Calling Haksar a ``great son of India'' and a multi-faceted personality, she said when Rajiv Gandhi approached him with the offer, Haksar said, ``isme kya rakha hai (what is left in this award). I have done whatever I could do for my country.''

Addressing a function organised by the Institute for Socialist Education to pay homage to Haksar, Dikshit, a one-time Cabinet colleague of Rajiv Gandhi, said in spite of an eyesight problem in Haksar's last days, ``there was a twinkle in his eyes in concern for the country and its common people''.

Dwelling on her intimacy with Haksar, the chief minister said the late diplomat was ``a man full of humour but very serious of what he said''.

A galaxy of dignitaries, including Bangladesh High Commissioner C M Shafi Sami, Election Commissioner GVG Krishnamurthy, CPI leader A B Bardhan and former diplomat T N Kaul paid their homage to the intellectual giant, saying he truly epitomised the best values of a patriot and an upright and skilled administrator. Haksar died in the Capital on November 27.