Atal Bihari Vajpayee - Brief Life History

22/03/2016 Atal Bihari Vajpayee Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Atal Bihari Vajpayee
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Atal Bihari Vajpayee (born 25 December 1924) is an
Indian statesman who was the 10th Prime Minister of Atal Bihari Vajpayee
India, first for 13 days in 1996 and then from 1998 to अटल बहारǳ वाजपेयी
2004. A leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), he
is the first Prime Minister from outside the Indian
National Congress party to serve a full fiveyear term.
A parliamentarian for over four decades, Vajpayee
was elected to the Lok Sabha (the lower house of
India's Parliament) nine times, and twice to the Rajya
Sabha (upper house). He also served as the Member
of Parliament for Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, until 2009,
when he retired from active politics due to health
concerns. Vajpayee was one amongst the founder
members of erstwhile Bharatiya Jana Sangh, which he
had also headed. He was also the Minister of External
Affairs in the cabinet of Morarji Desai. When Janata
government collapsed, Vajpayee restarted the Jana
Sangh as the Bharatiya Janata Party in 1980.
On 25 December 2014 the office of President of India 10th Prime Minister of India
announced the Bharat Ratna award, India's highest
In office
civilian honour, to Vajpayee. In a special gesture, the
President of India conferred Bharat Ratna to Atal 19 March 1998 – 22 May 2004
Bihari Vajpayee in his residence on 27 March 2015.[1] President K. R. Narayanan

