India Loses Its Former Prime Minister, Statesman and Poet Atal Bihari Vajpayee

Former Prime Minister and popular BJP leader Atal Bihari Vajpayee, 93 passed away on Thursday after a prolonged illness.  

The respected leader and poet passed away on Thursday at 5:05 PM despite all efforts to save him. The 93-year-old leader was admitted at AIIMS on June 11 and had been there for the past nine weeks. Vajpayee was on life support and his condition deteriorated in the last 36 hours, announced the All India Institute of Medical Sciences. Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited him for the second time in 24 hours after he got the news of his declining health. The atmosphere in the hospital took a gloomy turn when it became evident that the leader was in his last hours. After the BJP leader passed away, his body was taken to his residence Krishna Menon Marg.

Mr. Vajpayee was a diabetic and had one functioning kidney. He had a stroke in 2009, after which he lost most of his cognitive functions. It was due to these health concerns that the popular leader retired from active politics. He later developed dementia. As news of his depleting health spread, senior ministers from the NDA ruled states came to visit the leader at AIIMS. Even some of the non BJP leaders made their presence felt.

Hailing from a small town- Gwalior, Atalji dominated the scene in Indian politics during his prime years. He was a member of the Indian Parliament for over four decades. He was elected thrice for the position of PM. In 1996 he was elected as a PM for only 13 days. Atalji was the first Indian Prime Minister who was not a member of the Indian National Congress to have served a full five-year term in office. He was one of the founding members of the Bharatiya Jana Sangh which he headed from 1968 to 1972.

When the Janata government collapsed he played a key role in restructuring Jana Sangh into the Bharatiya Janata Party. He then became BJP’s first President. The dynamic and charming personality captured the hearts of millions with his oratorical skills and poetry. His oratorical skills impressed Jawaharlal Nehru so much that he predicted that Vajpayee would one day become the Prime Minister of India. As destiny would have it, Atalji became the Prime Minister of India from 1996 to 2004 in three non-consecutive terms.

Vajpayee’s administration was known for its significant economic and infrastructural reforms like encouraging private sectors and foreign investments, privatization of some of the government-owned organizations and encouraging research and development. During the Babri Mosque crisis, the former Prime Minister came under major scrutiny for delivering a controversial speech, a day prior to the mosque demolition.

He called the demolition of the Babri Masjid unfortunate but also stated that the unfortunate incident could have been avoided if the Congress and other non BJP parties had agreed for the construction of the Ram Temple on the adjoining plot. Vajpayee’s persona made him a popular face and voice of the BJP. The BJP Party still basks in the glory of Vajpayee’s credentials that he brought forth with his talent, skills and work. The dynamic leader who always had a smile on his face was known to maintain cordial relations with leaders from the opposition parties.

Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said Vajpayee was a great patriot and among modern India’s tallest leaders who spent his whole life serving the country. Congress chief Rahul Gandhi stated that India has lost a “great son” who was loved and respected by millions. Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed that “it was Atalji’s exemplary leadership that set the foundations for prosperous and inclusive India in the 21st century.”

A state funeral will be arranged and the national flag will fly at half-mast throughout India and Indian missions till August 22. A memorial will also be built though the location is not yet known. The BJP leader who was a Bachelor is survived by his adopted daughter Namita Kaul Bhattacharya. A seven-day state mourning is announced.

The published poet once wrote “My poetry is a declaration of war, not an exordium to defeat. It is not the defeated soldier's drumbeat of despair, but the fighting warrior's will to win. It is not the despirited voice of dejection but the stirring shout of victory."