A few firsts would be crop up when Manmohan Singh takes oath as the Prime Minister. The one that fascinated me was a phrase that emanated from India Inc. "With that India will have its first professional Prime Minister."

That sentence summed up the nations expectation. As Manmohan gingerly steps into South block, he will know that the coming months could make or break the way India fondly remembers him. While in early 1990's, as the Finance Minister sitting in the North block he ushered in reforms, steered the country away from impending bankruptcy and set the economy on a steady jog, this time around, his job promises to be doubly tiring.

Not only has he to contend with the Vajpayee legacy, but with the perils of an ambivalent coalition, demands of the insipid left, wishy-washy thaw with neighbours, compulsions to cut populist measures and shove in further reforms... the list is endless.

Here's is wishing Mr clean and the thoroughbred professional all the best.