Berlin: German children of Mahatma Gandhi School sprang a pleasant surprise on visiting Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee by singing a song written by him and Gandhiji's favourite bhajan "Raghupati Raghav Raja Ram".

So moved was the Prime Minister that he immediately reciprocated with an equally unforgettable gift - a two-week all-paid trip to India for the best student of the school every year.

"The best student will be invited to visit India every year for two weeks accompanied by an adult. The ICCR will organise the visit," he said at an Indian community reception hosted in his honour by Indian Ambassador to Germany T C A Rangachari on May 27 shortly after his arrival.

The announcement was greeted by a thunderous applause.

The evening programme began with the recitation of his song "jeevan beet chala" followed by the bhajan. Taking the floor, Vajpayee said it was a Berlin evening made immemorable by German students with their soul-stirring renditions. It also reminded him that he had written such a nice song.

PTI