New York: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh turned 73 yesterday (Sep 26, 2004) and celebrated the occasion mid-air on way to Geneva.

Singh, who is on record as having forgotten his birthday and does not celebrate it, cut a cake in the Air India Number One "Tanjore" with his wife Gursharan Kaur by his side and greeted by senior officials and journalists accompanying him on his nine-day tour of Britain and the US.

President A P J Abdul Kalam sent a bouquet and a message of greetings to Singh's official residence in Delhi in the morning. Singh responded with a telephone call before he left New York and thanked Kalam for the gesture. Kalam used the opportunity to personally wish him.

Andhra Pradesh Governor Surjit Singh Barnala also wished the Prime Minister on his birthday.

There are different versions of his birthday. Singh, who was born in Gah village in undivided India now in Pakistan, himself had said that the date of birth given by his mother to the school at the time of his admission became his birthday.