Dr Manmohan credited PAU, state farmers for Green Revolution

“It was PAU’s pioneering work combined with the receptivity and hard work of farmers of Punjab and other states that made Green Revolution possible and gave the country food security,” the then Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh had said during his presidential address at the Golden Jubilee convocation of Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) here in 2012.

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He had exhorted experts to replace paddy and suggest some alternative crops, including maize, cotton, sugarcane, pulses, oilseeds, fruits and vegetables. “The PAU should be a leader in this respect also. The state government, farmers, farm scientists and entrepreneurs of the state must

pool their knowledge, wisdom and experience to make this happen,” the former PM had said.

Dr Singh had also demanded special attention towards education and skill development to create a productive workforce.

Remembering the attachment, benevolence and immense contribution of Dr Singh to the PAU, the entire fraternity comprising senior officials, teaching and non-teaching staff as well as students, led by Vice-Chancellor Dr Satbir Singh Gosal, have expressed heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family and prayed for peace to the departed soul.

They remembered 92-year-old former Prime Minister, who breathed his last on Thursday night and was cremated with full state honours in New Delhi on Saturday afternoon, as an unsurpassed economist known for his erudition and scholarship as well as blessed with exceptional virtues of sharp political acumen and sheer honesty, simplicity, humility and dignity.

Dr Singh visited the university thrice in 1980s, 2006 and 2012 — twice during his stint as the PM and once as the RBI Governor — and gave a special grant of Rs 100 crore to the institution. He was also conferred a DSc degree at the Golden Jubilee convocation, which he had presided as the country’s premier in 2012.

He left an indelible imprint in the history of the country as well as the PAU, the VC said while leading the tributes to the former Prime Minister.

Heads of various departments of the PAU paid tributes to whom they revered as the most honourable man with the purest soul.

“Dr Singh shared an impeccable relationship with the university,” the VC said while paying tributes to the highly-revered economist and politician.

Dr Gosal saluted the towering figure for being the most upright, generous and benevolent human being at the helm of affairs.

“A large-hearted and noble soul, Dr Singh set an extraordinary example of being a blend of well-educated, well-informed, well-deserving and well-respected man, winning the title of ‘well-done’ in all aspects. Truly, India did marvel and won stellar accolades under his able stewardship of Prime Ministership between 2004 and 2014,” he recollected while recognising his monumental contributions to the country and the PAU.

Recalling pleasant gestures and pivotal contributions of Dr Singh to the PAU, Dr Gosal said: “The former PM visited the university to preside over the annual convocation in the early 1980s during the tenure of the then PAU VC Dr Sukhdev Singh and allocated a special grant of Rs 100 crore in 2006 during the stint of the then PAU VC Dr Kirpal Singh Aulakh and presided over the Golden Jubilee convocation of the PAU on December 8, 2012, during the tenure of the then PAU VC Dr Baldev Singh Dhillon.”

“The special allocation of Rs 100 crore by the Central Government to the PAU, in recognition of its exemplary contributions to the Green Revolution as well as the promotion of excellence in basic and strategic research, has enabled the university to come up with the biggest auditorium, named after the most accomplished politician, Dr Manmohan Singh, besides investing in the creation of the state-of-the-art infrastructure in the university,” he added.

The construction of Dr Manmohan Singh Auditorium began during the tenure of former PAU VC Dr Manjit Singh Kang and was completed during the stint of former PAU VC Dr Baldev Singh Dhillon.

Dr Manmohan Singh was also awarded DSc degree at the Golden Jubilee convocation of the PAU in 2012.