“Kavishala pay tributes to former Prime Minister Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee on his death anniversary”. He was a brilliant student of political science and law, it was in his college that he developed a keen interest in foreign affairs and gained an interest that nourished over the years and put to skilful use while representing India at various multilateral and bilateral fora.
Shri Vajpayee had embarked upon a journalist’s career, which was cut short in 1951 when he joined the Bharatiya Jana Sangh, the forerunner of today’s Bharatiya Janata Party, the leading component of the National Democratic Alliance. A critically acclaimed poet, he still takes time off from affairs of state of indulging in music and in a bit of gourmet cooking.
Born in the family of a humble school teacher on 25 Dec1924, in the erstwhile princely state of Gwalior (now a part of the Indian State of Madhya Pradesh), Shri Vajpayee’s rise in public life is a tribute to both his political acumen and Indian democracy. Over the decades, he has emerged as a leader who commands respect for his liberal worldview and commitment to democratic ideals.
Vajpayee Ji was an ardent champion for women’s empowerment and social equality, Shri Vajpayee believes in a 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, the Padma Vibhushan, was conferred upon him in recognition of his selfless dedication to his first and only love, India, and his more than half-a-century of service to society and the nation. In 1994, he was named India’s ‘Best Parliamentarian.’ The citation read: “True to his name, Atalji is an eminent national leader, an erudite politician, a selfless social worker, forceful orator, poet and litterateur, journalist and indeed a multi-faceted personality. Atalji articulates the aspirations of the masses.. his works ever echo total commitment to nationalism.
He was also a member of the Indian Parliament for over five decades, having been elected ten times to the Lok Sabha the lower house, and twice to the Rajya Sabha, the upper house. He served as the Member of Parliament for Lucknow , retiring from active politics in 2009 due to health concerns. In March 1977, Vajpayee became the minister of external affairs in the cabinet of Prime Minister Morarji Desai. He resigned in 1979, and the Janata alliance collapsed soon after. Former members of the BJS formed the BJP in 1980, with Vajpayee its first president. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, President Ram Nath Kovind, Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu, Union home minister Amit Shah, defence minister Rajnath Singh and BJP national president JP Nadda along with others paid floral tributes to Vajpayee at the ‘Sadaiv Atal’ Samadhi in New Delhi.Citizens and leaders across India’s political spectrum on Monday paid tributes to former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee on his death anniversary. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, President Ram Nath Kovind, Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu, Union home minister Amit Shah, defense minister Rajnath Singh and BJP national president JP Nadda along with others paid floral tributes to Vajpayee at the ‘Sadaiv Atal’ Samadhi in New Delhi.
Union ministers, BJP leaders and opposition leaders paid their tributes to the veteran politician on social media. “Respected Atal ji touched the life of every Indian by realising good governance and development in the country with his firm determination and foresight and also made the whole world aware of the courage and strength of Atal India,” Amit Shah tweeted in Hindi.Defence minister Rajnath Singh said that Vajpayee laid the foundation stone for the creation of a new India, adding, his contribution in building a capable and strong India will always be remembered.
“A towering statesman, an erudite parliamentarian, a gifted poet and an orator par excellence, Swargiya Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ji was one of India’s finest Prime Ministers who ushered in a new era of development. I bow in reverence to the ‘Ajatshatru’ on his death anniversary,” Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma wrote on the microblogging site.
Being India’s Prime Minister, Foreign Minister, Chairperson of various important Standing Committees of Parliament and Leader of the Opposition, he has been an active participant in shaping India’s post-Independence domestic and foreign policy.
Shri 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.
Vajpayee, who served as the prime minister three times, was one of the founding members of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). He died on August 16, 2018, at the age of 93 after a prolonged illness.
Well, he started his early career as a parliamentarian spanned over four decades and during his tenure as the Prime Minister, India conducted its second-ever nuclear bomb test in 1998 called Pokhran-II. His legacy as PM also included the astute and wise economic policies which paved the way for the foundation of the longest period of sustained growth in the history of independent India, a government statement said.
He was awarded Bharat Ratna in 2014 and his birth anniversary, which falls on December 25, is celebrated as ‘Good Governance Day.'