PM IN BRITAIN Cambridge confers PM with honorary doctorate rime Minister Manmohan Singh on October 11 returned to his alma mater five decades after his graduation to receive an honorary degree with a stirring speech out- liningP his vision of a more egalitarian world. And there was no doubt that the scholar- politician conquered every single heart in the historic Senate Hall of Cambridge University where the applause that followed after Singh was formally introduced to the audience went on and on, bringing smiles on the faces of his wife Gursharan and daughter Amrit Kaur who, like everyone else, watched him in sheer admiration. “It was one of the most generous recep- tions anyone has received in Cambridge,” Neil Hudson, the university vice marshal, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh after receiving the said after the hour-long ceremony where honorary doctorate of Law in Cambridge University PM in illustrious company Manmohan Singh received a honorary “Millions look to this man,” Prince Philip ■ Doctorate in Law from Prince Philip, the said in his concluding remarks before con- Manmohan Singh joined the ranks of Duke of Edinburgh and also the chancellor. ferring the degree. “They see in him some- luminaries such as Albert Einstein, Field The stirring speech by Prime Minister one of conspicuous integrity; he is, in the Marshal Montgomery and Nelson Singh –– who passed out of St. John’s words of the Greek poet Simonides, cool and Mandela by earning an honorary doctor- College in Cambridge in 1957 –– calling for calm, well aware of the justice that serves the ate from Cambridge University. Others a world economy that does not sacrifice the state, and a man of healing virtue.” honoured by the university are scientist interests of the poor, brought another round The ceremony was business-like, and a James Watson, Chancellor Helmut Kohl, of prolonged applause. large number of students gathered at Senate Mother Teresa, Archbishop Desmond The sombre function was conducted entire- Hall eager to catch a glimpse of the man who Tutu and writer V.S. Naipaul. ly in Latin, except for Singh’s speech, which is determined to make India an economic ■ was in English. The Duke of Edinburgh paid giant. He entered the hall almost at the tail Cambridge’s famous Indian alumni high tribute to Manmohan Singh, who in his of the chancellor’s procession, followed by include Sir Jagdish Chandra Bose, K.S. speech described himself as a “simple young the university constables and pro-protectors. Ranjitsinhji, mathematician Srinivasa Indian”. Prince Philip said, “it is very rare After the start of the proceedings, the orator Ramanujan, Jawaharlal Nehru, indeed for position of Prime Minister to be presented Singh to the chancellor as a hon- Harivanshrai Bachchan, scientists Homi entrusted to one who is not a professional orary fellow of St. John’s College. ! Jehangir Bhabha, Subramaniam politician. Manmohan Singh is a scholar and (For full text of the Prime Minister’s Chandrasekhar and Vikram Sarabhai, public servant of great distinction.” speech, visit www.pmindia.nic.in) besides Amartya Sen. India, Britain pledge to cooperate in fight against terror Continued from page 1 strengthened in recent years,” Blair said, Earlier in the day, both Manmohan Singh speaking at the business summit. “We want to and Blair said India and Britain would step up strengthen this further. This is seen by me cooperation in counter-terrorism measures. not just in the economic context but in the “Our cooperation in combating terrorism has political also.” become particularly significant,” Manmohan At the press conference, Manmohan Singh Singh said, referring to the terror attacks in strongly came out against any further Mumbai and London. Minister of State for nuclearisation. External Affairs Anand Sharma later told Reiterating India’s “deep concern” over reporters that both countries “have agreed to North Korea’s surprise nuclear tests, he said: work together to fight this menace” of terror- “I wish to state that the further erosion of the ism. He said security and intelligence agen- Prime Minister Manmohan and British Prime Minister non-proliferation regime is not in our inter- cies of India and Britain would share infor- Tony Blair at their joint press conference in London on ests. We do not support the emergence of mation about terror groups and planned October 10. another nuclear weapon state. There is no attacks, keeping in mind the Commonwealth Olympics to be held in London in 2012. parallel between India’s policy and what is Games New Delhi will host in 2010 and the “Relations between India and Britain have happening in North Korea.” !

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