015. Birthplace Of Indian Prime Minister Mr Manmohan Singh

Do you know how many Indian prime ministers were born in present-day Pakistan? You might be surprised to learn that no fewer than three prime ministers of India were born in what is now Pakistan. They were: Mr. Gulzarilal Nanda, born in Sialkot; Mr. Inder Kumar Gujral, born in Pari Darwaza, district Jhelum; and Dr. Manmohan Singh. Of the three, only the last is still living.

When we visited the small, sleepy village of Gah on April 5, 2009, Dr. Singh was still serving as the Prime Minister of India. However, after completing a 10-year tenure, he had just stepped down a few days earlier. Yet, he has brought lasting fame to Gah, his birthplace. The people of his village are indeed very proud of this connection and were eagerly awaiting his visit to his ancestral home. Unfortunately, that visit has not happened so far. But I can assure him of one thing: he will be overwhelmed by the warmth of the welcome that awaits him.

This is the location of the home of Manmohan Singh Ji. (05.04.2009.)

A street view on the backside of his home. (05.04.2009.)

Govt. Primary School Gah. Manmohan Singh ji studied in this school. But then he was known as Mohna by his friends. (05.04.2009.)

View of the school from outside. (05.04.2009.)

 Govt. Primary School Gah, inside view. (05.04.2009.)

A few rooms of the school. (05.04.2009.)

Govt. Primary School Gah, inside view. Govt. (05.04.2009.)

The teachers of the Government Primary School, Gah. It was a Sunday, but they graciously came from their homes and opened the school for us. Unfortunately, I have misplaced their names. I would be grateful if someone could help identify them.

The gentleman on the left is the son of Bakht Bano, a classfellow of Manmohan Singh ji. She passed away in the late 1990s. May her soul rest in peace.

An old house in Gah. (05.04.2009.) 

੧ ਓ ਸਤਿਨਾਮ 

اک اونکار ست نام

Ek Onkar Satnam (A Sikh Prayer)

A door of an old house, it belonged to a Sikh family. (05.04.2009.)

A street of Gah. (05.04.2009.)

There are two water ponds, one of them is called Budhu Di Bann. (05.04.2009.)

A view of the water pond. (05.04.2009.)

An old Banyan tree, close to the pond. (05.04.2009.)

This is the view of the landscape, from the courtyard of the home of Manmohan Singh ji, looking eastward.  (05.04.2009.)

Beautiful view of M2, near Gah.  (05.04.2009.)

Fields just outside Gah.  (05.04.2009.)

A street in Gah.  (05.04.2009.)

An old house in Gah.  (05.04.2009.)

A general view of the Gah village, from a water tank. (05.04.2009.)

Exam results of the class of Manmohan Singh ji. Class II 1938-39; Class III 1939-40; Class IV 1940-41.  (05.04.2009.) 

Result Card of the Class II - 1938 - 39

Result Card of the Class III - 1939 - 40

Result Card of the Class IV - 1940 - 41

The above record shows that Manmohan Singh ji was a good student; in Class III, he stood second in his class. It also reflects his strong aptitude for mathematics, in which he scored a perfect 30 out of 30. Perhaps the foundation of his remarkable achievements in the field of economics was laid here, in this small, simple school made of mud and wood.

Reaching this place is not difficult. On a pleasant day, the drive from Islamabad can be a refreshing experience. Gah is located at 33°03′45″N, 72°39′11″E. Although it lies less than two kilometers from the M2 Motorway, you must take the exit at the Balkasar Interchange and head towards Balkasar, approximately 4 kilometers away. Near the town, take a right turn—heading north—and continue for another 16 kilometers. Keep in mind that at this point, you are on the western side of the M2, and you'll need to cross a bridge to reach the eastern side, where Gah is situated.

I was informed that one or two people who personally knew Manmohan Singh ji are still living in nearby Bhagwal. They remain in contact with him and a few of his Sikh classmates. Now that Dr. Manmohan Singh is free from official responsibilities, I hope he will return to the land of his birth.

There may be some painful memories tied to the upheaval of Partition, but I am certain there are many pleasant ones as well. I wonder how many times little Mohna must have come to play and bathe with his friends under the cool shade of the trees at Buddhu di Bann—and how often his mother might have dreamed that her son would grow up to be a "big man" one day.

Tariq Amir

May 21, 2014.

Doha - Qatar 

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