Atal Bihari Vajpayee

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Atal Bihari Vajpayee

Vajpayee in 2003

10th Prime Minister of India

In office
19 March 1998 19 May 2004
President
K. R. Narayanan
Deputy
L. K. Advani
Preceded by I. K. Gujral
Succeeded by Manmohan Singh
In office
16 May 1996 1 June 1996
President
Shankar Dayal Sharma
Preceded by P. V. Narasimha Rao
Succeeded by H. D. Deve Gowda
Minister of External Affairs
In office
19 March 1998 5 December 1998
Preceded by I. K. Gujral
Succeeded by Jaswant Singh

In office
16 May 1996 21 May 1996
Preceded by Pranab Mukherjee
Succeeded by Sikander Bakht
In office
26 March 1977 28 July 1979
Prime Minister Morarji Desai
Preceded by Yashwantrao Chavan
Succeeded by Shyam Nandan Prasad Mishra
Personal details
25 December 1924 (age 86)
Born
Gwalior, British India
Political party Bharatiya Janata Party (1980present)
Other political
Bharatiya Jana Sangh (Before 1980)
affiliations
Victoria College, Gwalior
Alma mater
DAV College, Kanpur
Profession Poet Politician
Religion
Hinduism
Signature
Atal Bihari Vajpayee (Hindi: ; pronounced [l bari adpeji]; born 25
December 1924) is an Indian statesman who served as the tenth Prime Minister of India three
times first for a brief term of 13 days in 1996, and then for two terms from 1998 to 2004. After
his first brief period as Prime Minister in 1996, Vajpayee headed a coalition government from 19
March 1998 until 19 May 2004. A parliamentarian for over four decades, Vajpayee was elected to
the Lok Sabha a record nine times, and to the Rajya Sabha twice.[1] He served as the Member of
Parliament for Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, until 2009, when he retired from active politics due to
health concerns.

Contents
[hide]

1 Early life and education

2 Early political career

3 The rise of the BJP

4 Prime Minister of India

o 4.1 First term: May 1996
o 4.2 Second term: 19981999

4.2.1 Nuclear tests

4.2.2 The Lahore summit

4.2.3 Kargil War

o 4.3 Third term: 19992004

4.3.1 Indian Airlines hijack

4.3.2 National Highways Development Project, foreign policy and

economic reform

4.3.3 2001 attack on Parliament

4.3.4 Remainder of term

5 2004 general election

6 Later career

7 VajpayeeAdvani duo

8 Awards

9 Works
o 9.1 Social and political
o 9.2 Autobiography
o 9.3 Poetry
o 9.4 Speeches

10 References

11 Further reading

12 External links

[edit] Early life and education

Atal Bihari Vajpayee was born to Krishna Devi and Krishna Bihari Vajpayee on 25 December
1924 in a Brahmin family. His birthplace was Shinde Ki Chhavani, a town in the Gwalior district
of Madhya Pradesh (then known as Central Province). Vajpayee's grandfather, Pandit Shyam Lal
Vajpayee, had migrated to Gwalior from his ancestral village of Bateshwar, Uttar Pradesh;
Vajpayee's father, Krishna Bihari, was a poet and schoolmaster in his hometown. Atal Bihari
Vajpayee attended Gwalior's Victoria College (now Laxmi Bai College), and graduated with
distinctions in Hindi, English and Sanskrit. He received a Degree of Post Graduation (M.A.) in
Political Science from DAV College, Kanpur, securing first-class marks.[2] He later joined
Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, and served the Rashtradharma, Veer Arjun and Panchjanya
newspapers as a journalist and poet. Vajpayee never married, becoming the first and, to date,
only bachelor Prime Minister of India.

[edit] Early political career

Vajpayee's first contact with politics occurred in 1942, when he was arrested during the Quit
India civil disobedience campaign, and spent 23 days in prison; he was released without charge
before coming to trial.[3][4][5] He soon became a close follower and aide to Syama Prasad
Mookerjee, the leader of the Bharatiya Jana Sangh (BJS). In 1953, Vajpayee was at Mookerjee's
side when he went on a fast-unto-death in Kashmir to protest against perceived inferior treatment
of non-Kashmiri Indian visitors in Kashmir. Mookerjee's fast and protest ended the identity
carrogram, the centerpiece of Indian national security at the time. In 1957, Vajpayee was elected
to the Lok Sabha, where his oratorical skills so impressed then-Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru
that he predicted Vajpayee would someday be India's Prime Minister.[6][7]
In 1977, Vajpayee became the Minister for External Affairs under the Janata government. That
same year, he also became the first person to deliver a speech to the United Nations General
Assembly in India's official language, Hindi. By the time the Janata government crumbled in
1979, Vajpayee had long since established his credentials as an experienced statesman and
respected political leader.[8]

[edit] The rise of the BJP

Morarji Desai resigned as Prime Minister in 1979, and the Janata Party was dissolved soon after.
The Bharatiya Jana Sangh had devoted its political organization to sustain the coalition, and was
left exhausted by the internecine political wars within the Janata Party.