His birthday, 25 December, was declared "Good A. P. J. Abdul Kalam
Governance Day".[2][3] Deputy L.K. Advani
Preceded by I. K. Gujral
Succeeded by Manmohan Singh
Contents
In office
1 Early life and education 16 May 1996 – 1 June 1996
2 Early political career (1942–1975) President Shankar Dayal Sharma
3 Political career (1975–1995)
Vice President Kocheril Raman Narayanan
4 As prime minister of India
4.1 First term: May 1996 Preceded by P. V. Narasimha Rao
4.2 Second term: 1998–1999 Succeeded by H. D. Deve Gowda
4.2.1 Nuclear tests
4.3 The Lahore summit Minister of External Affairs
4.3.1 Kargil War In office
4.4 Third term: 1999–2004 26 March 1977 – 28 July 1979
4.4.1 Indian Airlines hijack
4.4.2 National highway project, Prime Minister Morarji Desai
foreign policy and Preceded by Yashwantrao Chavan
economic reforms
4.4.3 2001 attack on Parliament Succeeded by Shyam Nandan Prasad Mishra
4.4.4 2002 Gujarat violence
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atal_Bihari_Vajpayee 1/15
4.4.4 2002 Gujarat violence
4.4.5 Remainder of term Personal details
5 2004 general election Born 25 December 1924
6 Travel and diplomatic assignments
Gwalior State
7 Later career
8 Personal life and interests Nationality Indian
9 Health issues Political party Bharatiya Janata Party (1980–
10 Awards
present)
11 Positions held
12 Works Other political Janata Party (1977—1980)
12.1 Social and political affiliations Bharatiya Jana Sangh (before 1977)
12.2 Books
12.3 Poetry Alma mater Chhatrapati Shahu Ji Maharaj
12.4 Speeches University
13 References Profession Poet
14 Further reading
15 External links Journalist
Political activist
Religion Hinduism
Early life and education Awards Bharat Ratna (2015)
Padma Vibhushan (1992)
Vajpayee was born to Krishna Devi and Krishna Signature
Bihari Vajpayee on 25 December 1924 in Gwalior.
His grandfather, Pandit Shyam Lal Vajpayee, had
migrated to Morena, Gwalior from his ancestral
village of Bateshwar, Uttar Pradesh. His father, Krishna Bihari Vajpayee, was a poet and a schoolmaster
in his hometown. Vajpayee studied from the Government Higher secondary school, Gorkhi, Gorkhi,
Bara, Gwalior. Vajpayee attended Gwalior's Victoria College (now Laxmi Bai College) and graduated
with distinction in Hindi, English and Sanskrit. He completed his postgraduation with an M.A. in
Political Science from Dayanand AngloVedic College, Kanpur, and was awarded a firstclass
degree.[4][5]
His activism started with the Arya Kumar Sabha of Gwalior, the youth wing of the Arya Samaj, of which
he became the General Secretary in 1944. He also joined the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) as a
swayamsevak in 1939. Influenced by Babasaheb Apte, he attended the Officers Training Camp of the
RSS during 194044 and became a "fulltime worker" in 1947, technically a pracharak. He gave up
studying law due to the partition riots. He was sent as a vistarak (probationary pracharak) to Uttar
Pradesh and quickly began working for the newspapers of Deendayal Upadhyaya, Rashtradharma (a
Hindi monthly), Panchjanya (a Hindi weekly) and the dailies Swadesh and Veer Arjun. Vajpayee never
married and has remained a bachelor his entire life.[5][6][7]
Early political career (1942–1975)
Vajpayee's first exposure to politics was in August 1942, when he and his elder brother Prem were
arrested for 23 days during the Quit India movement, when he was released only after giving a written
undertaking, expressly declaring not to participate in any of the antiBritish struggle.[8]
In 1951, he was seconded by the RSS, along with Deendayal Upadhyaya, to work for the newly formed
Bharatiya Jana Sangh, a Hindu rightwing political party associated with the RSS. He was appointed as a
national secretary of the party in charge of the Northern region, based in Delhi. He soon became a
follower and aide of party leader Syama Prasad Mookerjee. In 1954, Vajpayee was with Mookerjee
when he went on a fastuntodeath in Kashmir to protest against perceived inferior treatment of non
Kashmiri Indian visitors to the state. Mookerjee died in prison during this strike. In 1957, Vajpayee lost
to Raja Mahendra Pratap in Mathura[9][10] for the Lok Sabha, the lower house of India's Parliament, but
was elected from Balrampur. There, his oratorial skills so impressed Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru
that he predicted that Vajpayee would someday become India's Prime Minister.[11]
By virtue of his oratorical and organizational skills, he became the face of the Jana Sangh. After the
death of Deendayal Upadhyaya, the mantle of the leadership of Jana Sangh fell on the shoulders of a
young Vajpayee. He became the national president of the Jana Sangh in 1968 and, along with Nanaji
Deshmukh, Balraj Madhok and L. K. Advani, led the Jana Sangh to national prominence.
Political career (1975–1995)
From 1975 to 1977, Vajpayee was arrested along with several
other opposition leaders during the Internal Emergency imposed
by Prime Minister Indira Gandhi of the Indian National Congress
party. In 1977, heeding the call of social reformer Jayaprakash
Narayan for all the opposition parties to unite against the
Congress, Vajpayee merged the Jana Sangh into the newly
formed grandalliance, the Janata Party.[12] Foreign Minister Vajpayee (far right)
and Prime Minister Morarji Desai
Following Janata's victory in the 1977 general elections, he (third from right, front row) with US
became the Minister of External Affairs in Prime Minister President Jimmy Carter during his
Morarji Desai's cabinet. As foreign minister, that year Vajpayee 1978 visit to India.
became the first person to deliver a speech to the United Nations
General Assembly in Hindi. By the time the Janata government
crumbled in 1979, Vajpayee had established himself as an experienced statesman and a respected
political leader.[12]
The Janata Party was dissolved soon after Morarji Desai resigned as Prime Minister in 1979. The Jana
Sangh had devoted its political organisation to sustain the coalition and was left exhausted by the
internecine political wars within the Janata Party.
Vajpayee joined many of his Bharatiya Jana Sangh and Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh colleagues,
particularly his longtime friends L. K. Advani and Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, to form the Bharatiya
Janata Party (BJP) in 1980. He became the BJP's first President. He emerged as a strong critic of the
Congress (I) government that followed the Janata government.
While the BJP opposed the Sikh militancy that was rising in the state of Punjab, it also blamed Prime
Minister Indira Gandhi for her "divisive and corrupt politics that fostered such militancy at the expense
of national unity and integrity."[13] The BJP did not support Operation Blue Star and strongly protested
against the violence towards Sikhs in Delhi that broke out in 1984 following the assassination of Indira
Gandhi by two of her Sikh bodyguards.[14] The BJP was left with only two parliamentary seats in the
1984 elections. During this period, Vajpayee remained at the centrestage as party President and Leader
