Dr. Manmohan Singh, lovingly known as "Mohna" by his childhood friends, took his last breath on the night of December 26, at the age of 92. But throughout his life, he carried with him the fragrance of his roots—the earthy smell of his childhood, the laughter-filled lanes, and the shade of trees under which he grew up. His life’s story was not merely one of achievements but also of struggles and relationships that shaped the personality of "Mohna." Even today, his childhood friends fondly recall him by that name, one that Manmohan Singh himself had mentioned many times over the years. This story begins
in the small village of Gah, located in Pakistan’s Chakwal district, where "Mohna" learned the first lessons of life. Immersed in the simple, sweet scent of the earth, surrounded by the colorful world of games like gilli-danda, kabaddi, and marbles, Mohna’s dreams were as innocent as those of any ordinary child. Even in his final days, the memories of his friends—Shah Wali, Raja Mohammad Ali, and Ghulam Mohammad—remained fresh in his heart, accompanied by the echoes of Mohna’s laughter and his unspoiled innocence.
While playing in the narrow streets of the village, Mohna learned the truths of life through the games he cherished. Shah Wali once said, “He was always honest in his play, and just as sharp in his studies. If ever there was a difficulty in a game, it was Mohna who would explain and resolve it.” Perhaps it was this simplicity and wisdom that later became part of his character. The small two-room school in Gah, where teachers like Daulat Ram and Abdul Karim taught, became the stepping stone of his educational journey.
Manmohan's life was an extraordinary long journey filled with friendship, love, struggle, and an unwavering attachment to his roots. The partition of 1947 not only divided two nations but also separated Mohna from his childhood friends forever. But can the distance between hearts ever be defined by borders? Shah Wali and Raja Mohammad Ali hoped for years that one day Mohna would return, and the playground would once again come alive with the joy of their shared games.
Years later, in 2008, when Mohna invited his old friend Raja Mohammad Ali to India, the meeting bridged decades of separation. Raja Sahib brought with him gifts of Chakwal jutti (shoes), a shawl, and soil from their village—these were not merely presents, but living symbols of memories that could never be broken. In return, Mohna gifted him a turban and an embroidered shawl. This exchange was not just of material items but of the emotions and memories that defined their childhood.
Even after becoming Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh’s heart never strayed far from his village Gah. He wrote to Pakistan’s then-ruler Pervez Musharraf, urging him to do something for the development of Gah. At that moment, he was not just a politician but the same little boy "Mohna," forever tied to the soil of his village.
His educational journey was equally unique and inspiring. From the humble school in Gah to the hallowed halls of Oxford and Cambridge, his path was a testament to his hard work and passion. When he became India's Finance Minister in 1991, the nation stood on the brink of economic collapse. But it was Mohna’s foresight and knowledge that steered the country away from disaster, and by 2007, India had achieved its highest GDP growth rate.
Despite the success of his journey, Mohna’s heart always remained connected to his old friends and his village. Friends like Shah Wali and Ghulam Mohammad in Gah continued to await the day when Mohna would return to his village. But political complexities, bilateral tensions, and unspoken hopes kept this reunion perpetually postponed. Yet, Mohna’s heart continued to beat for his village and his childhood companions.
In 2019, when Mohna traveled to Pakistan for the inauguration of the Kartarpur Sahib Corridor, he did not go merely as a politician. He went as that child who had always dreamed of returning to the lanes of his village. His heart still held on to the hope that perhaps this journey would resolve the long-standing disputes between India and Pakistan.
However, Mohna’s dream of one day walking through the streets of Gah again was never fulfilled. The deep chasm of Partition stood like an unyielding wall between him and his childhood. Friends like Shah Wali and Raja Mohammad Ali could only see "Mohna" in their memories.
Manmohan Singh’s life wasn’t just filled with political stories; the most profound tales of his life came from those corners of his heart where the soil of Gah, the childhood games, and the moments spent with friends forever resided.
Today, as we remember Manmohan Singh, we should not just focus on his tenure as Prime Minister, but also look at the "Mohna" within—the boy who played gilli-danda with his friends, and who faced the challenges of life with a smile and unwavering patience.
The passing of Mohna is not just the end of an era; it is also the end of those memories that his friends Shah Wali and Raja Mohammad Ali cherished in their hearts. Yet, his memories, emotions, and struggles will forever live on in the soil of Gah, and the story of "Mohna" will remain alive in every particle of that land for centuries to come.