It’s once only that a great leader is born and stands out in our memories. One such fearless leader that India ever saw was former Prime Minister Atal Vihari Vajpayee.
Widely considered as the BJP patriarch died on August 16, at the AIIMS. The 93 year old was admitted to AIIMS in June after his health worsened. It was largely reported that in 2009 former Prime Minister had a stroke that severely affected his ability to speak and confined him to his home.
Turning Critics into Allies
A great leader is one who takes rivals as a competition not enemies. Similarly Bharat Ratna awarded Atal Vihari Vajpayee was remarkable when it came to maintaining cordial relations with the BJP’s rivals. In his life he never considered any party as untouchable and wished others to do the same.
The kind of cordial relations in his opinion that the ruling and opposition parties in a democracy should have is perhaps best instanced in his reply on May 28, 1996 to the debate on Confidence Motion moved by his government.
“There should not be polarization in the country on the basis of communal or caste lines. The politics should not be divided into two groups where there is no communication with each other. Because, he is always busy scheming and dislodging the government of the day. And I want that this tradition and nature should remain forever. Has not this become difficult in today’s conditions? This bitterness should not increase.” –Atal Vihari Vajpayee
During the 400th anniversary celebrations of the Guru Granth Sahib’s installation in Amritsar on September 1, 2004, the then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh with former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
Atal Bihari Vajpayee met Mamata Banerjee’s mother at her Kalighat home
Former prime minister A.B. Vajpayee with the former Tamil Nadu chief minister, the late Jayalalithaa
Atal Bihari Vajpayee visited Mamata Banerjee, the then Railway minister in his cabinet
“Vote an Able and stable Prime Minister”
The fear of number 13 is known as tridecaphobia but this one of the many things Atal V ihari Vajpayee has braved in. He held the office for 13 days when he was elected as the prime minister for the first time. Second time it was for 13 months. And when he became prime minister for the third time he had already attracted the following of non congress parties that were part of NDA, then there was no stopping him from completing the tenure of the Lok Sabha. Atal Vihari Vajpayee became the first non congress prime minister to complete the tenure in office, from 1999-2004.
Hits for NDA government
The Golden Quadrilateral highways Project
In government files it is National Highways Development Project.
For country side Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana.
The late leader expressed its support to making India a nuclear-armed nation, Vajpayee’s words took concrete shape and shook the world in 1998 when India conducted nuclear tests and emerged as a nuclear power with Operation SHAKTI in Pokhran.
Former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee has been honored with the country’s top civilian award Bharat Ratna in 2015.
Former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee with Dr APJ Abdul Kalam at Pokhran
World pays tribute
“We have lost our inspiration. We have lost an ‘Atal Ratna’. The personality of Atal ji and the sadness due to his demise can’t be described in words. He was a wonderful orator, a prolific writer and he dutifully served our country. I have lost a father figure today. Atal Ji taught me valuable aspects about Sangathan and Shaasan. Through his leadership and struggles, Atal Ji strengthened the Jana Sangh and the BJP. He took these parties to every part of India.” -Narendra Modi
Despite of India being a fastest growing economy leaders with such extraordinary qualities are much needed, to show the present youth the path to reach towards the goal of development. An era cannot be summarized in a column. A legacy cannot be limited to words. Hence Atal Bihari Vajpayee is alive in our hearts and cannot be forgotten ever, coming generation will regret to have seen such outstanding personality alive because its not always that picture will speak a thousand words.
Maut se than gyi!
Jujhne ka mera irada na tha, mod par milenge iska vaada na tha,
Raasta rok kar khadi ho gyi, yun lga zindagi se badi ho gyi.
Maut ki umar kya hai? Do pal bhi nhi, Zindagi silsila, aaj kal ki nhi.
Mai ji bhar jiya, Mai man se maru, lautkar aunga, kooch se kyu daru?
Tu dabe paun, chori chipe se na aa, Saamne se waar kar phir mujhe aazma,
Maut se bekhabar, Zindagi ka safar, sham har surmai, raat bansi ka swar.
Baat aise nhi ki koi gam hi nhi, dard apne-paraye kuch kam bhi nhi.
Pyaar itna paraiyon se mujhko mila, Na apon se se baki hai koi gila.
Har chunauti se do haath maine kiye, Aandhiyon mai jalye hain bujhte diye.
Aaj jhakjhorta tez toofan hai, Naav bhanwaron ki bahoon mai mehmaan hai.
Paar pane ka kaayam magar hausla, dekh tewar toofan ka, tauriyaan tan gayi.
Maut se than gyi!
Opposition as rivals
Not enemies