Former Prime Minister of India Atal Bihari Vajpayee passed away on Thursday, August 16, 2018. He was admitted to All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) because of kidney failure. Ministers including PM Narendra Modi have paid a visit to the former PM.
Born in Gwalior on December 25, 1924, Atal Bihari Vajpayee was not just a politician, but also played an important role in the freedom struggle of India. He dropped out from his studies and became fully active in politics. He was even jailed during ‘Quit India Movement’ for 23 days in 1942.
Vajpayee was the 10th PM of India and the first non-Congress PM candidate who complete the five-year term and he was in the office from 1998 to 2004. However, Vajpayee gradually got away from public life and with this health deteriorating, he limited the residence for many years. Pandit Krishna Bihari Vajpayee, his father, was a teacher under Gwalior Principality. The former PM was the seventh child of his parents with three sisters and three brothers. Atal Bihari Vajpayee has been a decent leader, a statesman and this is the reason that his political enemies always respected him.
As the External Affairs Minister in the Janata government in 1997 under the prime ministership of IK Gujral, Atal Bihar Vajpayee was the first to speak in Hindi at the United Nations (UN) meeting and his speech in his mother tongue won million hearts. Indeed, he was fond of writing in Hindi and was a master poet. The parliament and the country on some occasions had the perks of listening to his creations.
In 2002, When the current PM Narendra Modi was the Chief Minister of Gujarat, PM Vajpayee adviced him follow Rajdharma after the riots.
Atal Bihari Vajpayee has been in Indian politics since 1951 and lost the Lok Sabha election the first time he contested in 1955. However, in 1957, he became a parliamentarian. During his career, he has been elected as an MP for 12 times – 10 times in Lok Sabha. He was elected as the Rajya Sabha member in 1962 and 1986.
His legacy is motivating, the former PM started Bharatiya Janata Party from scratch with only two MPs and the party’s MPs reached 182. After the formation of BJP in 1980, the party fought the first general election in 1984 but only won two seats. BJP contested again in 1999 by forming National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in which more than 20 parties joined the coalition and NDA won 234 seats and left BJP with 182 seats.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi pays his tribute:
India grieves the demise of our beloved Atal Ji.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) August 16, 2018
His passing away marks the end of an era. He lived for the nation and served it assiduously for decades. My thoughts are with his family, BJP Karyakartas and millions of admirers in this hour of sadness. Om Shanti.
President Ram Nath Kovind pays his tribute:
Extremely sad to hear of the passing of Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee, our former Prime Minister and a true Indian statesman. His leadership, foresight, maturity and eloquence put him in a league of his own. Atalji, the Gentle Giant, will be missed by one and all #PresidentKovind
— President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) August 16, 2018
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis remembers:
It is my personal loss..
— Devendra Fadnavis (@Dev_Fadnavis) August 16, 2018
One of the greatest leaders ever,Atalji,is no more!
It was Shraddheya Atal ji,whose footsteps are followed by many like me.He is an inspiration to millions & encouraged&taught us how we can serve the last man with the weapon of democracy.
Shat Shat Naman! pic.twitter.com/uJDLS9vObp
Congress President Rahul Gandhi pays his tribute:
Today India lost a great son. Former PM, Atal Bihari Vajpayee ji, was loved and respected by millions. My condolences to his family & all his admirers. We will miss him. #AtalBihariVajpayee
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) August 16, 2018
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