Former PU teachers recall Manmohan Singh’s lasting impact as a mentor

Professor Emeritus in Punjab University’s economics department, HS Shergill, fondly recalls his time as a student under Dr Manmohan Singh in the 1960s. Shergill was a part of the 1964-66 MA Economics batch, the last class that Dr Singh taught before leaving the varsity.

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Joining the MA programme in July 1964, Shergill excelled with a first-position finish in the first semester.

Impressed by his performance, Dr Singh inquired about his future plans. When Shergill expressed his desire to pursue a PhD, Dr Singh offered to guide his doctoral research. “He was a serious teacher, and he never took attendance because no one ever missed his classes,” Shergill remembered. “Everyone would fall silent when he walked through the corridors—he commanded respect.”

However, in 1966, Dr Singh left Panjab University to embark on his illustrious career in public service, and the PhD mentorship never materialised. Shergill recalls the profound impact Dr Singh had on his intellectual development, saying, “He was a true inspiration.”

Retired Professor VK Gupta, another former student of Dr Singh, shared a similar experience. Gupta, who studied under Dr Singh from 1962 to 1963, enrolled in the PhD program with Dr Singh as his mentor after receiving a fellowship.

“I was fortunate to be guided by Dr Singh when I started my PhD in 1963,” Gupta said. But like Shergill, Gupta’s doctoral journey was disrupted when Dr Singh left the varsity in 1966. “His departure left a void, and I couldn’t complete my PhD under his guidance,” Gupta reflected.

While he went on to complete his PhD sans Dr Singh, Gupta always credited his first mentor with shaping his academic career.

“Dr Singh’s intellectual rigour and mentorship left a lasting impression on me, even though we couldn’t continue our work together,” Gupta added.

Both Shergill and Gupta remember Dr Singh not just as a teacher, but as a guiding force whose influence shaped their paths, despite the unfinished PhD mentorships. His legacy as an educator and mentor continues to resonate deeply with those who had the privilege to learn from him.