Long, long ago, there was a country called India and for some time it was fortunate to have a wise ruler named Dr Manmohan Singh. For 10 years he ran the affairs of the country with prudence, humility and grace. And, the world marvelled how could a country of one billion people be governed by such a soft-spoken man, a Prime Minister who defied all the traits associated with a strong leadership model. How could an educated, learned and erudite man like him cope with the demands of a cantankerous democracy, yet would not allow his soul to be darkened by the dark players all around him? When he became Prime Minister a second time in 2009, the western world saw his elevation as the triumph of meritocracy. Very true.