Atal Bihari Vajpayee: The Statesman Who Shaped Modern India

by · Northlines

A Tribute on His 101st Birth Anniversary

By Ravi Rohmetra

Atal Bihari Vajpayee was born on 25 December 1924 in Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh, to a schoolteacher, Krishna Bihari Vajpayee, and Krishna Devi. After completing his schooling, he graduated from Victoria College, Gwalior (now Laxmi Bai College). He earned his M.A. in Political Science from DAV College, Kanpur. Following a brief flirtation with communism, he became a full-time worker of the RSS in 1947.

A rare politician, brilliant orator, poet and patriot, Vajpayee was among modern India’s tallest leaders who devoted his entire life to the service of the nation. He first became Prime Minister in 1996, though the government collapsed after failing to win the confidence vote in Parliament. He returned to office in 1998 for thirteen months and again in 1999, serving until 2004. The credit of making India a nuclear power goes to the sagacity of his political will and farsighted leadership.

Born into a family of modest means and high ideals, he hailed from a small town in Madhya Pradesh. His youth was marked by academic excellence and a strong commitment to public service during the freedom struggle. Starting as an ordinary karyakarta of the Jana Sangh, he went on to build the only truly national-level party in independent India — the Bharatiya Janata Party — and steered its organisational work after the passing of Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee and Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya.

Through four decades of leadership in Parliament, his resistance during the Emergency (memorable was his rousing speech at Delhi’s Ramlila Maidan), and his unwavering commitment to the nation over party, he defined the spirit of Indian democracy. Firm in his beliefs yet always respectful of differing viewpoints, he set high standards of parliamentary debate. His simplicity, integrity, dignity, empathy and personal detachment from office made him an inspiration for generations of Indians.

He rescued the economy from the uncertainties of the mid-1990s, when political instability and global challenges threatened the reform process. He laid the foundation of India’s economic success of the past two decades, believing that growth must empower the weakest and integrate the marginalized. His government’s futuristic economic reforms and emphasis on next-generation infrastructure — particularly roads and telecom — brought lasting prosperity and social empowerment.

Vajpayee irrevocably transformed India’s place in the world. He overcame hesitation at home and resistance abroad to make India a nuclear power, a decision taken with utmost responsibility in the interest of national security. Even at that moment of national pride, he spoke with restraint and wisdom, earning global respect. He transformed decades of estrangement with the United States into a lasting strategic partnership.

A grassroots leader, he gave priority to good relations with India’s neighbours, supported Bangladesh’s liberation, journeyed to Lahore in search of peace, worked tirelessly for reconciliation in Jammu and Kashmir, and yet led India resolutely during the Kargil conflict.

Major Events in Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s Political Journey

  • 1942:Joined Quit India Movement; jailed during freedom struggle
  • 1951:Founder member of Jana Sangh
  • 1957:Elected to Lok Sabha for the first time
  • 1962:Elected to Rajya Sabha
  • 1968–73:President, Bharatiya Jana Sangh
  • 1975:Placed under house arrest during Emergency
  • 1977–80:Founder member, Janata Party
  • 1980–86:President, Bharatiya Janata Party
  • 1984:Lost Lok Sabha election to Madhavrao Scindia from Gwalior
  • 1992:Conferred Padma Vibhushan
  • 1996:Became Prime Minister; government lasted 13 days
  • 1998:Sworn in as Prime Minister again; Pokhran nuclear tests conducted
  • 1999:Lahore bus journey; India wins Kargil war
  • 1999:Sworn in as Prime Minister for third term
  • 2001:Agra Summit with President Pervez Musharraf
  • 2004:NDA loses elections
  • 2005:Retired from active politics
  • 2015:Conferred Bharat Ratna

Vajpayee, a master of Indian politics — charismatic, smiling, strong yet deeply democratic by conviction — passed away on 16 August 2018 at 5:05 PM at AIIMS, aged 93. India lost one of its greatest sons, a statesman loved and respected by millions. A “Man of Peace”, he will be remembered for his vision, statesmanship and unwavering dedication to national and social development. His leadership created a void that can never truly be filled.

He played a significant role in strengthening Sino–Indian relations, introduced mobile networks in the Northeast and Jammu & Kashmir despite strong opposition, reshaped the global narrative on Kashmir, and placed terrorism firmly on the international agenda.

Atal Bihari Vajpayee remains an enduring symbol of leadership, integrity and national service — a towering figure in the story of modern India.

(The Compiler is a freelance writer and a social worker and can be reached at Mob. No: 9419652999)