Chandigarh, April 25, 2025-Noted author and daughter of the late Dr. Manmohan Singh, Ms. Daman Singh today unveiled a memorial plaque at the Dr. Manmohan Singh Hall, Arts Block 3 of the Panjab University (PU). The ceremony was held in the presence of the PU Vice Chancellor, Professor Renu Vig, Shri Raghav Tankha, grandson of Dr. Manmohan Singh, Dean of University Instruction Prof. Yojna Rawat, Registrar Prof. Y.P. Verma, Finance & Development Officer CA Vikram Nayar, Controller of Examination Prof. Jagat Bhushan, Director, Research and Development Cell Prof. Meenakshi Goyal, former PU Vice Chancellor Prof. Arun K. Grover and other distinguished dignitaries. As a tribute to the memory of Dr. Manmohan Singh, a sapling was planted, symbolising growth, legacy, and remembrance.

Later, Ms Daman Singh, delivered the Panjab University Colloquium Lecture on ‘Dr. Manmohan Singh: The Quintessential Scholar’. The PU Colloquium was presided over by Vice Chancellor of Panjab University and Patron of the Colloquium Series, Professor Renu Vig.

In her detailed one hour lecture, Ms. Daman Singh reflected on the remarkable journey of Dr. Manmohan Singh as a young, promising student and as a faculty member at Panjab University and shared how his father used to say that the time spent at the Panjab University campus was one of the best times of his life. The lecture was well attended by packed auditorium with research scholars, faculty members and other guests.

Ms. Daman Singh referred to her father Dr. Manmohan Singh’s modest upbringing in Gah, a village in present-day Pakistan before Partition uprooted his family and the role played by his teachers and guides in his academic journey. Despite economic hardships, Dr. Singh’s relentless pursuit of education led him to Cambridge and later Oxford, where he honed his skills as an economist. Daman beautifully chronicled his rise from academia to policymaking, showcasing how his work ethic and dedication shaped his life and career.

Ms Daman Singh further emphasised that Panjab University was not only an academic starting point for Dr. Singh but, various scholarships he received from time to time were instrumental in his journey, making higher education accessible despite his modest background.

In her address, Ms. Daman Singh shared personal anecdotes and cherished memories, offering a heartfelt glimpse into the private world of one of India’s most respected statesmen. The public lecture provided a rare and intimate perspective on Dr. Singh’s life, legacy, and values. The lecture was very well received and appreciated.

This marked the second day of Daman Singh and Raghav Tankha’s visit to the university campus.

Later in the evening, Daman Singh and Raghav Tankha visited the Department of Economics, the alma mater of Dr. Manmohan Singh, to interact with faculty members, research scholars and students of the department. She spent a considerable amount of time in the official room of Dr. Manmohan Singh, which displayed several of his books and photographs, offering a glimpse into his academic life and lasting legacy at the university.