in Peshawar. Initially apprehensive about this new chapter, Singh soon found affection and warmth in his stepmother, Sitawanti Kaur, which helped him adjust to his new environment.

As a student at Khalsa High School in Peshawar, Singh not only excelled academically but also developed a passion for debating, although he was less inclined towards athletics. His scholarly dedication paid off when he topped his class in the 8th examination in 1945, marking the beginning of his reputation as a brilliant student. Following this success, he made the pivotal decision to shift his academic focus to chemistry, physics, and physiology, thereby steering his educational path toward the sciences. In 1946, his family moved into their own home in Guru Nanak Pura, Peshawar, after years of renting accommodations. This newfound stability allowed Singh to further explore the city, riding his bicycle or traveling by Tonga, all while nurturing his burgeoning interest in political affairs.

The tumultuous period following the Partition of India led Singh’s family to migrate to Amritsar, where he continued his education at Hindu College. His academic prowess led him to Panjab University in Hoshiarpur, where he pursued both his graduation and post-graduation in Economics. His academic life continued to flourish, and in 1958, he entered into an arranged marriage with Gursharan Kaur, with whom he would later have three daughters. Singh’s commitment to his studies and his growing interest in socio-political matters paved the way for his eventual entry into active politics. Under the mentorship of Prime Minister P.V. Narasimha Rao, Singh was elected to the Rajya Sabha, representing Assam, and subsequently served as India’s Finance Minister. His significant contributions to the nation culminated in his appointment as the first Sikh Prime Minister of India in May 2004, a role that would see India achieve unprecedented economic growth and navigate complex challenges in governance.

Manmohan Singh’s tenure as Prime Minister was marked by significant achievements, including the introduction of the Value Added Tax (VAT) in 2005 and the establishment of the National Investigation Agency in the wake of the 2008 Mumbai Terror Attacks. Despite facing a series of corruption allegations that marred his public image, he remained a figure of resilience in Indian politics, even as he dealt with health issues that required multiple cardiac surgeries. His legacy was further complicated by the release of the film “The Accidental Prime Minister” in 2019, which sparked controversy but also brought renewed attention to his life and leadership. Tragically, on December 26, 2024, Dr. Manmohan Singh lost consciousness at home and was rushed to AIIMS in New Delhi, where efforts to revive him were unsuccessful, marking the end of a significant chapter in Indian political history. Singh’s journey from a small village in Pakistan to the highest office in India remains a testament to his intellect, resilience, and enduring impact on the nation.

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Note: All biographical information compiled from publicly available sources.