of the Opposition in the Parliament.
The BJP became the political voice of the Ram Janmabhoomi Mandir Movement, which was led by
activists of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and the RSS, and which sought to build a temple
dedicated to Lord Rama in Ayodhya.
Victory in the assembly elections in Gujarat and Maharashtra in March 1995, and a good performance in
the elections to the Karnataka assembly in December 1994, propelled the BJP to greater political
prominence. During a BJP conference in Mumbai in November 1995, BJP President L.K. Advani
declared that Vajpayee would become the Prime Minister of India. The BJP won in the May 1996
parliamentary elections.[15]
As prime minister of India
Vajpayee served as the Prime Minister of India between 1996 to 2004 in three nonconsecutive terms.
First term: May 1996
The BJP grew in strength in the early 1995s riding on pro nationalistic sentiments. In the 1996 general
elections, the BJP emerged as the single largest party in the Lok Sabha. The then president Shankar
Dayal Sharma invited Vajpayee to form the government. Vajpayee was sworn in as the 10th Prime
Minister of India, but the BJP failed to muster enough support from other parties to obtain a majority. He
resigned after 13 days, when it became clear that he could not garner a majority.
Second term: 1998–1999
After the fall of the two United Front governments between 1996 and 1998, the Lok Sabha was
dissolved and fresh elections were held. The 1998 general elections again put the BJP ahead of others.
This time, a cohesive bloc of political parties joined the BJP to form the National Democratic Alliance
(NDA), and Vajpayee was sworn in as the Prime Minister.[16]
The NDA proved its majority in the parliament. The government lasted 13 months until mid1999 when
the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) under J. Jayalalitha withdrew its support
to the government.[17] The government lost the ensuing vote of confidence motion in the Lok Sabha by a
single vote on 17 April 1999. As the Opposition was unable to come up with the numbers to form the
new government, the Lok Sabha was again dissolved and fresh elections were held. Vajpayee remaining
the Prime Minister until the elections were held.
Nuclear tests
In May 1998, India conducted five underground nuclear tests in Pokhran desert in Rajasthan, 24 yrs after
India conducted its first nuclear test PokhranI in 1974. This test is called PokhranII. The tests were
held just a month after the government had been in power. Two weeks later, Pakistan responded with its
own nuclear tests making it the newest declared nation with nuclear weapons.
While some nations, such as Russia and France, endorsed India's right to defensive nuclear power,[18]
others including the United States, Canada, Japan, Britain and the European Union imposed sanctions on
information, resources and technology to India. In spite of the intense international criticism and the
steady decline in foreign investment and trade, the nuclear tests were popular domestically. Effectively
the international sanctions failed completely in swaying India's decision to weaponize their nuclear
capability, something that was planned for and anticipated by the Vajpayee administration.[19]
The Lahore summit
In late 1998 and early 1999, Vajpayee began a push for a fullscale diplomatic peace process with
Pakistan. With the historic inauguration of the DelhiLahore bus service in February 1999, Vajpayee
initiated a new peace process aimed towards permanently resolving the Kashmir dispute and other
conflicts with Pakistan. The resultant Lahore Declaration espoused a commitment to dialogue, expanded
trade relations and mutual friendship and envisaged a goal of denuclearised South Asia. This eased the
tension created by the 1998 nuclear tests, not only within the two nations but also in South Asia and the
rest of the world.
The Vajpayeeled government was faced with two crises in mid1999. The AIADMK had continually
threatened to withdraw from the coalition and national leaders repeatedly flew down from Delhi to
Chennai to pacify the AIADMK chief J. Jayalalitha. However, in May 1999, the AIADMK did pull the
plug on the NDA, and the Vajpayee administration was reduced to a caretaker status pending fresh
elections scheduled for October 1999.
Kargil War
It was revealed that militants and nonuniformed Pakistani soldiers
(many with official identifications and Pakistan Army's custom
weaponry) had infiltrated into the Kashmir Valley and captured
control of border hilltops, unmanned border posts and were
spreading out fast. The incursion was centred around the town of
Kargil, but also included the Batalik and Akhnoor sectors and
artillery exchanges at the Siachen Glacier.
Indian army units were swiftly rushed into Kashmir in response.
Operation Vijay, launched in June 1999, saw the Indian military
fighting thousands of militants and soldiers in the midst of heavy
artillery shelling and while facing extremely cold weather, snow and
treacherous terrain at the high altitude. Over 500 Indian soldiers Prime Minister Vajpayee flashes
were killed in the threemonthlong Kargil War, and it is estimated the V sign after the Parliamentary
around 6004,000 Pakistani militants and soldiers died as well. India elections in which his coalition
pushed back the Pakistani militants and Northern Light Infantry emerged the victors. His handling
soldiers. Almost 70% of the territory was recaptured by India. With of the Kargil crisis is believed to
news of Pakistan planning to launch a nuclear attack in the face of a have played a big part in
loss in the war with India, Pakistan's Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif garnering the votes.
was summoned to the US by Bill Clinton and warned against any
such action.[18]
After Pakistan suffered heavy losses, and with both the United States and China refusing to condone the
incursion or threaten India to stop its military operations, General Musharraf was recalcitrant and Nawaz
Sharif asked the remaining militants to stop and withdraw to positions along the LoC. The militants were
not willing to accept orders from Sharif but the NLI soldiers withdrew.[18] The militants were killed by
the army or forced to withdraw in skirmishes which went beyond the announcement of withdrawal by
Pakistan. The victory in Kargil bolstered the image of Vajpayee and he was hailed across the country for
his bold and strong leadership. On 26 July 2012, designated as 'Kargil Vijay Diwas', BJP President Nitin
Gadkari unveiled a wax statue of Atal Bihari Vajpayee in Mumbai. The statue is to be put up at a wax
museum in Lonavala.[20]
Third term: 1999–2004
In the 1999 general elections, the BJPled NDA won 303 seats out of the 543 seats in the Lok Sabha, in
the aftermath of the Kargil operations,[21] thereby securing a comfortable and stable majority. On 13
October 1999, Atal Bihari Vajpayee took oath as Prime Minister of India for the third time.
Indian Airlines hijack
A national crisis emerged in December 1999, when Indian Airlines flight IC 814 from Kathmandu to
