Atal Bihari Vajpayee- A man of mixture in Indian politics.

Anusha Sundar
Sep 2, 2018 · 4 min read
Express archive photo/Mohan Bane

From being a mere spectator of the Quit India movement to being a staunch member of RSS, from basking the glory of being one of the founders of BJS that soon turned into India’s important political party, BJP, to Modi announcing his birthday to being celebrated as ‘Good Governance Day’, Atal Bihari Vajpayee famously referred to as ‘Bhisma Pitamah of the Indian Politics’ passes away on August 16, 2018 at the age of 93 in AIIMS, New Delhi.

Elected in 1957, as an MP for the first time, Vajpayee remained to be a member of BJP until his death before heading the party as prime minister for three terms. After starting out as a believer of Communism, Vajpayee soon turned his ideology to being a right- wing nationalist and being the Party President of BJS (now BJP), thus garnering great stature as India’s one of the senior most politicians. Not a path of only success could be told to his political tenure, especially after witnessing his failure to form a reliable and strong government in 1999 for the second time, the first being a stint lasting only for 13 days in 1996. His government, which failed after the withdrawal of support from the then AIADMK leaver, Ms. Jayalalitha became famous for facing the no confidence motion, thus arising brighter opportunities to the Sonia Gandhi led opposition party, Congress that enjoyed the central powers for the next 10 years.

Former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee waves from the maiden Delhi-Lahore bus service on his arrival at Lahore to attend a summit. (PTI File Photo)

However, it may seem that his term time at the PM office be short lived, his impeccable communication with Pakistan to seek protection and security whilst forming a peaceful alliance was seen as a way to pave a path for regulation of ties between the neighboring nations. His famous Lahore- Delhi Route 10 bus ride in 1999 to sign the Lahore Declaration with the then Pakistan Prime Minister, Nawaz Sharif took his governance to be known to protect the nation’s interest in terms of security. During and aftermath the Lahore Declaration followed by the Kargil War Vajpayee had even the opponent owning to their back-stabbing actions to the Vajpayee led nation.

“Vajpayee told me he had been stabbed in the back with the Kargil misadventure because it came soon after the Lahore Declaration. I told him I would have said the same thing if I were in his place, “Sharif said at a public rally in Muzaffarabad. “But who do I complain to about it now? People of India and Pakistan are alike… We pray to the same god. We both cherish aloo gosht,“ the Pakistani PM said.”

“I bring the goodwill and hope of my fellow Indians who seek abiding peace and harmony with Pakistan… I am conscious that this is a defining moment in South Asian history and I hope we will be able to rise to the challenge,” — Vajpayee upon his arrival at Lahore

Following his steps to strengthen the ties between the neighboring country, the infamously unsuccessful Agra summit that was organized in July 2001, mainly to safeguard the economic interests of people of Kashmir. With this time, Pervez Musharraf being the prime minister of Pakistan and then mastermind behind the Kargil war, the Agra summit failed to be signed after a 90-minute one-on-one session where the leaders discussed issues of border violence and terrorism. After the letdown to sign the summit and the subsequent admission of L.K. Advani of sabotaging the success of the summit in his book, My Country, My Life.

PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee at the test site in Pokhran with DRDO chief A P J Abdul Kalam (left), and AEC Chairman and DAE Secretary R Chidambaram. (Express Archive)

While on one hand, Vajpayee’s government was tormented by third person sabotages and brought failure to the could be fruitful ties, the Pokhran II tests conducted on May 13, 1998, 15:45 with the partnership of then President, A.P.J Abdul Kalam came as a sweet surprise, with India being announced as a full- fledged nuclear equipped country. Without letting the US’s CIA and satellites the Pokhran II nuclear tests that comprised of one fusion bomb and four fission bombs were conducted in the Rajasthan desserts, the utmost secret. Coming out as a sweet and successful medallion to India, with nations such as France extending its positive thoughts while a variety of sanctions were filed against India by nations such as Japan and the US, this secret mission was accomplished during the reign of Vajpayee.

PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee at the test site in Pokhran

With Vajpayee facing both the peaks and downfall during his political life, it has to be said that his parting from the nation and the world was one of the most peaceful and ruckus free, given that India has seen evident street politics when the leaders are in their death bed. A man who breathed until the last in the government owned hospitals, who did not expect an A- class medical services or resort to the luxurious and scrumptious share of the government’s treasury, Atal Bihari Vajpayee remains to be the nation’s one of the most remembered leaders and pioneer of clean politics.

Aspiring Journalist | Masters in Photojournalism | Passion for human stories | Selenophile | I sometimes write poetry too! https://www.behance.net/Anusha_

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