PM turns 74; receives greetings, but no celebration

New Delhi, Sep 26: President A P J Abdul Kalam, Vice-President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat and Congress President Sonia Gandhi today greeted Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on his 74th birthday.

It was, otherwise, business as usual for Dr Singh, who was born on September 26, 1932 in a village in undivided Punjab, as he attended a function at Vigyan Bhavan where he gave away the Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize to 13 young scientists and later received a delegation from Japan in his South Block office.

Dr Singh is on record stating that he does not know his actual date of birth and September 26 is only the date mentioned in his school certificate. He also refused to cut a cake on board his special flight in 2004 while returning to Delhi from New York where he had gone to attend the UN General Assembly.

Dr Kalam and Mr Shekhawat sent him bouquets to greet him, while Ms Gandhi extended her best wishes. Some of his cabinet colleagues called on him in the morning to wish him many happy returns of the day.

Scientists of Centre for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) who attended the Vigyan Bhavan function greeted the Prime Minister by giving him a big hand as CSIR Director General R L Mashelkar took the initiative by making an announcement on the public address system. The function also marked the foundation day of CSIR.

''The Prime Minister had a normal working day,'' his Media Advisor Sanjaya Baru said.

Tamil Nadu Governor Surjit Singh Barnala and Chief Minister M Karunanidhi greeted the Prime Minister.

In a message, Mr Barnala said ''please accept my heartiest greetings and good wishes on your birthday. May I wish you a long healthy, successful and peaceful life in your distinguished service to the nation.'' Extending his birthday wishes, Mr Karunanidhi said the economic reforms introduced by Dr Singh in the nineties were a turning point in the development of India.

''Tamil Nadu has been enjoying the fruits of a number of achievements during your tenure. Your approach has always been positive and your action constructive. India is proud of you as you have been working hard to make India a frontline country in the world,'' he said in a message.

Wishing the Prime Minister a long and contented life dedicated to the growth of the nation and uplift of the people, Mr Karunanidhi said ''I wish that you continue to inspire the country for a long time to come.''

UNI

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