TITLE: THE FIRST SIKH PRIME MINISTER OF INDIA AUTHOR: Prof. Pritam Singh Grewal ABSTRACT: Prof. Pritam Singh Grewal is a former lecturer and Public School Principal from Punjab, India and served as a member of the City of Kitchener's Ethno-Cultural Advisory Committee. ARTICLE: Dr. Manmohan

Singh is the fourteenth prime minister of India.

In the history of independent India, he is the first Sikh as well as a minority representative who was sworn in on May 22, 2004 to occupy this august position.

Dr. Singh was born in 1932 to Mr. Gurmukh Singh and Mrs. Amrit Kaur in village Gah (West Punjab), now in Pakistan.

He did his elementary schooling there. The villagers of Gah were thrilled to know about his elevation as India's prime minister. He is married to Mrs. Gursharan Kaur and they have three daughters.

Pakistan's prime minister has recently declared Dr. Manmohan Singh's birthplace Gah as a model village and also decided to name the school where he studied as "Manmohan Singh Government Primary School."

Educated at Universities of Punjab, Cambridge and Oxford, he holds the degrees of M.A., D.Phil (Oxford) and D.Litt. (Honoris Causa). He has the distinction of winning the prestigious Adam Smith Prize from the University of Cambridge in 1956. He stood first in Punjab University M.A. (Economics) 1954 examination.

Dr. Singh has also received several honorary degrees including Doctor of Laws from University of Alberta, Canada.

Professionally, he distinguished himself as a Professor at Delhi School of Economics and as a Civil Servant in many national and international institutions.

He also worked as the Governor of Reserve Bank of India from 1982 to1985.

Dr. Singh's popularly termed "Manmohanomics" rescued India from the edge of bankruptcy, with foreign exchange reserves to last only two weeks, when he was called upon to work as Finance Minister (1991-96).

His liberalization policy brought India among the world's attractive investment markets.

The subsequent governments pursued the path shown by this economist-turned -politician as architect of India's economic reform.

His successful stint as governor at Asian Development Bank, with International Monetary Fund and many important international organizations won him world-level recognition.

Dr. Singh authored a book entitled "India's Export Trends and Prospects for Self-Sustained Growth",Clarendon Press, Oxford University, 1964. He has also published a large number of articles in various economic journals.

The news of Dr. Singh's election as India's Prime Minister, attracted special attention of global media, partly because India now has a Sikh prime minister, a Muslim President and an Italian-born Roman Catholic President of the ruling party.

Very honest, highly intelligent but modest Manmohan Singh's job is not easy as he is heading a coalition government, his own party being in minority.

Sikhs, especially the diaspora community, feel happy on the elevation of a turbaned Sikh to the position of India's Prime Minister as it will add to their image and recognition globally.

This article was originally published in Cross Cultures Magazine in Volume 10 - Issue 1 - 2004. Unauthorized copying, distribution or other usage without express written permission of the publisher is prohibited.