New Delhi was hijacked by five terrorists and flown to Talibanruled Afghanistan.[22] The hijackers
made several demands including the release of certain terrorists like Maulana Masood Azhar from
prison. Under extreme pressure, the government ultimately caved in. Jaswant Singh, the Minister for
External Affairs at the time, flew with the terrorists to Afghanistan and exchanged them for the
passengers.
National highway project, foreign policy and economic
reforms
During his administration, Vajpayee introduced many
domestic economic and infrastructural reforms, including
encouraging the private sector and foreign investments,
reducing governmental waste, encouraging research and
development and privatisation of some government owned
corporations.[23] The UPA Government on 1 July 2013
accepted before Supreme Court that National Democratic
Alliance Government led by Vajpayee has developed half A.B.Vajpayee meeting President Bush in
the roads in last 32 years in their 5year term.[24] the White House in 2001.
Vajpayee's pet projects were the National Highway Development Project and Pradhan Mantri Gram
Sadak Yojana.
In March 2000, Bill Clinton, the President of the United States, paid a state visit to India. His was the
first state visit to India by a US President in 22 years. President Clinton's visit to India was hailed as a
significant milestone in the relations between the two countries. Since the visit came barely two years
after the Pokhran tests, and one year after the Kargil invasion and the subsequent coup in Pakistan, it
was read to reflect a major shift in the postCold War U.S. foreign policy. The Indian Prime Minister and
the U.S. President discussed strategic issues, but the major achievement was a significant expansion in
trade and economic ties. The Historic Vision Document on the future course of relations between the
two countries was signed by Prime Minister Vajpayee and President Clinton during the visit.
Domestically, the BJPled government was under constant pressure from its ideological mentor, the RSS,
and the hardline VHP to enact the Hindutva agenda. But owing to its dependence on coalition support,
it was impossible for the BJP to push items like building the Ram Janmabhoomi temple in Ayodhya,
repealing Article 370 which gave a special status to the state of Kashmir, or enacting a uniform civil
code applicable to adherents of all religions. On 17 January 2000, there were reports of the RSS and
some BJP hardliners threatening to restart the Jan Sangh, the precursor to the BJP, because of their
discontent over Atal Bihari Vajpayee rule. Former president of the Jan Sangh Balraj Madhok had written
a letter to the then RSS chief Rajendra Singh for support.[25] The BJP was however accused of
saffronising (saffron being the colour of the flag of the RSS, symbol of the Hindu nationalism
movement) the official state education curriculum and apparatus. Also, Home Minister L.K. Advani and
Human Resource Development Minister Murli Manohar Joshi were indicted in the 1992 Babri Mosque
demolition case for inciting a mob of activists. Vajpayee himself came under public scrutiny owing to
his controversial speech one day prior to the mosque demolition.[26] The RSS also routinely criticised
the government for freemarket policies which introduced foreign goods and competition at the expense
of 'swadeshi' industries and products.
Vajpayee's administration earned the ire of many trade unions and government workers for its aggressive
campaign to privatise government owned corporations. Vajpayee promoted probusiness, free market
reforms to reinvigorate India's economic transformation and expansion that were started by the former
PM Narasimha Rao but stalled after 1996 due to unstable governments and the 1997 Asian financial
crisis. Increased competitiveness, extra funding and support for the information technology sector and
hightech industries, improvements in infrastructure, deregulation of trade, investments and corporate
laws — all increased foreign capital investment and set in motion an economic expansion.
These couple of years of reform however were accompanied
by infighting in the administration and confusion regarding
the direction of government. Vajpayee's weakening health
was also a subject of public interest, and he underwent a
major kneereplacement surgery at the Breach Candy
Hospital in Mumbai to relieve great pressure on his legs.
In March 2001, the Tehelka group released the sting
operation video named operation west end showing videos
of the BJP President Bangaru Laxman, senior army officers
and NDA members accepting bribes from journalists posing Atal Bihari Vajpayee with Russia's
as agents and businessmen. The Defence Minister George president Vladimir Putin.
Fernandes was forced to resign following the Barak Missile
Deal Scandal, another scandal involving the botched supplies of coffins for the soldiers killed in Kargil,
and the findings of an inquiry commission that the Government could have prevented the Kargil
invasion.[27]
Vajpayee again broke the ice in the IndoPak relations by inviting Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf
to Delhi and Agra for a joint summit and peace talks. His second major attempt to move beyond the
stalemate involved inviting the man who had planned the Kargil invasions. But accepting him as the
President of Pakistan, Vajpayee chose to move forward. But after three days of much fanfare, which
included Musharraf visiting his birthplace in Delhi, the summit failed to achieve a breakthrough as
President Musharraf declined to leave aside the issue of Kashmir.
In 2001, the Vajpayee government launched the famous Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, which aimed at
improving the quality of education in primary and secondary schools.
2001 attack on Parliament
On 13 December 2001, a group of masked, armed men with fake IDs stormed the Parliament building in
Delhi. The terrorists managed to kill several security guards, but the building was sealed off swiftly and
security forces cornered and killed the men, who were later proven to be Pakistan nationals. Coming just
three months after the September 11 attacks upon the United States, this fresh escalation instantly
enraged the nation. Although the Government of Pakistan officially condemned the attack, Indian
intelligence reports pointed to a conspiracy rooted in Pakistan.
Prime Minister Vajpayee ordered a mobilisation of India's military forces, and as many as 500,000
servicemen amassed along the international boundary bordering Punjab, Rajasthan, Gujarat and
Kashmir. Pakistan responded with the same. Vicious terrorist attacks and an aggressive antiterrorist
campaign froze daytoday life in Kashmir, and foreigners flocked out of both India and Pakistan,
fearing a possible war and nuclear exchange. For as long as two years, both nations remained perilously
close to a terrible war.
The Vajpayee administration also passed the Prevention of Terrorist Act against vigorous opposition of
nonNDA parties. Human rights groups have condemned the act which gives wide authority to the
