I had the privilege of meeting our prime minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, in June 2001 when he visited New York along with Congress President Sonia Gandhi and other senior leaders.
A reception was held for them at the Marriott.
When I introduced a delegation of community leaders to Dr Singh, he met everyone with a smile. He was very polite and humble.
I told him it was because of his economic reforms that India and Indians were doing well the world over.
The next day, I again met him at Hotel Carolyn where he was put up with the rest of the Congress delegation.
I had gone there to meet Sonia Gandhi.
He spoke well with all of us.
I think our prime minister is highly educated, humble and has a great track record. I wish him the very best and hope he will strengthen our country's economy further.
God bless him with good health and a long life.
Rajender Dichpally
Youth President (2001-2003), Indian National Overseas Congress
Senior Programmer/Analyst
Nomura Securities
Wall Street
I met Dr Manmohan Singh in Gwalior in 1997, at the annual national conference of the Indian Economic Association.
I was so enthusiastic about meeting him that I made his sketch.
When I showed it to him, he smiled. He cheerfully signed on the sketch and wrote an inspiring note.
I expressed my appreciation for his contribution towards our country's progress.
Nothing bad can be said about him.
In the public life, he remains a person par excellence.
We are lucky to have him at the helm.
Manish Sharma
Doctoral Fellow
University of Tokyo
When I was younger, I was an avid political watcher and a keen autograph collector. I made it a point to try and go for functions attended by celebrities.
One such programme was the annual K S Hegde Memorial Lecture, which was to be delivered by former finance minister Dr Manmohan Singh.
I was excited at the prospect of seeing the man who had single-handedly given a much-needed lift to the reputation of the scam-tainted Narasimha Rao government.
Security was minimal and accessing the simple, turban clad Dr Singh was not difficult.
I did not know which exit Dr Singh would take at the end of the lecture to avoid being mobbed so, after he was done, I went and waited by the car that was to take him to the airport.
As soon as he reached the car, I asked him for his autograph.
Dr Singh asked me my name. Before I could reply, he said if he gave me an autograph he would be delayed and miss his flight. I replied that the flight would wait for him. He smiled and signed an autograph for me before getting into his car.
It was an unforgettable encounter with a gentle intellectual.
Dr Singh may not have a constituency or mass support base. Yet, as member of the Rajya Sabha from Assam, he has done a lot for this northeastern state. His image as Mr Clean will increase the country's growth momentum in the days to come.
I'll always cherish the day I met him.
Amith Prabhu
Junior Associate
Genesis Public Relations Pvt Ltd
Gurgaon
Into the 21st century
I had meet Dr Manmohan Singh when he was finance minister.
He had come to attend the Annual Grape Growers Meet at Pune; my father was the president.
My first impression of him remains as fresh as ever -- the way the way he greeted everybody in particular.
I am proud to have a prime minister like Dr Singh.
I am confident that, just as he once transformed the economy, he will now transform the country.
Anand S Kanchan
Marketing research trainee
Mahagrapes
Mumbai
HAVE YOU READ?
A class act
'Dr Singh is too good for today's corrupt world'
A thorough gentleman
Saving the taxpayer's money
Dr Singh's autograph
'I have to give something back to society'
Dr Singh: Upright and conservative
Have you met Dr Manmohan Singh? Share your experience with us until Wednesday, June 2. We regret we will not accept contributions to this section after June 2.
Photograph: Raveendran/AFP/Getty Images
Image: Uday Kuckian