16th August 2018 is that unfortunate day which brought the news of Atal ji’s death. The former PM of India, Atal Bihrai Vajpayee, is no more. Although, he was not very active in politics, still his presence was sufficient enough for Indian. His death is like a loss of an experienced great grandfather for every Indian. He was not just a great politician but a great poet, writer, and orator. Atal ji served the nation thrice as the Prime Minister. But it’s just a small introduction of his great personality.
Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Indian Politics
We cannot imagine the Indian politics without the presence of Atal ji. He was a member of RSS but not a hardcore supporter of so-called ‘Hindutva’. His critics within his party used to call him a Congressi in RSS and BJP. His personality was so bright that after spending many years in Indian Politics no one can blame him for a single thing.
He spent 60 years of his life in politics. 60 years is a huge time and in politics. In politics or even in personal life everyone has few enemies and few friends but Atal ji was an exception for this. Everyone in Indian politics respects him and considers him as a true Indian leader.
Atal ji was the only Prime Minister who didn’t belong to Congress and completed his term of 5 years as PM of India. Not many political leaders are liked by the minds of different ideology but he is the one. He was such a great orator that still many of his speeches are viral on social media sites.
The son of a school teacher remained a member of the parliament for 47 years. The first time he entered in Lok Sabha in 1957. As an External Minister in 1977, he was the first minister who delivered his speech in Hindi at the UN General Assembly.
A Politician With a Heart of a Poet
Atal ji had a sharp mind for politics and a heart, full of emotions for the literature world. As a poet, his has created many poems. Many of BJP leaders keep quoting his poems while talking.
Meri Sansadiya Yatra ,Meri Ikyavana Kavitaem, Sreshtha Kabita (1997), Kya Khoya Kya Paya: Atal Bihari Vajapeyi, Vyaktitva Aur Kavitaem (Hindi Edition, 1999), Twenty-One Poems (2003) is few poetry collections created by Atal ji.
Atal ji was a student of politics and he was a great politician too with his knowledge and experience in Indian politics he has written many books on this subject as well. India’s Foreign Policy: New Dimensions, Kucha Lekha, Kucha Bhashana (1996) are just a few examples of his work.
While describing the politics once he said, “Rajneeti hi registaan mein kavita ki dhaara sookh gayi hain. (in the desert land of politics, my poetry has dried up)”.
A Personality With Different Shades
Atal ji was a foodie, a hockey fan and a great believer of Democracy. We still remember his speech in Parliament during trust voting, when he was Prime Minister for 13 days. His speech had everything but not the fear of loss of the chair of PM. We still remember few of the words he said. Like to have a good relationship with Pakistan he said that we can’t change our neighbors. From that day to till now teachers quote his lines to their students while teaching them moral values.
In 1944 when he was just 20 years old, he took part in a debating competition. When Atal ji reached there, the competition was about to over and judges were ready to announce the result. But when Atal ji started speaking all heads turned to him. This is just one example of his oratory skills. No wonder, he won the competition.
We wish that the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee ji’s soul rest in peace. His body has gone but his thoughts, his poetry will be staying with us forever.
