Harold Laski, a renowned British political scientist, had once said that a "leader is the one who leads the masses and, more importantly, refuses to be led by the masses". Arun Jaitley was one such leader. Suave, articulate, superb in content and skilled in presentation, Jaitley was truly a 21st-century politician. His was a different class, undoubtedly. And yet, he was able to understand the pulse of the masses, unmistakably.

Most people have seen Jaitley comfortably settled in the company of Delhi elites. But, many are unaware that he was equally at ease in the company of grassroots-level party workers and young ABVP activists. He was deeply conscious of the importance of idealism and used to recognise and respect those who were living embodiment of adherence to basic human values. He was always grateful to first-generation ABVP stalwarts such as Late Prof YV Kelkar, Prof Bal Apte and Prof Rajkumar Bhatia. "If we, ex-ABVPians, are making any difference today, Vinay, it is thanks to these towering personalities who guided us all along," he once said. There are many in politics who are ill at ease with subjects such as idealism and values, but Jaitleyji was an exception. Again, in keeping with the rich traditions of ABVP, he must have mentored a few dozen party workers, extending financial help to some of them. Although outwardly very strict and even harsh at times, he was known for being very friendly with his personal staff, taking interest in their progress and helping them in every possible way.