Will our politicians emulate the Iranian President’s lifestyle?

(February 12, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) A recent interview with Iranian President Ahmedinejad by Fox News TV (USA) shed much light on his lifestyle. One question asked was, ‘When you look into the mirror in the morning what do you say to yourself’?

Ahmedinejad answered: ‘I see the person in the mirror and tell him, ‘Remember you are no more than a small servant, ahead of you today is a heavy responsibility, and that is to serve the Iranian nation.’ Some other little known facts also emerged during the interview. Ahmedinejad, the Iranian President astonished many when he reached the office of president by donating all the high value Iranian carpets he owned to one of the mosques in Tehran in exchange for low cost ordinary carpets.

He observed that there was a huge, extravagant lounge for receiving and welcoming VIPs and he ordered it to be closed and asked the protocol office to arrange for an ordinary room with wooden chairs. On many instances he joins the cleaning staff of the municipality cleaning the streets in the area where his home and office are located.

Whenever he appoints any minister, he gets a signed document from him (the minister) containing many conditions one of which is that he shall remain poor and that his personal and his relatives’ accounts will be watched till the day he leaves office. Therefore it is not lawful for him or his relatives to take any advantage of ministerial office.

Ahmedinejad’s wealth included a 1977 model Peugeot 504 car, and an old, small house inherited from his father 40-years ago in one of the poorest zones in Tehran. His accounts showed zero balance and the only money that came to his account was his salary of US$ 250 from the university where he was a lecturer. Apparently the President still lives in that same house. This is all what he owns; the President of one of the world’s most important countries; strategically, economically, politically and with regard to its oil and defence. He does not take his personal salary with the argument that all the wealth belongs to the nation and he is the custodian of it.

One of the things that impressed the staff at his office was the bag the President brings with him every day; it contains his breakfast, some sandwiches or bread with olive oil and cheese prepared by his wife. He enjoys it. He converted his personal carrier ‘the President’s Aircraft’ to a cargo aircraft in order to save state expenses and said he will be flying the normal airline in economy class.

He also organises meetings every now and then with all his ministers to keep himself updated on their progress and failures. He closed down the office of his manager so that any minister could enter his office without prior appointment or permission. He also stopped all special welcoming ceremonies, photo sessions and other gimmicks that would help him to get political mileage, when visiting any place in the country. He also chooses the simplest of rooms whenever he goes to a hotel. He even prefers to sleep on the floor with a pillow and a blanket.

There are lots of things that our leaders can learn from his life. He is still living. He is a perfect example to the leaders, especially those ruling our country, a comparatively much poorer country. Our leaders rarely walk on the roads to experience the life of an ordinary citizen.

A photograph of the Iranian President sleeping in the guest room of his house, after getting away from his special guards who follow him wherever he goes was published in the Wifaq newspaper. The photograph was taken by his younger brother according to the newspaper. The following day, the photo was published in most newspapers and magazines around the world.

Try comparing this with the emoluments, privileges, and ego projecting of our ministers and even religious dignitaries! Above all, the scandalous extravagance and waste in the midst of rampaging poverty.