government to crack down and hold anybody. Its repeal was advocated by human rights
organisations.[28]
But the biggest political disaster hit his government between December 2001 and March 2002: the VHP
held the Government hostage in a major standoff in Ayodhya over the Ram temple. At the 10th
anniversary of the destruction of the Babri mosque, the VHP wanted to perform a shila daan, or a
ceremony laying the foundation stone of the cherished temple at the disputed site. Tens of thousands of
VHP activists amassed and threatened to overrun the site and forcibly build the temple. A grave threat of
not only communal violence, but an outright breakdown of law and order owing to the defiance of the
government by a religious organisation hung over the nation.[12] But to the relief of Vajpayee, his
government was able to tide over this crisis rather smoothly.
2002 Gujarat violence
In 2002, HinduMuslim violence in the state Gujarat killed more than 1,000 people. Vajpayee officially
condemned the violence.[29]
Later, Vajpayee made controversial remarks: "Wherever there are Muslims in large numbers, they do not
want to live in peace."[30] The remarks were clarified by the Prime Minister's Office as being taken out
of context.
Vajpayee was accused of doing nothing to stop the violence, and later admitted mistakes in the handling
the events.[31] K.R. Narayanan, then president of India, also blamed Vajpayee's government for failing to
quell the violence.[32]
Remainder of term
In late 2002 and 2003 the government pushed economic reforms, and the country's GDP growth
accelerated at record levels, exceeding 6–7%. Increasing foreign investment, modernisation of public
and industrial infrastructure, the creation of jobs, a rising hightech and IT industry and urban
modernisation and expansion improved the nation's international image. Good crop harvests and strong
industrial expansion also helped the economy.
The government reformed the tax system, increased the pace of reforms and probusiness initiatives,
major irrigation and housing schemes and so on. The political energies of the BJP shifted to the rising
urban middleclass and young people, who were positive and enthusiastic about the major economic
expansion and future of the country. He faced stiff opposition from other equally strong organisations in
the RSS family such as the Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh and the Bharatiya Kisan Sangh. However, he
continued with his aggressive economic reform policy.
In August 2003, he announced before the parliament his "absolute last" effort to achieve peace with
Pakistan. Although the diplomatic process never truly setoff immediately, visits were exchanged by
highlevel officials and the military standoff ended. The Pakistani President and Pakistani politicians,
civil and religious leaders hailed this initiative as did the leaders of America, Europe and much of the
world. In July 2003, Prime Minister Vajpayee, visited China, and met with various Chinese leaders. He
recognised Tibet as a part of China, which was welcomed by the Chinese leadership, who in the
following year, recognised Sikkim, as a part of India. SinoIndian Relations, improved greatly, in the
following years.
In November–December 2003, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) won three major state elections, fought
mainly on development issues, without ideological campaigns. A major public relations campaign was
launched to reach out to Muslims and stop the 2002 communal riots controversy from haunting the
party's future. But the attention of the media and of millions now moved from Vajpayee to his more
possible successor, L.K. Advani, although the question was never directly raised or contested in any
way. Vajpayee's age, failing health and diminished physical and mental vigour were obvious factors in
such speculation.
Advani assumed greater responsibilities in the party, and although no perceivable conflict has been
known to arise between the longtime friends and political colleagues, several embarrassing statements
were made. Once Vajpayee said "Advani would lead the BJP in the elections," prompting Advani to
clarify that he would merely lead the election campaign, not the party. And then the BJP President
Venkaiah Naidu used mythological references to depict Vajpayee as Vikas Purush (Man of Progress) and
Advani as Loh Purush(Iron Man).
As the BJP prepared for general elections in 2004, Vajpayee was still the choice of the BJP and of the
wider NDA, for the Prime Minister's job.
On 29 June 2002 Atal Bihari Vajpayee while dedicating his collection of poems translated in Tamil,
recalled his friendship with C.N. Annadurai and claimed that he was not opposed to Hindi and
appreciated Vajpayee's language skills.[33][34] Annadurai however, was against imposition of the
language.[35]
2004 general election
The NDA was widely expected to retain power after the 2004 general election. The 13th Lok Sabha had
been dissolved before the completion of its term to capitalise on the perceived 'feelgood factor' and
BJP's recent successes in the Assembly elections in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. The
BJP hoped to capitalise on the slogan "India Shining" and released many ads touting the economic
growth of the nation.
However, the coalition lost almost half its seats, with several prominent cabinet ministers being defeated.
The Indian National Congress, led by Sonia Gandhi, became the single largest party and, along with
many minor parties, formed the United Progressive Alliance. With the conditional support of the leftist
parties from the outside, the UPA formed a government under Dr Manmohan Singh. Vajpayee resigned
as Prime Minister and promised cooperation to the new government.[36] Accepting moral responsibility
for the defeat, he decided not to take up the position of the Leader of the Opposition and passed on the
leadership mantle to Lal Krishna Advani. However, he retained his post as Chairman of the NDA.
Travel and diplomatic assignments
Vajpayee has visited several countries, first in 1965 as a member of the Parliamentary Goodwill Mission
to East Africa. He was also part of the Parliamentary Delegations to Australia in 1967, the European
Parliament in 1983, and Canada in 1987. He was part of the official Indian Delegation to
Commonwealth Parliamentary Association meetings held in Canada in 1966 and 1994, Zambia in 1980,
and the Isle of Man in 1984. He was in the Indian delegation to the InterParliamentary Union
Conference, Japan in 1974, Sri Lanka in 1975; and Switzerland in 1984. He was a regular at the UN
General Assembly, having been part of the Indian Delegations in 1988, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994
and 1996. He led the Indian Delegation to the Human Rights Commission Meeting at Geneva in 1993
and the Delegation of Standing Committees of External Affairs to Gulf countries i.e. Bahrain, Oman and
Kuwait.
Later career
In December 2005, Vajpayee announced his retirement from active politics, declaring that he would not
contest in the next general election. In a famous statement at the BJP's silver Jubilee rally at Mumbai's
