New York: A surprise gift from Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf today (Sep 24, 2004) brought to fore the philosophical bent of mind and Urdu couplets from hard-nosed economist-Prime Minister Manmohan Singh during their first-ever interaction.

When Musharraf presented a painting of the Prime Minister's village in what is now West Punjab in Pakistan, his report card in that village school and an album containing photographs, the Prime Minister was highly touched by the gesture.

Singh was born in a village now in Pakistan while Musharraf was born in Delhi.

Surprise! Musharraf gives Manmohan his school report

Striking a philosophical note on the "mistakes" of history, Singh recited Urdu couplets.

"Kuch aise bhi manzar hain tareek ki nazron mein/ Lamhe ne khata ki, sadiyon ne saja payee," said one couplet. It was followed by another "Aa ki tarikyon se surkhiyan paide karen, is jameen ki bastiyon se aasman paida karen."

The atmosphere of bonhomie also brought out couplets from External Affairs Minister K Natwar Singh who told his Pakistani counterpart Khurshid Mehmood Kasuri that "sahar chahe ho na ho, kabhi dekha tho hai, jis taraf dekha na tha, ab udhar dekha to hai."

National Security Advisor J N Dixit was not to be left behind. He quoted Mirza Ghalib's "ashiqui sabre talab, purr tamanna batab, shama har rang mein jalti hai, shahar hone tak."