Atal Bihari Vajpayee joined many BJS and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) colleagues,
particularly his long-time and close friends Lal Krishna Advani and Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, to
found the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in 1980. Vajpayee was made the BJP's first President, and
became a strong critic of the Congress (I) government that followed the rule of the Janata Party.
While the BJP opposed the Sikh militancy that was rising in the state of Punjab, it also blamed
Prime Minister Indira Gandhi for divisive and corrupt politics that fostered such militancy at
expense of the nation. Leader Darasingh opines that Vajpayee thus "brought in Hindu-Sikh
harmony."[9]
The BJP did not support Operation Bluestar, 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. During this bloody period, more than 3,000 Sikhs were massacred. Vajpayee
was commended for protecting Sikhs against Indian National Congress supporters seeking to
avenge the death of Gandhi.[citation needed] The BJP was left with only two parliamentary seats in the
1984 elections; however, the party had established itself in the mainstream of Indian politics, and
soon began expanding its organization to attract young Indians throughout the country. During
this period, Vajpayee remained center-stage as party President and Leader of the Opposition in
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 Rama at the site of the Babri mosque in Ayodhya. Hindu activists believed
the site was the birthplace of Rama, and thus qualified as one of the most sacred sites of
Hinduism.
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 be the Prime Minister of India if the BJP
won May 1996 parliamentary elections.

[edit] Prime Minister of India

Main article: Premiership of Atal Bihari Vajpayee

[edit] First term: May 1996

Political energy and expansion made BJP the single-largest political party in the Lok Sabha
elected in 1996. Asked to form the government, A.B. Vajpayee was sworn in as Prime Minister,
but the BJP failed to gather enough support from other parties to form a majority. Vajpayee
resigned after just 13 days, when it became clear that he could not garner a majority.

[edit] Second term: 19981999

After the fall of two governments by the third-front between 1996 and 1998, the Parliament was
dissolved and fresh elections were held. These elections again put the BJP at the head. This time,

a cohesive bloc of political parties lined up with it to form the National Democratic Alliance
(NDA), and A.B. Vajpayee was sworn in as the Prime Minister.[10] The NDA proved its majority
in parliament. Towards the end of 1998 however, the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra
Kazhagam (AIADMK) under J. Jayalalitha withdrew its support from the 13-month old
government.[11] The government lost the ensuing vote of confidence motion by a single vote. As
the Opposition was unable to come up with the numbers to form the new government, the
country returned to elections with Vajpayee remaining the "care-taker Prime Minister".
[edit] Nuclear tests
Main article: Pokhran-II
In May 1998, India conducted five underground nuclear tests in Pokhran, Rajasthan. The five
tests shocked and surprised the world, especially considering that the government had been in
power for only a month. 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,[12] others including the United States, Canada, Japan, Britain, and the European Union
imposed sanctions on information, resources and technology to India or Pakistan. In spite of the
intense international criticism and the steady decline in foreign investment and trade, the nuclear
tests were popular domestically and Vajpayee's popularity as well as BJP's prestige rose in
response.
During his administration, Vajpayee introduced many important economic and infrastructural
reforms domestically including, encouraging the private sector and foreign investments; reducing
governmental waste; encouraging research and development and privatizing of some government
owned corporations.
[edit] The Lahore summit
In late 1998 and early 1999, Vajpayee began a push for a full-scale diplomatic peace process with
Pakistan. With the historic inauguration of the Delhi-Lahore bus service in February
1999,Vajpayee initiated a new peace process aimed towards permanently resolving the Kashmir
dispute and other territorial/nuclear/strategic conflicts with Pakistan. The resultant Lahore
Declaration espoused a commitment to dialogue, expanded trade relations and the goal of
denuclearized South Asia, and mutual friendship. 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 Vajpayee led government was faced with two crises in mid-1999. The AIADMK party had
continually threatened to withdraw support from the coalition and national leaders repeatedly
flew down from Delhi to Chennai to pacify the AIADMK chief J. Jayalalitha. Finally, 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.
[edit] Kargil War