historic Shivaji Park, Vajpayee announced that "Henceforth, Lal Krishna Advani and Pramod Mahajan
will be the RamLaxman (the two godly brothers much revered and worshipped by Hindus) of the
BJP."[37]
Vajpayee was referred to as the Bhishma Pitamah of Indian Politics by Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan
Singh during his speech in the Rajya Sabha.[38]
Vajpayee was hospitalised at AIIMS for chest infection and fever on 6 February 2009. He was put on
ventilator support as his condition worsened but he eventually recuperated and was later discharged.[39]
Unable to participate in the campaign for the 2009 general election due to his poor health, he wrote a
letter urging voters to back the BJP. His protege Lalji Tandon was able to retain the Lucknow seat even
though the NDA suffered electoral reverses all over the country. The tall apolitical image of Vajpayee
was said to be the main reason behind Lalji's success in Lucknow even though BJP's performance was
poor elsewhere in Uttar Pradesh.[40]
Personal life and interests
Vajpayee has an adopted daughter, Namita. He is fond of Indian music and dance. He loves nature and
one of his favourite retreats is Manali in Himachal Pradesh.[41]
Vajpayee has said about his poetry, "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."[42]
Health issues
Vajpayee underwent knee replacement surgery at Breach Candy Hospital in Mumbai in 2001. He
suffered a stroke in 2009 which impaired his speech.[43] His health has been a major source of concern
and those in the know say he is often confined to a wheelchair and fails to recognise people. He is said to
be suffering from dementia and longterm diabetes. He is not known to have attended any public event
in recent years. He rarely ventures out of the house, except for checkups at the All India Institute of
Medical Sciences.[44]
Not many people visit him these days. The only regular visitors are N M Ghatate, Vajpayee's friend of
nearly six decades, Advani and B C Khanduri, who come to sit by his side or ask his daughter about his
health. Dr. Manmohan Singh makes regular inquiries about his health and never misses wishing
Vajpayee personally on his birthday.[43]
Awards
1992, Padma Vibhushan[45]
1993, D. Lit. from Kanpur University[46]
1994, Lokmanya Tilak Award[46]
1994, Best Parliamentarian Award
1994, Bharat Ratna Pandit Govind Vallabh Pant Award[45]
2015, Bharat Ratna
2015, Liberation War award (Bangladesh Muktijuddho
Sanmanona)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and
Positions held Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj (far
right) hand over the Liberation War
1951 – FounderMember, Bharatiya Jana Sangh (B.J.S) [47] award to Vajpayee's family members.
1957 – Elected to 2nd Lok Sabha
1957–77 – Leader, Bharatiya Jana Sangh Parliamentary
Party
1962 – Member, Rajya Sabha
196667 Chairman, Committee on Government Assurances
1967 – Reelected to 4th Lok Sabha (2nd term)
1967–70 – Chairman, Public Accounts Committee
1968–73 – President, B.J.S.
1971 – Reelected to 5th Lok Sabha (3rd term)
1977 – Reelected to 6th Lok Sabha (4th term)
1977–79 – Union Cabinet Minister, External Affairs
1977–80 – Founder Member, Janata Party
198086 President, Bharatiya Janata Party (B.J.P.)
198084, 1986 and 1993–96 – Leader, B.J.P. Parliamentary Party
1986 – Member, Rajya Sabha; Member, General Purposes Committee
1988–90 – Member, House Committee; Member, Business Advisory Committee
199091 Chairman, Committee on Petitions
1991– Reelected to 10th Lok Sabha (6th term)
1991–93 – Chairman, Public Accounts Committee
1993–96 – Chairman, Committee on External Affairs; Leader of Opposition, Lok Sabha
16 May 1996 – 31 May 1996 – Prime Minister of India
1996–97 – Leader of Opposition, Lok Sabha
1997–98 – Chairman, Committee on External Affairs
1998–99 – Prime Minister of India; Minister of External Affairs; and also in charge of
Ministries/Department not specifically allocated to the charge of any Minister
13 Oct.1999 to 13 May 2004– Prime Minister of India and also in charge of the
Ministries/Departments not specifically allocated to the charge of any Minister
Works
Social and political
National Integration. (1961).
Dynamics of an Open Society. (1977).
New Dimensions of India's Foreign Policy. (1979).
Heal the Wounds: Vajpayee's Appeal on Assam Tragedy to the Parliament. (1983).
When Will atrocities on Harijans stop?: A.B. Vajpayee's speech in Rajya Sabha. (1988).
Kucha Lekha, Kucha Bhashana. (1996).
Sekyularavada: Bharatiya parikalpana (Da. Rajendra Prasada Smaraka vyakhyanamala). (1996).
Bindubindu Vicara. (1997).
Rajaniti Ki Rapatili Rahem. (1997).
Na Dainyam Na Palayanam (Hindi Edition). (1998).
Back to Square One. (1998).
Decisive Days. (1999).
Sakti Se Santi. (1999).
Vicarabindu (Hindi Edition). (2000). ISBN 9788170164753.
Nayi Chunauti, Naya Avasara (Hindi Edition). (2002). ISBN 9788170165019.
India's Perspectives on ASEAN and the AsiaPacific Region. (2003). ISBN 9789812301727.
Books
Atal Bihari Vaj mem tina dasaka. (1992).
Pradhanamantri Atala Bihari Vajapeyi, chune hue bhashana. (2000).
Values, vision & verses of Vajpayee: India's man of destiny. (2001).
India's foreign policy: New dimensions. (1977).
Assam problem: Repression no solution. (1981).
Poetry
TwentyOne Poems. (2003). ISBN 9780670049172.
Kya khoya kya paya: Atal Bihari Vajapeyi, vyaktitva aura kavitaem (Hindi Edition). (1999). ISBN
9788170283355.
Meri ikyavana kavitaem. (1995).
Meri ikyavana kavitaem (Hindi Edition). (1995).
Sreshtha kabita. (1997).
Nayi Disha – an album with Jagjit Singh (1999)
Samvedna – an album with Jagjit Singh (2002)
Speeches
Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, selected speeches. (2000). ISBN 9788123008349.
President's addresses, 1980–1986. (2000).
Presidential address. (1986).
Presidential address: Bharatiya Pratinidhi Sabha session, Bhagalpur (Bihar), 5 6 & 7 May 1972.
(1972).
Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Pokhran
References
1. Retrieved from pib.nic.in on 29 March 2015. 3. Rahul Shrivastava (23 December 2014). "Bharat
(http://pib.nic.in/newsite/erelease.aspx?relid=0.) Ratna for Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Madan Mohan
2. [1] Malaviya Likely To be Announced Today".
(http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/bharat NDTV.com.
ratnaforvajpayeemadanmohan 4. "The Leading Indian Politician Site on the Net".
malviya/article6721942.ece) indianpoliticians.com. Retrieved 20121124.
5. "The Sangh (RSS) is my Soul; writes Atal Bihari 21. "Address to the Nation by Prime Minister Atal
Vajpayee". Vishwa Samvada Kendra. 19 January Bihari Vajpayee" (PDF). Indianembassy.org.
2012. Retrieved 20140929. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 April 2012.
6. "The outliers who won the PM's post". Mail Retrieved 20121124.
Today. 15 April 2014. Retrieved 20140929. 22. [4]
7. Jaffrelot, Christophe (1996). The Hindu (http://www.indianembassy.org/archive/IC_814.ht
Nationalist Movement and Indian Politics. C. m#Identity%20of%20hijackers) Archived
Hurst & Co. Publishers. pp. 131–132. ISBN 978 (https://web.archive.org/web/20150428185904/htt
