K.V. Seetharamaiah
December 25 marks the birth day of former Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee. In his speech on the occasion of Vajpayee’s birth day on December 25 in the BMS College of Engineering auditorium, Bengaluru, arranged by Think Tankers forum, author, thinker and national executive member of RSS, Dr. Ram Madhav highlighted the ideologies and achievements of Vajpayee. Ram Madhav classifies leadership into three categories. (1) Some are born as the siblings of the leaders; (2) dynastic leadership; (3) born leaders, not born to leaders. Vajpayee, born in an ordinary family, belongs to the third category. He got into politics out of passion. It does not mean that Vajpayee had no opponents. Still the opponents also like and liked Vajpayee. That is the quality of leadership Vajpayee demonstrated. He was likened to Bhishma Pitamaha. Bhishma Pitamaha epitomised ‘Raj Dharma’. Ram Madhav says there is belief that “we get the government that we deserve”. He says it is western idea. Vajpayee was the shaper of the society, not product of the society. Vajpayee believed that a ruler has to work 24 x 7. (Modi has been emulating the example of Vajpayee). Vajpayee is known for his wits and sense of humour. His oratory skill attracted the people from opposition parties also. Ram Madhav’s speech effectively penetrated the mind of all those who like Vajpayee for his oratory skill, the poet in him, a journalist and above all, his devotion and dedication for the national cause. Ruling party and opposition party are the two eyes of government. Vajpayee knew the art of balancing the ruling party and opposition party. The 33-year old Vajpayee entered the Parliament in 1957. Madhav quoted Jawaharlal Nehru as saying to the foreign dignitaries “this young man will one day take my seat” . Vajpayee’s contribution for the success of democracy is not mean. Vajpayee was an opposition party leader. He set an example as to how an opposition party leader should conduct himself. Vajpayee had strong words against Nehru. Nehru was very good at Yogasan and in it “shir shasan” . With head upside down, the policies and programmes of Nehru are also upside down (vulta), Vajpayee had quipped. Ram Madhav recalled how Vajpayee, being in the opposition bench, stood with the government in times of Bangladesh war. Opposition led by Vajpayee firmly stood behind Indira Gandhi. P.V. Narasimha Rao chose Vajpayee for international leadership. In 1993 Vajpayee led India’s delegation to the UN. Can we send a mimicry artist or comedian today for International leadership? asks Ram Madhav. Vajpayee was a statesman. He was an enigma. He could not be easily understood. Opposition party stalwarts often described Vajpayee as a right man in wrong party. Vajpayee laughed at it. He drew a comparison between tree and its fruit. If a tree is bad, how can its fruits be sweet? “If I am right, I cannot be in a wrong party. If my party is wrong I can’t be right”. Vajpayee looked gentle but was hard-core. He led a government of 23 parties successfully. It would not be wrong if it is said that coalition era began with Vajpayee. At times, his silence was his strength. When Jayalalithaa pulled down the government, Vajpayee had no complaints. He believed that regional parties have regional outlook. He believed that consensus can emerge even with parties having different ideologies. Vajpayee was a leader who demonstrated courage in times of need. Vajpayee through his deed demonstrated how an opposition parties should behave when the national interest demands. Ram Madhav quoted Vajpayee as saying “One day I will become an ex-Prime Minister. But I will never become an ex-poet. Vajpayee was not a split personality. His life was an open book. Had Vajpayee been alive today he would have been 99.