Manmohan Singh had to survive on chocolates due to financial struggles during Cambridge days

Manmohan Singh, who was extremely brilliant since his student days, studied at the University of Cambridge, one of the world's leading educational institutions. After completing his education at Punjab University in 1954, he left for Cambridge. While studying on a scholarship at the University of Cambridge, Manmohan Singh faced severe financial difficulties. There were times when he could not eat or had to survive by eating Cadbury's six-penny chocolate. Daman Singh, daughter of former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, has shared this information in her book. Singh had obtained a first-class honours degree in economics from Cambridge University in 1957.

Daman Singh has told the story of his parents in the book "Strictly Personal: Manmohan and Gursharan", published by Harper Collins in 2014. Daman also told in his book that his father often talked about the difficult life he had to live in the village during his early days. Singh was born in Gah, the western region of Punjab province, which is now in Pakistan.

Writing about his father's days at Cambridge, Daman said money was the only real problem that troubled Manmohan Singh as his tuition and living expenses were about 600 pounds per year, while the Punjab University scholarship gave him about 160 pounds.

She wrote, "For the rest of the money, Singh had to depend on his father. Manmohan lived a very frugal life. Subsidized food in the canteen was relatively cheap at two shillings six pence. He never ate out."

Despite this, if money from home fell short or did not come on time, he would get into trouble. The book says, "When this happened, Singh would often skip meals or survive by eating Cadbury's six pence chocolate. He never borrowed money in his entire life." Daman also mentions how his father used to sing songs at family functions and picnics.

"Whenever we went for picnics, people used to sing songs. Singh knew a few songs. He used to recite 'Lagta Nahi Hai Jee Mera' and Amrita Pritam's poem 'Aankhaan Waris Shah Nu, Kite Qabran Vicho Bol'," She wrote.