1850653011. p://www.indianembassy.org/archive/IC_814.htm#I
8. Chatterjee, Mannini. V. K. Ramachandran. dentity%20of%20hijackers) 28 April 2015 at the
"Vajpayee and the Quit India movement Wayback Machine.
(http://www.hindu.com/fline/fl1503/15031150.htm 23. "Vajpayee, the right man in the wrong party –
)". Frontline. 7–20 February 1998. Retrieved 11 ,Vajpayee, the right man in the wrong party – 4 –
November 2012. ,4 – National News – News – MSN India". MSN.
9. "Election Commission of India" (PDF). Retrieved 20121124.
10. "Explained: Battleground AMU; A Raja and his 24. Mahapatra, Dhananjay (2 July 2013). "NDA
Legacy". The Indian Express. 20141129. regime constructed 50% of national highways laid
Retrieved 20151030. in last 30 years: Centre". The Times of India.
11. "India Matters". Indiamatters.in. Archived from Retrieved 26 November 2013.
the original on 17 November 2012. Retrieved 25. Sharad Gupta; Sanjiv Sinha (18 January 2000).
20121124. "Revive Jan Sangh – BJP hardlines". The Indian
12. [2] Express. Retrieved 11 October 2013.
(http://www.indianembassy.org/special/cabinet/vaj 26. National / Elections 2004 : This Vajpayee speech
payee.htm) Archived campaigns against the NDA
(https://web.archive.org/web/20150610120758/htt (http://www.hindu.com/2004/04/25/stories/200404
p://www.indianembassy.org/special/cabinet/vajpay 2501941200.htm). The Hindu. Retrieved on 2014
ee.htm) 10 June 2015 at the Wayback Machine. 0521.
13. [3] 27. Fernandes offers to quit The Times of India
(http://www.deccanherald.com/deccanherald/apr16 (http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Fernande
2004/d10.asp) Archived sofferstoquit/articleshow/33942023.cms).
(https://web.archive.org/web/20050411025143/htt Timesofindia.indiatimes.com (20010314).
p://www.deccanherald.com/deccanherald/apr16200 Retrieved on 20140521.
4/d10.asp) 11 April 2005 at the Wayback 28. Brad Adams, Human Rights Watch's Asia
Machine. director. (23 September 2004). "India: POTA
14. "1984: Assassination and revenge". BBC News. Repeal a Step Forward for Human Rights".
31 October 1984. Archived from the original on Human Rights Watch. Retrieved 20120625.
15 February 2009. Retrieved 23 January 2009. 29. "Vajpayee condemns Godhra carnage, Gujarat
15. "Will the rath yatra bring LK Advani back in RSS communal violence".
good books? – Analysis – DNA". Dnaindia.com. 30. Sultan Shahin (26 April 2002). "Gujarat: return to
11 October 2011. Retrieved 20120625. the deadly past". Asia Times. Retrieved 26 August
16. "Atal Bihari Vajpayee: India's new prime 2013.
minister". BBC News. 3 March 1998. Retrieved 31. "Vajpayee admits mistake over Gujarat". CNN.
19980303. Check date values in: |access‐date= 20020413.
(help) 32. Rafiq Dossani (2008). India Arriving: How This
17. "South Asia Vajpayee's thirteen months". BBC Economic Powerhouse Is Redefining Global
News. 17 April 1999. Retrieved 19990417. Business. AMACOM Div American Mgmt Assn.
Check date values in: |access‐date= (help) p. 154.
18. "Atal Bihari Vajpayee (prime minister of India) – 33. Anna was not against Hindi, says Vajpayee
Britannica Online Encyclopedia". Encyclopædia (http://www.hindu.com/2002/06/30/stories/200206
Britannica. 25 December 1924. Retrieved 3001331100.htm). The Hindu (20020630).
20121124. Retrieved on 20130716.
19. http://cns.miis.edu/other/indbomb.pdf 34. Editorial
20. "Gadkari unveils Vajpayee's wax statue in (http://www.telegraphindia.com/1020203/editoria.
Mumbai". Hindustan Times. Archived from the htm). Telegraphindia.com. Retrieved on 201307
original on 27 July 2012. Retrieved 26 July 2012. 16.
35. Annadurai & Hindi 42. Values, Vision & Verses of Vajpayee: India's Man
(http://hindu.com/2002/07/09/stories/2002070900 of Destiny page – iii
281005.htm). The Hindu (20020709). Retrieved 43. "A peek into the life Vajpayee now leads".
on 20130716. 44. Vajpayee turns 88 amid health concerns
36. "Vajpayee moves to new home". The Daily Star. 6 (http://zeenews.india.com/news/nation/vajpayee
July 2004. turns88amidhealthconcerns_748305.html). Zee
37. "Vajpayee to retire from politics". BBC News. 29 News (20111223). Retrieved on 20130716.
December 2005. Retrieved 20051229. 45. [5] (http://pmindia.nic.in/pm_atal.htm) Archived
38. "Manmohan calls Vajpayee 'Bhishma Pitamah' of (https://web.archive.org/web/20120109000122/htt
politics". The Hindu (Chennai, India). 6 March p://pmindia.nic.in/pm_atal.htm) 9 January 2012 at
2008. Archived from the original on 10 May the Wayback Machine.
2011. 46. "Prime Minister of India BioData".
39. "Vajpayee showing signs of improvement". The Parliamentofindia.nic.in. Retrieved 20121124.
Indian Express. Retrieved 20090205. 47. Atal Bihari Vajpayee
40. "Vajpayee writes to Lucknowites for support". (http://www.atalbiharivajpayee.in/aboutvajpayeeji.
The Times of India. 18 April 2009. Retrieved aspx)
20090418.
41. "Read the Short biography of Atal Bihari
Vajpayee". Preservearticles.com. Retrieved
20121124.
Further reading
L.K. Advani. My Country My Life. (2008). ISBN 9788129113634.
M.P. Kamal. Bateshwar to Prime Minister House – An Interesting Description of Different Aspects
of Atalji's . (2003). ISBN 9788176046008.
G.N.S. Raghavan. New Era in the Indian Polity, A Study of Atal Bihari Vajpayee and the BJP.
(1996). ISBN 9788121205399.
P. R Trivedi. Atal Bihari Vajpayee: The man India needs : the most appropriate leader for the
twentyfirst century. (2000). ISBN 9788176960014.
Sujata K. Dass. " prem k jain ". (2004). ISBN 9788178352770.
Chandrika Prasad Sharma. Poet politician Atal Bihari Vajpayee: A biography. (1998). ASIN:
B0006FD11E.
Sheila Vazirani. Atal Bihari Vajpayee; profile & personal views (Know thy leaders). (1967).
ASIN: B0006FFBV2.
Dr. C.P. Thakur. India Under Atal Behari Vajpayee: The BJP Era.(1999). ISBN 978817476250
4
Sita Ram Sharma. Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee: Commitment to power. (1998). ISBN
9788185809243.
Bhagwat S. Goyal Values, Vision & Verses of Vajpayee: India's Man of Destiny 2001 Srijan
Prakashan R6/233 Rajnagar Ghaziabad 201002 ISBN 8187996005.
Darshan Singh. Atal Behari Vajpayee: The arch of India. (2001). ISBN 9788186405253.
Yogesh Atal. Mandate for political transition: Reemergence of Vaypayee. (2000). ASIN:
B0006FEIHA.
Sujata K. Das. Atal Bihari Vajpayee. (2004). ISBN 9788178352770
External links
Profile (http://pib.nic.in/profile/bajpayee.html) Govt. of
Wikimedia Commons has
India
media related to Atal Bihari
Profile (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/463000.stm) Vajpayee.
at BBC News
Wikisource has original
works written by or about:
Atal Bihari Vajpayee
Political offices
Preceded by Minister of External Affairs Succeeded by
Yashwantrao Chavan 1977–79 Shyam Nandan Prasad Mishra
Preceded by Prime Minister of India Succeeded by
P. V. Narasimha Rao 1996 H. D. Deve Gowda
Preceded by Prime Minister of India Succeeded by
I. K. Gujral 1998–2004 Manmohan Singh
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Atal_Bihari_Vajpayee&oldid=711344943"
Categories: 1924 births Living people Ministers for External Affairs of India People from Gwalior

