Leaders have to display many qualities and many of them at the same time but to resist temptation of good living and that too, when you can afford, is a difficult self control, not very common today.

Look at the kind of marriages that have taken place in the families of political and corporate leaders in the recent past, the way they live and look at these examples of simplicity and modesty. It is because of these kind of people that we are still surviving and it is this kind of people that we need most, if we have to survive with dignity as a nation. A few examples of modesty are given below:

1. Dr APJ Abdul Kalam: "I still lived more or less as I had lived then - in a room ten feet wide and twelve feet long, furnished mainly with books, papers and a few pieces of hired furniture. The only difference was at that time, my room was in Trivandrum and now in Hyderabad. The mess bearer brought me my breakfast of idlis and buttermilk and smiled in silent congratulation for the award."
   His thoughts when he got Padma Vibhushan award
   "This story will end with me, for I have no inheritance in the worldly sense. I have acquired nothing, built nothing, possess nothing - no family, sons, daughters."
   Extract from his autobiography 'Wings of Fire'

2. N.R. Narayana Murthy: His personal networth today is over Rs.4000 crores. His company 'Infosys Technologies' is the first Indian companies to be listed on NASDAQ (USA).

   But he still lives in the same house which he constructed 20 years ago. He keeps no servant at home, cleans his toilet himself and takes simple lunch in office canteen.

3. Irvin M Jacobs: Started career as a professor, he is now CEO of 'Qualcomm' USA, which he founded in 1985. With 3.7% stake in Qualcomm, now worth over $2.7 billion, is a celebrity in America.

   Even so, Jacobs and his wife, Joan, still live in the same modest ranch house they bought in 1966, when Jacobs was a professor.

4. Ajim Premji: He is the founder chairman of WIPRO whose market capitalisation is competing to be number one. Once, when his driver did not reach airport, he took an auto, reached office and made no enquiry about it.

   Recently he was seen in 'Bombay House' Mumbai the HQ of Tata's - in line to collect pass to see Mr R.M. Lala.

5. Deepak Parekh: He is the chairman of HDFC. The man who gave house to millions still lives in same 3 roomed flat, 1500 sq. ft. (Mumbai) given to him by his father about 20 years ago.

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