A disciplinarian to the core, a man of steely resolve

Dr Singh's kin say he is a disciplinarian to the core and it is his regulated lifestyle that keeps him fit and healthy at 77.

"He is a very light eater. Though he was very fond of red meat in his younger days -- in fact, he would often ask me to cook meat at home -- he is now a strict vegetarian," says Gobind Kaur, Dr Singh's sister.

"No matter what, he would never miss his morning walk or his session at the treadmill. It's really sad that even then he had to undergo bypass surgery. By God's grace, he overcame that crisis and is now fit to rule the country."

"Though he is a workaholic, Mamaji would never bring professional worries home. Even during the July 22 trust vote, he was stressed, but he never let that stress affect his family," reveals Kuki Sahini.

"Though his detractors have often termed him 'a weak prime minister', he is a man of steely resolve. If he makes up his mind about any project and knows for sure that it would be beneficial to the country, he would have that project see the light of the day," she says.

"Be it the nuclear deal or the economic reforms, did you ever see him indulge in any weakness?" she asked.

Gursharan Kaur is an anchor to the family

"Mamaji is too busy these days and we hardly get to spend time with him. However, aunty is a darling and she often acts as the bridge between us," says the prime minister's nephew.

"She always attends every family event, be it a marriage or a shradh. It is she who makes up for the loss by being with us whenever we need her."