The Humble Nawab

Ever since Laxman spanked Australia for 167 runs at Sydney, 2000, he's developed a great liking for the world's premier cricket team. Since then, he's treated the best bowling attack, in the world, like cannon fodder.
It's common knowledge that he reserves his best against the sport's best.

Still then, he's quiet, unassuming and always ready to take the backseat and let someone else bask the glory. Anybody else would have gone to town crowing about it.

Since his debut, he has always been the fall guy if any changes in the batting order were to be made. His position in the batting line up was always uncertain and up for grabs. Sometimes he opened or batted at No.6 and sometimes he was dropped.

Every cricketer goes through these phases early in their careers but what stands out for Laxman, is the fact, that he never complained. No interviews in the media or outbursts. Not even a whimper.
He preferred to keep his head down, take failure in his stride and persist with what he does best. Use your bat and make them talk - Actions speak louder than words, they say.

Not even on the rarest of occasions would he be seen in a pub or share space with movie stars.

As an icon player for the Deccan Chargers he refused to up his price thereby saving monies for his team to buy some more players. How many players would do that?
Gilchrist replaces him as a captain and he is still happy to play under him. Not a word of discontent.
Compare him to the million dollar babies that the IPL has created and you'll notice (probably wouldn't) that he's quite far back in the queue.

Even today, while the whole world went ga-ga over him, he did not fail to mention the contribution made by Ishant Sharma thereby sharing credit with him.

What makes him the way he is?

The answer lies in one word - Humility

He probably believes that he is, still, a student of the game.

Like Sachin or Dravid, he still believes there's lot to learn and share.
He goes about his duties like a monk, devoid of worldly pleasures.

These are only a few reason why Sachin, Dravid and Laxman are India's finest role models.

Very few know that Sachin is referred to as 'The Great One', Dravid is referred as 'The Intense One' and Laxman is referred to as 'The Elegant One'.

As students of the great sport, they would say "Excel in your craft and success will follow" because it's never about the money, it's all about love for the game.

Laxman would have probably earned a few crores less than his illustrious teammates, he also may have very less endorsements but that will never take away the importance of a 40 or 50 odd runs that he would have stitched together with the tailenders, which ultimately proves to be the difference between winning and losing.

Meanwhile, Australia continues to get spanked and this may last for a few more years to come.

I'll sum it up by quoting a joke that been doing the rounds since this evening, "if Gandhi's last words were 'Hey Ram', Ponting's last words would be 'Hey Laxman'!!