The drought-like situation in many parts of the country, coupled with the effects of the economic slowdown, has prompted the ruling party to launch an austerity drive. While the results may have been a bit on the comical—if not outright farcical—side, “simple living and high thinking” has always been held up as a worthy ideal in Indian thought. Here are the names we got when we asked some well-known personalities about who they think embodies the austere way of living today.
Suneet Varma
Designer
Martand Singh, chairman, Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (Intach), qualifies as a no-frills person for me. The whole idea behind austerity is not to make a big deal about it. Plus, I believe no one can decide to “become” austere suddenly. It is not a decision but a way of living, an awakening. Martand belongs to the royal family of Kapurthala and travels the world over, yet whenever I have met him, he is simply dressed in a kurta-pyjama. I met him in Paris once and even there he was dressed in a kurta with a shawl and chappals. I have known him for 23 years now and every time I have had a meal at his place, the meal was simple and served in peetal (copper) vessels. There is no over-the-top element in anything he does. What I admire and consider a true mark of his austerity is the kind of work he has been involved with. He works for the betterment of the girl child, better education for children, for weavers and the revival of dying textile traditions in India.
RA Mashelkar
(clockwise from above) Martand Singh (India Today), Narayana Murthy (Hemant Mishra/Mint) and Manmohan Singh (Pankaj Nangia/Bloomberg) made it to our list of India’s most austere
Scientist and former director general of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)
The criterion I would use to define austerity is when people have wealth and still choose to live an austere life. The person that jumps out at me is Narayana Murthy, the chief mentor of the IT firm, Infosys Technologies. I have known him and his wife Sudha for many years. I have travelled with him, and everything in his persona—his attire, his behaviour—is extremely austere. He never flaunts his wealth. At home and at work, he feels no sense of shame in doing all his work himself. That to me is austerity exemplified.
Anil Sadgopal
Educationist and former member, Central Advisory Board of Education