Omkar Dattatray
It was exactly 100 years ago on December 25,1924 that Atal Behari Yajpayee was born .Atal Ji was a seasoned politician ,leader of masses ,tallest statesman ,a poet of repute ,best orator and above all a good human being .Atal Ji can best be described as the Prime Minister who shaped the destiny of India and he was the moderate Hindutva icon and a great nationalist and a tall leader of the 21st century India and he will remain to inspire generations of Indian’s .He was the statesman of India ,Hindutva advocate and an icon of Bhartiatya .His contribution in shaping the destiny of India will be written in golden letters in the history of the sub-continent .Vajpayee was a very popular leader and politician and even his opponents listened to his addresses with rapt attention irrespective of the political affiliations .It was often said of him by the opposition that Atal Ji was a right man but in the wrong party .As India commemorates the 100th birth anniversary of Atal Bihari Vajpayee ,we celebrate the life and legacy of one of the nation’s most beloved statesman and leader.A towering figure in Indian politics ,Vajpayee was not just a leader of the masses but also a visionary who upheld the ideals of Hindutva while fostering inclusivity ,secularism ,unity in diversity and national pride .As Bharat approached the 100th birth anniversary of A.B.Vajpayee on 25th December 2024,it is a time to revisit the extraordinary life of a leader and politician who stood as a beacon of national pride ,Hindutva ,nationalism ,cultural pride and a moderate leader who was loved equally by his supporters and opponents in political and public life. Vajpayee was not merely a statesman ,he was an ideologue ,poet ,visionary and an institution in himself who firmly believed in the ideals of a strong and self -reliant Bharat rooted in its Sanatan values. Vajpayee was the true upholder of secularism and pluralism who was an example of Raj Dharma in politics and his vision of good governance transformed the Indian public life , boosted its economy as well as societal values. It was Vajpayee as the prime minister who laid the strong foundation of infrastructure which helped and catapulted the economic ,social ,technological and cultural development of India .Through his unimpeachable leadership ,Vajpayee nurtured secularism ,democracy, humanity and above all his honesty inspired countless people .Born in Gwaliar MP on December 25,1924 into a family steeped in values and education ,Vajpayee imbibed the essence of nationalism from an early age. His father ,Krishna Bihari Vajpayee ,a school teacher and a scholar ,was instrumental in shaping Atal’s intellectual and spiritual pursuits .He was influenced by the views of Savarkar and Jansung Ideologue Lt.Dr Shyama Prasad and was an active member of RSS and he boasted of his Sangh credentials .Vajpayee was the great advocate ,votary and epitome of good governance and stood for it throughout his career as the prime minister .The good governance Day or Sushasan diwas ,is marked on December 25 every year in India to commemorate the birth anniversary of former Prime Minister A.B.Vajpayee .This day is observed to create awareness among the masses, especially among the young generation ,about the accountability of government and administration .It promotes citizen-centric as well as efficient and transparent governance to improve service delivery .This year ,India is observing the 100th birthday anniversary of Vajpayee .This day aims to promote awareness among citizens about government accountability and administration while also instilling ”good governance ”as a practice for Indian civil servants .It is observed to guarantee that the nation’s citizens are treated equitably by the government and that they get a chance to avail themselves of the benefits of diverse government services .A poet -politician ,Atal Ji was born on December 25,1924,in Gwalior ,MP ,which is why good governance Day is celebrated every year in India on December 25,and in 2024,it was observed on Wednesday .Atal Ji ,the first leader of the BJP ,served as the India’s Prime Minister three times ,briefly in 1996,for 13 months in 1998 and 1999,and for full -time from 1999 to 2004.Vajpayee revolutionized and transformed infrastructure ,agriculture ,economy ,public life and even politics and took many great steps and strides .Wednesday ,December 25,marked the 100th birth anniversary of Atal Bihari Vajpayee,a recipient of India’s highest civilian honor ,the Bharat Ratna ,is celebrated for his outstanding political contributions ,including his leadership in shaping India’s post-independence political and economic landscape .President Droupadi Murmu ,PM Narendra Modi and NDA cabinet members paid homage to former Prime Minister and BJP founding president Atal Ji at his memorial ,”Sadaiv Atal,” on his 100th birth anniversary .Vajpayee served as Prime Minister of India three times and played a pivotal role in elevating the BJP to national prominence ,driving major political and economic reforms during his tenure ,significantly shaping India’s trajectory .Vajpayee served as India’s external affairs minister in 1977 under Morarji Desai’s Janata Party government .His diplomatic approach contributed to India’s foreign policy during a turbulent time in the country’s political history .First elected to Lok Sabha in 1957 from Balrampur ,UP ,Vajpayee became the only leader to win elections from six different constituencies across Uttar Pradesh ,MP ,New Delhi ,and Gujarat solidifying his influence in Indian politics .Despite fluency in English ,Vajpayee’s speeches shone brightest in Hindi. Known as ‘Shabdoo Ka Jadugar”, his oratory in Hindi is equally famous .Vajpayee became an activist of RSS at very young age and it instilled in him the principles of selfless service ,cultural pride ,and unwavering commitment to Bharat Mata .Even as a student ,Vajpayee exhibited remarkable oratory and writing skills .His essays and speeches reflected his deep understanding of Hindutva ,nationalism ,and governance .His formative years in RSS and his association with stalwarts like Guru Golwalkar laid the foundation for his lifelong dedication to the cause of Hindutva and Bharat’s resurgence .Vajpayee’s entry into politics began with the formation of the Bharatiya Jan Sangh -BJS in 1951 under the leadership of Dr Shyama Parasad Mukherjee .As a founding member ,Vajpayee became the voice of a nationalist Bharat ,tirelessly advocating for cultural and ideological unity .His speeches in parliament were a masterpiece in statesmanship ,blending intellectual rigor with ideological conviction .These were a clarion call for India to reclaim its civilizational heritage while navigating modern challenges .His consistent advocacy for the abolition of Article 370 and his vision for a united India underlined his unwavering commitment to cultural nationalism .In emergency of 1975,Vajpayee’s unwavering commitment to democratic values and Hindutva were spectacular .As Prime Minister ,Vajpayee exemplified the ideals of Hindutva through his bold decisions ,whether it was defending India’s borders ,asserting its nuclear sovereignty and fostering economic independence .His tenure -1996,1998-2004 was a testament to his vision of India as a global leader grounded in its cultural identity .The Pokhran -11 nuclear tests of 1998 were a defining moment in India’s history .By making Bharat a declared nuclear weapons state ,Vajpayee ensured that the nation could defend itself against any external threat .His statement ,”It is not aggression but self-defense ,”reflected Hindutva’ ethos of strength toughened with responsibility .Despite international sanctions ,Vajpayee’s diplomacy turned adversities into opportunities, strengthening India’s global alliances while upholding its sovereignty .Vajpayee’s economic policies ,including the Golden Quadrilateral highway project and IT advancements were not just infrastructural milestones but expressions of his belief in a strong and self-reliant Bharat .He championed privatization and globalization ,ensuring that Bharat’s economy resonated with its civilizational values of enterprise and innovation .Vajpayee’s humor was legendary and often disarmed critics .But alas! this multifaceted leader and statesman passed away at the age of 93 years on 18 August 2018 after a brief illness .Vajpayee will remain live in the memory of millions of Indian’s for generations. The best tribute to this great man of masses and politician is to live up to his ideals and make him our ideal and role model .On his100th Jayanti ,let us rededicate ourselves to realizing his ideals and fulfilling his vision for India.
(The author is a columnist, social and KP activist)
