Why Manmohan Singh always wore a blue turban

Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh died on Thursday evening at the age of 92. Dr. Often considered the architect of India’s modern economy, Singh was known for his signature blue turban. The choice of this color sparked curiosity for years. The secret was discovered by Dr. Singh himself revealed in a speech that the light blue turban was a tribute to his alma mater, Cambridge University.

During a ceremony in 2006 where he was awarded a Doctor of Laws degree, Manmohan Singh shared his attachment to the color. He explained that light blue was one of his favorite shades and was a constant reminder of his time at Cambridge.

“The color light blue is one of my favorite colors and is often seen on my head. “My memories of my days in Cambridge are deep,” the former Prime Minister had said.

The moment was made even more memorable when the late Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh and Chancellor of Cambridge University, spoke to Dr. Singh’s blue turban showed. “Look at the color of his turban,” the Duke remarked, prompting applause from the audience. During this exchange, Dr. Singh on the memories he cherished of his time at Cambridge, where his friends affectionately called him “Blue Turban.”

Photo credit: REUTERS

Manmohan Singh was born in 1932 in Punjab. His academic journey took him from India to Cambridge, where he obtained a First Class Honors degree in Economics in 1957. He then completed a DPhil in Economics at the University of Oxford. His intellectual foundation, coupled with his leadership, later led India through a period of economic change.

Dr. Singh fondly recalled his time at Cambridge, recalling how his teachers and colleagues instilled in him the virtues of open-mindedness, fearlessness and intellectual curiosity. “My teachers and my colleagues at Cambridge taught me to be open to arguments and to be fearless and clear in expressing my opinions. These virtues and a relentless desire to pursue intellectual truth were instilled in me at Cambridge,” he said.

He also said he was grateful to the university and noted how economists such as Nicholas Kaldor, Joan Robinson and Amartya Sen had influenced his development.

Manmohan Singh was Prime Minister from 2004 to 2014. His body is kept for public viewing at the All India Congress Committee (AICC) headquarters in Delhi. His last rites will be performed near Rajghat on Saturday with full state honours.