People from Kanpur People from Lucknow Prime Ministers of India
Presidents of Bharatiya Janata Party Recipients of the Padma Vibhushan Indian Hindus
2nd Lok Sabha members 4th Lok Sabha members 5th Lok Sabha members
6th Lok Sabha members 7th Lok Sabha members 10th Lok Sabha members
11th Lok Sabha members 12th Lok Sabha members 13th Lok Sabha members
14th Lok Sabha members Commerce and Industry ministers
Chhatrapati Shahu Ji Maharaj University alumni Rajya Sabha members from Madhya Pradesh
Hindilanguage writers Hindi poets Indian journalists Indian editors
Rajya Sabha members from Uttar Pradesh Lok Sabha members from Uttar Pradesh
Lok Sabha members from Madhya Pradesh Lok Sabha members from Delhi
Leaders of the Opposition (India) Indians imprisoned during the Emergency (India)
Indian independence activists from Uttar Pradesh Prisoners and detainees of British India
Bharatiya Jan Sangh politicians Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh pracharaks
Recipients of the Bharat Ratna
This page was last modified on 22 March 2016, at 09:16.
Text is available under the Creative Commons AttributionShareAlike License; additional terms
may apply. By using this site, you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Wikipedia® is a
registered trademark of the Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., a nonprofit organization.

Atal Bihari Vajpayee - Brief Life History

Uploaded by

Document Information

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Atal Bihari Vajpayee - Brief Life History

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

22/03/2016 Atal Bihari Vajpayee Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Bihari Vajpayee in his residence on 27 March 2015.[1] President K. R. Narayanan

Categories: 1924 births Living people Ministers for External Affairs of India People from Gwalior

You might also like

Atal Bihari Vajpayee - Brief Life History

Uploaded by

Document Information

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Atal Bihari Vajpayee - Brief Life History

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

22/03/2016 Atal Bihari Vajpayee ­ Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Bihari Vajpayee in his residence on 27 March 2015.[1] President K. R. Narayanan

Categories: 1924 births Living people Ministers for External Affairs of India People from Gwalior

You might also like

22/03/2016 Atal Bihari Vajpayee Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia