The age-old adage ‘whatever happens happens for good’ certainly holds true for Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh. Politicking in Panjab University has never benefitted anyone the way it has helped the PM.

According to old-timers in the university, the PM would have returned to academics had Panjab University not denied him professorship. During Prof R P Bambah’s tenure as the vice-chancellor of PU from 1985 to 91, a proposal was moved to give professorship to Dr Manmohan Singh. However, the Syndicate rejected the proposal saying that his first love was politics rather than economics.

A faculty member of the university, however, said internal politics was responsible for the decision.

“There were some Syndicate members who did not want Dr Singh to be made a professor even though, by that time, he had gained vast experience and had held important posts. One of those syndicate members is now a Congress

MP from Haryana. Ironically, he was also present at the convocation today,” he said.

The PM’s relation with the university dates back to his student days. After studying here, he joined as a lecturer in 1957. He taught in the university till 1965 after which he took up a job at the Delhi School of Economics.

In 1971, Dr Singh quit academics and joined as Economic Adviser, Ministry of Foreign Trade. He later held a number of important posts.

Another faculty member said, “Dr Singh wanted to come back to academics. However, he was denied the chance by the university. Things were not very smooth during his first stint at the university either. However, in retrospect, the decision by the Syndicate came as a blessing in disguise for the Prime Minister who then went on to chart the course of the country’s economy.”