The demise of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee shook the country. Citizens were predicting the bad news from the night of the 72nd Independence Day itself. The statesman who is no more, will always be remembered in the socio-political history of India.
1) The “Gentleman” Of Politics
Vajpayee was a gentleman in the true sense and was also popular amongst all the leaders of his time, across political boundaries. You will have never heard his use derogatory language against any politician. He always stuck by his belief that political rivalry does not mean cursing and shaming.
2) A Ten-time Parliamentarian
Atal Bihari Vajpayee was a ten-time parliamentarian from 1957 to 2009. He was one of the founding members of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
3) A Fighter For Democracy
His first government lasted only 13 days in 1996. Vajpayee gave his speech in the Parliament and left to submit his resignation. He criticized the opposition but smiled while leaving. He always valued democracy more than anything else.
4) A Nationalist At Heart
The nationalism of Vajpayee was of faith and belief but not of imposition. At heart, he was a true Hindu who welcomed every religion, caste, and class.
5) A Person Who Changed The Infrastructure Of India
Vajpayee brought an infrastructural revolution to India and focused on making good infrastructure available to public. He extensively worked for development of national highways in India.
6) Messenger Of Peace
The way in which Atal Bihari Vajpayee worked to establish international peace is very rare. He rode to Lahore by bus and tried to solve the Kashmir issue from day one. During his tenure, India-Pakistan relationship was also strengthened.
7) A Man Of Science
In 1998, during his rule, India’s second nuclear test was conducted in Pokhran. He always gave priority to science; his strategy to develop India into a nuclear power will always be remembered.
8) A Person Of Consensus
When he was the Prime Minister, Atal Bihari Vajpayee always believed in consensus. He used to talk to the opposition to arrive at a consensus and he used this diplomatic strategy to convert POTO into POTA (Prevention of Terrorism Ordinance into an Act).
9) A Strict Voice
He was a strict person in politics. He was not in agreement with the Sangh Parivar and had never accepted anything that was against his ideology.
10) A Poet At Heart
Vajpayee was a great poet and writer. His lines in Hindi will always be read and remembered. “My poet’s heart gives me the strength to face political problems, particularly those which have a bearing on my conscience,” he said.