Atal Bihari Vajpayee was a man of common people, firm (Atal) in his political convictions defying all odds. The perfect gentlemen of Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) took charge as Prime Minister for the second consecutive term at the head of a new coalition government, the National Democratic Alliance on 13 October 1999. His first tenure as the PM in 1996 was short lived. Vajpayee Dangoria became the first PM since Jawaharlal Nehru to become Prime Minister with two successive mandates. A veteran Parliamentarian whose career stretches over four decades, Vajpayee has been elected to the Lok Sabha (House of the People) nine times from UP, MP, New Delhi & Gujarat and to the Rajya Sabha (House of the States) twice, a record by itself. As our PM, Foreign Minister, Chairperson of various important Standing Committees of Parliament and Leader of the Opposition, Vajpayee remained an active participant in shaping India’s post-Independence domestic and foreign policy.
Vajpayee’s first brush with nationalist politics was in his student days, when he joined the Quit India Movement of 1942 which hastened the end of British colonial rule. A student of political science and law, it was in college that he developed a keen interest in foreign affairs – an interest he has nourished over the years and put to skillful use while representing India at various multilateral and bilateral fora. Vajpayee had embarked upon a journalist’s career, which was cut short in 1951 when he joined the Bharatiya Jana Sangh, the fore-runner of today’s BJP, the leading component of the National Democratic Alliance. A critically acclaimed poet, he took time off from affairs of state to indulge in music and in a bit of gourmet cooking.
Born in the family of a humble Brahmin school teacher on 25 December 1924 (Christmas Day), in the erstwhile princely State of Gwalior (now a part of Madhya Pradesh), Vajpayee’s rise in public life is a tribute to both his political acumen and Indian democracy. Over the decades, he emerged as a leader who commands respect for his liberal worldview and commitment to democratic ideals. An ardent champion of women’s empowerment and social equality, Vajpayee believed in a forward-looking, forward moving India, a strong and prosperous nation confident of its rightful place in the comity of nations. He stands for an India anchored in 5000 years of civilisational history, ever modernising, ever renewing, ever re-energising itself to meet the challenges of the next 1000 years. India’s second highest civilian honour, Padma Vibhushan, was conferred upon Vajpayee in recognition of his selfless dedication to his first and only love (that is Bharat), and his more than half-a-century of service to society and the nation. In 1994, he was named Best Parliamentarian. The citation read- True to his name, Atal-ji is an eminent national leader, an erudite politician, a selfless social worker, forceful orator, poet and litterateur, journalist and indeed a multi-faceted personality. He articulates the aspirations of the masses and his works echo total commitment to nationalism.
Some of the important facts related to 93-year-old Vajpayee include, he took his last breath at 5.05 pm on 16 August 2018 at AIIMS in New Delhi after a prolonged kidney infection, urinary tract infection, etc. A vivid follower of Shyama Prasad Mukherjee, Vajpayee was imprisoned for 23 days for participating in the freedom movement. A confirmed bachelor Vajpayee preferred non-vegetarian food and his favourite was prawn. He was the first Indian politician to deliver a speech in Hindi at the United Nations General Assembly. During his tenure as PM, India conducted a successful nuclear test at Pokhran named Operation Shakti. The Vajpayee era gave us two important lessons, one for India and the other for his party. India should shun dynastic rule and confrontational politics, Vajpayee advocated adding that we must embrace the path of consensus-building and cooperation. The political parties including the BJP leadership may learn from him the democratic virtue of being acceptable to all sections in our diverse society.
Let’s remember Atal Bihari Vajpayee Dangoria and his commitment to the nation with pride on his 100th birth anniversary.
Remembering Vajpayee Dangoria
