Know Manmohan Singh’s connection with Odisha

Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who passed away yesterday, had deep family ties to Odisha, a fact lesser known to the public. His daughter, Daman Singh, is married to Ashok Pattnaik, an Odia IPS officer, making Singh's connection to the state even more personal.

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Although Manmohan Singh himself was not from Odisha, he developed a strong affinity for the state's food, traditions, and customs. His visits to Odisha, both before and during his tenure as Prime Minister, reflected his admiration for the state.

Daman Singh, the second daughter of the former PM, completed her studies at St. Stephen's College in Delhi and earned a degree in rural management from IRMA, Gujarat. A known writer, she married Ashok Pattnaik in 1991. Daman, affectionately called Nonu by her in-laws in Odisha, became part of a family that further strengthened Manmohan Singh's bond with the state.

Ashok Pattnaik, Daman’s husband, is a Gujarat-cadre IPS officer from the 1983 batch. He served as the CEO of the National Intelligence Grid (NATGRID) from 2016 to 2018, following Manmohan Singh's time as Prime Minister.

Ashok had been instrumental in overseeing major reforms to the Intelligence Grid Network, aimed at improving tracking and monitoring of criminals and suspects.

Ashok Pattnaik’s distinguished career earned him the President’s Police Medal in 2007, an honor presented to him by Manmohan Singh when he was Prime Minister.

Known for his simplicity, Ashok’s family shares similar values, and when the Singh family visited Odisha in January 2012, Gursharan Kaur, Manmohan Singh's wife, visited Ashok's family in Bhubaneswar.

Ashok's mother, Ratnamala, expressed her joy at having Gursharan in their home, reinforcing the warmth and connection between the two families. Ashok’s family hails from Cuttack but now resides in Bhubaneswar.