May 24, 2008	Saturday	Jamadi-ul-Awwal 18, 1429

ATTARI, May 23: A boyhood friend of Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, hailing from the Chakwal district, crossed over into Indian territory on Friday in the hope of meeting his former classmate after a gap of nearly six decades.

Raja Mohammad Ali, in his 70s, is carrying with him some village soil and a pair of shoes. “I am sure he will spare some time for me,” Ali told reporters.

He and Manmohan Singh had played and studied together in their Gah village, he said.

Fondly recalling the days they spent together, Ali said Mr Singh had been nicknamed “Mohna” by his friends. “He was a brilliant student. He used to come (to school) with pockets full of dry fruits which he used to distribute among friends.

“Our village is proud that Mohna has done well in his career.” Ali recalled that there were celebrations in his village when Mr Singh became the prime minister. The school in which they studied had been renamed as the Manmohan Singh High School.

He said Mr Singh had written a letter to him when he had come to know of the death of Bakht Bano, their only girl schoolmate. —PPI