Saturday, August 20 2005 14:53 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Reminiscing his own school days in a highly energy-deficient era, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today (August 20, 2005) said that he had studied under kerosene lantern, which was harmful for eyes.

"I was born in a village where there was no trace of electricity. When I was in the primary school, there was only a kerosene lantern available when I had to study in the night.

This used to affect the eyes of many children. I also faced such condition", said he, while addressing children on the Rajiv Gandhi Akshay Urja Diwas to observe the 61st birth anniversary of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. Singh said his grandmother used to get wood from a far away jungle for meeting the energy requirement.