On Board Air India One: It was a different
birthday for Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who turned 79
on Monday.
Singh, for whom it was the fourth birthday On Board Air
India One, cut a cake before the group of journalists
accompanying him on his return from his trip to United
Nations.
For a change, the scribes dropped their pens and there
were no questions asked. Instead they warmly greeted him
'many happy returns of the day' and shook hands with him one
by one.
First, a young woman journalist from Assam, the baby of
the team of over 30 media persons, handed over a greeting card
which had the signatures of all the scribes.
There was further surprise in store when a normally shy
Prime Minister, who does not make a public show of
celebrations, asked "where is the cake".
A chocolate cake arrived on the scene immediately, only
to be cut by the birthday boy as journalists clapped and sang
"happy birthday to you". This was the first time the cake was
being cut in the media section.
Singh had a small piece for himself and journalists got
their share.
Earlier, the Prime Minster had cut a cake in his cabin
watched by his wife Gursharan Kaur, daughter Upinder, grandson
and senior officials including National Security Advsier
Shivshankar Menon and Principal Secretary T K A Nair.
PTI
First Published: Tuesday, September 27, 2011, 09:56