How will I be remembered?

Recently, former Prime Minister of India, I.K. Gujral, a leader, a visionary, and an iconic figure of many talents, passed away at the age of 92.
Mr. Gujral's associate of long-standing, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, reminisced of him as "a man of peace, an idealist who lived by his principles and an intellectual with the human touch."
Singh added: "In his passing away, the country has lost an intellectual, a scholar-statesman and a gentleman politician whose liberal and humanist vision was rooted in the teachings of the leaders of our freedom movement." Singh also emphasised that Gujral had set an "example of grace under pressure, of composure in difficult circumstances and of steadfastness to principles."
To earn such sincere eulogy from a distinguished colleague and, indeed, the entire nation is reflection of a path well-traversed, touching many lives with humility, grace, and devotion to a principled life.
Here is a man who came to this world with nothing and left with a eulogy befitting a man of character, intellect, and vision. What more riches could adorn any human being upon passage? And that is what made me begin to ponder: How long is the list of leaders of this nation who, upon passing, would garner such "sincere" praise and recognition for a life astutely led? Who among them, at their moment of reckoning, would merit words of high honour, simple decency, deep wisdom, and a good moral character that others would want to emulate?
After all is said and done, each and every person on this earthly abode will have to confront his/her passing and when all things amassed will have to be left behind. The only thing accompanying each will be her/his deeds and their impact on several concentric circles of humanity whom (s)he touched.
"How will I be remembered?" Does this question even cross their minds as they assume positions of leadership, positions of responsibility, and positions of accountability? Somewhere, many of our heralded leaders seem to forget that each act of theirs is recorded in the annals of history, to resurface at another point in time to be parsed and examined dispassionately for how the gift of leadership was exercised.
"How will I be remembered?" If leaders, at all levels, took a moment to ponder this single question, perhaps it would dissuade them from pursuing paths that ordinary people detest. It would nudge them to pursue peaceful co-existence, not violent and confrontational policies; it might make them consider forgiveness, not retribution; it might steer them away from corrupt practices to pursue honourable lives; and it might bring them closer to the people they lead, not push them further and further away from their hearts and minds.
Most of all, perhaps it would bring about a sea change in the fate and future of the multitude of Bangladeshis who continue to struggle and aspire for a better life. Will the nation's leaders, please, take a moment to pause and reflect?

The writer is a Professor at Pennsylvania State University.