Sitaram Yechury, a genuine gentleman politician that he was. It is very difficult to find many such leaders in our Indian political scenario these days.

Yechury was a true Marxist. But, unlike many other Marxists, he stood by what he believed in as a socialist ideology and lived unalloyed Marxist socialism. Violence and vengeance were not his ilk. He kept them away for the sake of sanity in public life. Unlike many politicians today, who spew bile and venom against other parties and people with opposing ideologies!

Yechury was articulate and would not express his views or differences in garbled language.

It is unfortunate that Yechury, the gentleman politician, had to give way to eternity's call so fast. It is more unfortunate that a national figure like him could not have been saved from the teeth of death that occurred due to respiratory problems and pneumonia.

The noble gesture of his family to donate his body for medical purposes is indeed praiseworthy. Perhaps Yechury had expressed such a wish when alive. As a true socialist, he would be happy even after his death that his body would not be consigned to disintegration but offered for the good of humanity.

Yechury remains in our minds as a towering figure who has a few lessons to teach us. On his journey across the river, he has left his boat not empty, but full of messages.

That politics is not self-service but a service to the people and the nation.

That clean politics matters.

That the nation needs gentlemen politicians who can rise above party barriers, castes and classes.

That there is nothing wrong in articulating with honesty, one's ideology and beliefs without encroaching on others' freedoms and rights.

That politics is not for amassing wealth or for strutting around in flashy attires like cartoon characters. He was simply dressed and his simple life style was exemplary as that of a genuine socialist.

That there is always room for cooperation and collaboration when it comes to planning and executing people-oriented programs.

That there is always space for dissent and critical observations with other parties or even within his own party, and one can agree to disagree without stepping on another's toes.

That politics is all about principles and ideologies, and is not a tool for self-aggrandisement.

Our nation stands in need of such genuine and gentlemen politicians. Unfortunately, our political space has been encroached by many an unprincipled figure. We have many who are saturated with communal venom. They spew visceral viscous vomit to pollute our atmosphere.

We have politicians for whom wealth and ladder-climbing are priorities. There are many illiterate and uncouth politicians who try to hoodwink us, like street magicians, with their mumbo jumbo.

Bulldozer politicians, anti-secular leaders, fence jumpers, unholy alliance makers, washing machine operators, crawlers and crooks - such an assortment has been hijacking our national politics.

Today, Yechury stands before this assortment as a question mark, worming their conscience, if they have any.