Alumnus and Honorary Fellow Dr Manmohan Singh awarded Lifetime Achievement Honour
We would like to share the exciting news that Nuffield alumnus and Honorary Fellow Dr Manmohan Singh (DPhil Economics, 1960), was recently awarded a Lifetime Achievement Honour in the inaugural India-UK Achievers Honours. Dr Singh, who served as prime minister of India from 2004 until 2014, was chosen for this illustrious new award in recognition of his extraordinary contribution to economic and political life.
Dr Singh, an economist before his move into politics, wrote his DPhil thesis at Nuffield under the supervision of the late Ian Little, on the topic ‘India's export performance, 1951–1960, export prospects and policy implications’ – an area of research which served him well throughout his career. He went on to become the first ever Sikh prime minister of India, the third longest-serving prime minister, and the first to be re-elected after a full term since Jawaharlal Nehru in 1962.
Dr Singh said of this award: ‘I am very touched by this gesture, which is especially meaningful coming from young people who are the future of our country and of the ties between our two countries.’
The India-UK Achievers Honours programme was set up by the National Indian Students and Alumni Union (NISAU) in collaboration with the British Council in India and the UK’s Department for International Trade (DIT). To mark last year’s 75th anniversary of India’s independence, this first round of honours went to 75 Indian people who have studied in the UK and gone on to achieve great things for their country and beyond. Dr Singh is a most worthy recipient, and the College warmly congratulates him.
The Indian Express carries further coverage of this wonderful news.