In Amritsar, a house Manmohan Singh visited before becoming PM

Manmohan Singh’s family had moved to Amritsar after migrating from Pakistan. His house in the city’s Katra Dal Singh locality lies vacant today.

Manmohan Singh's former home in Amritsar’s Katra Dal Singh locality. (Express Photo)

In Amritsar’s Katra Dal Singh locality, a small, dilapidated, single-storey house lies in disrepair, showing no signs of once having served as the home of a former Indian Prime Minister. The run-down brick structure was where Manmohan Singh, who passed away in Delhi on Thursday, and his family stayed after migrating from Pakistan.

“He visited his house before becoming Prime Minister in 2004. Most of the families known to him have already moved…their homes are closed and are in shambles,” Prem Singh Bhatia told The Indian Express. Bhatia’s mother Surjit Kaur was a close friend of Manmohan Singh’s mother Amrit Kaur.

“Their house is close to our house. My mother died one and a half years ago. I had accompanied my mother to Delhi on many occasions to meet Dr Manmohan Singh when he was PM and before that also. They would talk about his mother,” Bhatia recalled.

Today, the lane leading to the house is closed, cutting off access to it.

“Dr Manmohan Singh was a great personality. He would help you if your demand is genuine. He would never help you if your demand was not genuine… does not matter how close you are to him,” Bhatia said.

Singh recalled time at Hindu College

Manmohan Singh completed his schooling and graduated in economics from Hindu College, a bond he spoke about during an alumni meet. “In September 1948, I enrolled in the college and secured the first position. The then principal of the college, Sant Ram, honoured me with the Roll Call of Honor. I was the first student of Hindu College to receive this award,” Singh had reminisced.

Saying that his teachers advised him to take up Economics, Singh had said, “After my teachers advised me, I pursued BA Honors in Economics. In 1952, I once again became the topper. Principal Sant Ram, Professor Mastram, Professor S R Kalia, Dr Jugal Kishore Trikha, and his classmate Dr Sudarshan Kapoor are my heroes.”

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Singh studied at Hindu College from 1948 to 1952 and his subjects during graduation were Economics, Political Science, and Punjabi. According to the college records, his roll number was 19 and the college had waived half of his tuition fees.

Kamaldeep Singh Brar

Kamaldeep Singh Brar is a Principal Correspondent at The Indian Express, primarily covering Amritsar and the Majha region of Punjab. He is one of the publication's key reporters for stories involving the Akal Takht, the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), and the sensitive socio-political issues of the border districts. Core Beats & Specializations Religious & Panthic Affairs: He has deep expertise in the internal workings of the Akal Takht and SGPC, frequently reporting on religious sentences (Tankhah), Panthic politics, and the influence of Sikh institutions. National Security & Crime: His reporting covers cross-border drug smuggling, drone activities from Pakistan, and the activities of radical groups. Regional Politics: He is the primary correspondent for the Majha belt, covering elections and political shifts in Amritsar, Tarn Taran, and Gurdaspur. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) His work in late 2025 has been centered on judicial developments, local body elections, and religious controversies: 1. Religious Politics & Akal Takht "Akal Takht pronounces religious sentences against former Jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh" (Dec 8, 2025): Covering the historic decision to hold the former Jathedar guilty for granting a pardon to Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim in 2015. "YouTube suspends SGPC’s channel for a week over video on 1984 Army action" (Nov 20, 2025): Reporting on the digital friction between global tech platforms and Sikh religious bodies. "As AAP govt grants Amritsar holy tag, a look at its fraught demand" (Nov 28, 2025): An analytical piece on the long-standing demand for declaring Amritsar a "holy city" and its political implications. 2. Crime & National Security "Mostly Khalistanis on Amritpal’s hit list: Punjab govt to High Court" (Dec 16, 2025): Reporting on the state government's claims regarding jailed MP Amritpal Singh orchestrating activity from prison. "Punjab man with links to Pakistan’s ISI handlers killed in encounter" (Nov 20, 2025): Detailing a police operation in Amritsar involving "newly refurbished" firearms likely sent from across the border. "15 schools in Amritsar get bomb threat emails; police launch probe" (Dec 12, 2025): Covering the panic and police response to mass threats against educational institutions. 3. Political Analysis & Elections "AAP wins 12 of 15 zones in SAD stronghold Majitha" (Dec 19, 2025): Highlighting a significant shift in the 2025 rural elections where the Akali Dal lost its grip on a traditional fortress. "Tarn Taran bypoll: woman faces threats after complaining to CM Mann about drug menace" (Nov 9, 2025): A ground report on the personal risks faced by citizens speaking out against the illegal drug trade in border villages. "AAP wins Tarn Taran bypoll, but SAD finds silver lining" (Nov 14, 2025): Analyzing the 2025 assembly by-election results and the surprising performance of Independents backed by radical factions. 4. Human Interest "Two couples and a baby: Punjab drug addiction tragedy has new victims" (Nov 20, 2025): A tragic investigative piece about parents selling an infant to fund their addiction. "Kashmiri women artisans debut at Amritsar’s PITEX" (Dec 8, 2025): A feature on financial independence initiatives for rural women at the Punjab International Trade Expo. Signature Beat Kamaldeep is known for his nuanced understanding of border dynamics. His reporting often highlights the "drug crisis in the underprivileged localities" (like Muradpur in Tarn Taran, Nov 9, 2025), providing a voice to marginalized communities affected by addiction and administrative neglect. X (Twitter): @kamalsbrar ... Read More

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