I am a politician only by accident: PM

Panaji, Dec 28 (UNI) For Prime minister Manmohan Singh, teaching was his chosen career, but he became a politician by accident.

''As I have often said, teaching was my chosen career. I am a politician only by accident,'' he told the 20th Annual Convocation of Goa University here today amid a thunderous applause.

''Nothing gives me more joy than to be among teachers and students,'' he said, while recalling his earlier visit to Goa to inaugurate the BITS Campus for the first time as Prime Minister.

Goa should emerge as one of our leading knowledge based states with its high literacy rate of 82 per cent and congenial social environment, he said.

''I would like to see every young person in Goa literate and educated, because your people are your greatest asset,'' Dr Singh added.

The University presented PhD degrees to 28 students, Master degrees to 593, including 210 from science and 109 from professional streams, during the Convocation.

UNI