Describing himself "basically" as a teacher, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Thursday said he "strayed" into politics by "sheer accident".
Going down memory lane, the 73-year-old Oxford-educated architect of India's economic reforms told students of Delhi's Lady Shri Ram College that he has spent the best years of his life in academic institutions.
"I have never chosen to be a politician. I had wanted to be a teacher. The best years of my life were spent in academic insitutions and I do believe that teachers can contribute much more to nation-building than politicians," he remarked while answering a student's question on the choice of his profession.
In his address at the golden jubilee celebrations of the college, Dr Singh said his entry into politics was a mere accident.
"I am basically a teacher. I have strayed into politics by sheer accident. And it always pleases me to come back to academic insitutions, which have done so well and to see so many young bright faces that thrill my heart because I see in them the future of our country," he said.
He recalled his nomination to the governing body of LSR college while he was in Delhi University.
"I recall having participated in the selection of some teachers in economics," he said.
Dr Singh, who wished the college success, also spoke at length about women rights and empowerment.
Dr Singh, who expressed concerns over rising incidence of crime against women, underlined the need to increase women participation in workforce.
