PM's alma mater sets up chair

Updated on: Thursday, August 06, 2009

Chandigarh: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's alma mater Panjab University (PU) has set up a chair in his name.

The Dr Manmohan Singh Chair will be in the economics department, where the Prime Minister had once himself studied and later taught.

Manmohan Singh did his graduation and post-graduation in economics from this university in the 1950s. Later, he joined the university as a lecturer in the mid 1960s and went on to become a professor at the young age of 32 years.

"This decision was taken in the last syndicate meeting on Sunday. Actually, this was the initiative of our Vice Chancellor RC Sobti, who first proposed this idea so we are very thankful to him for this chair," said MR Khurana, dean (research) Tuesday.

"This is the university's way to salute the great economist and politician of the country who once studied and taught here. This chair would certainly earn new landmarks in the area of research and it would broadly do research in the field of diverse Indian economy," he added.

Besides this connection, Manmohan Singh, the first Sikh prime minister of the country has family roots in the neighbouring Punjab state. He also has a 500-square-yard house in the upscale Sector 11 here in Chandigarh.

"We are very happy that our department has got this coveted chair. It would certainly add new dimensions in the nature of research and projects undertaken by the department," said a faculty member of the economics department.

PU, one of the oldest universities of the country, was established in 1882 at Lahore and was shifted to Chandigarh in 1956.

PM's alma mater sets up chair

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