Main article: Kargil War

More importantly and soon after, it was revealed that militants and non-uniformed 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 centered around the town of Kargil, but
also included the Batalik and Akhnoor sectors and include artillery exchanges at the Siachen
Glacier.
Indian army units were rushed into Kashmir in response. Operation Vijay (1999), launched in
June 1999, saw the Indian military fighting thousands of militants and soldiers amidst heavy
artillery shelling and while facing extremely cold weather, snow and treacherous terrain at the
high altitude. Over 500 Indian soldiers were killed in the three-month long Kargil War, and it is
estimated around 600-4,000 Pakistani militants and soldiers died as well. India pushed back the
Pakistani militants and Northern Light Infantry soldiers. Almost 70% of the territory was
recaptured by India. With news of Pakistan planning to launch a nuclear attack or a nuclear threat
in the face of a lost war with India, Nawaz Sharif was summoned to the US by Bill Clinton.[12]
Pakistan claimed to have shot down two Air Force jets, and the Indian Air Force acknowledged
one loss to enemy missiles and attributed the other loss to engine flameout. The mutilation of the
body of pilot Ajay Ahuja inflamed public opinion in India. After heavy losses and a recalcitrant
general in Musharraf, and with both the United States and China refusing to condone the
incursion or threaten India to stop its military operations, Pakistan's Prime Minister Nawaz
Sharif asked the remaining militants to stop and withdraw to positions along the LoC. The
militants were not willing to accept orders from Nawaz Sharif while the NLI soldiers withdrew.
[12]
The militants were killed by the army or forced to withdraw in skirmishes which went beyond
the announcement of withdrawal by Pakistan.

[edit] Third term: 19992004

On 13 October 1999, Atal Bihari Vajpayee took oath as Prime Minister of India for the third
time. The BJP-led NDA had won 303 seats in the 543 seat Lok Sabha in the aftermath of Kargil
operations,[13] thereby securing a comfortable, stable majority. The coalition government that was
formed lasted its full term of 5 years the only non-Congress government to do so.
[edit] Indian Airlines hijack
Main article: Indian Airlines Flight 814
A national crisis emerged in December 1999, when Indian Airlines flight (IC 814) en-route
Kathmandu to New Delhi was hijacked by five terrorists and flown to Taliban-ruled Afghanistan.
[14]
The hijackers made several demands including the release certain terrorists like Maulana
Masood Azhar, from prison. The government ultimately caved in and Jaswant Singh, the Indian
External Affairs minister, flew with the terrorists to Afghanistan and exchanged them for the
passengers. No explanation was given by the Indian government for the External Affairs minister
personally escorting the terrorists.

A.B.Vajpayee meeting President Bush in the White House in 2001

[edit] National Highways Development Project, foreign policy and economic reform
Vajpayee oversaw his National Highway Development Project and Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak
Yojana begin construction, in which he took a personal interest.
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
followed 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 post-Cold War U.S.
foreign policy. The Indian Prime Minister and the U.S. President discussed strategic issues, but
the chief achievement was a significant expansion in trade and economic ties. 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 BJP-led government was under constant pressure from its ideological mentor,
the RSS, and the hard-line 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 Mandir 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. The BJP
was however accused of saffron-ising (saffron is the color of the flag of the RSS, symbol of the
Hindu nationalism movement) the official state education curriculum and apparatus. Home
Minister L.K. Advani and HRD minister Murli Manohar Joshi were indicted in the 1992 Babri
Mosque demolition case for inciting the mob of activists. The RSS also routinely criticized the
government for free-market policies which introduced foreign goods and competition at the
expense of home industries and products.
Vajpayee's administration earned the ire of many unionized workers groups and government
workers for their aggressive campaign to privatize government owned corporations. Vajpayee
promoted pro-business, free market reforms to reinvigorate India's economic transformation and
expansion that were started by 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 and high-tech industries, improvements in infrastructure,
deregulation of trade, investments and corporate laws - all increased foreign capital investment
and set in motion an economic expansion.

Atal Bihari Vajpayee with Russia's then president Vladimir Putin.

These couple of years of reform however were accompanied by infighting in the administration
and confusion regarding the direction of government. Cabinet portfolios were created and
shuffled every six months apparently to pacify restless coalition partners.[citation needed] 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 incriminating videos of the BJP President Bangaru
Laxman, senior army officers and NDA members accepting bribes from journalists posing as
agents and businessmen. While the scandals were not linked to Vajpayee personally, the Defence
Minister George Fernandes was forced to resign following this Barak Missile Deal Scandal,
another scandal involving the botched supplies of coffins for the soldiers killed in Kargil, and the
finding of an inquiry commission that the Government could have prevented the Kargil invasion.
These developments as well as an ambiguous response of the economy to the reforms, reduced
the Vajpayee administration's popularity and undermined its future.
Vajpayee again broke the ice in the Indo-Pak 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 tensions 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 Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, which aimed at
improving the quality of education in primary and secondary schools.
[edit] 2001 attack on Parliament
Main article: 2001 Indian Parliament attack
Main article: 20012002 IndiaPakistan standoff
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 the finger at a conspiracy
rooted in Pakistan. Prime Minister Vajpayee ordered a mobilization 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 anti-terrorist campaign froze day-to-day 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 administrations passed the Prevention of Terrorist Act against vigorous opposition
of non-NDA 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.[15]
But the biggest political disaster hit between December 2001 and March 2002: the VHP held the
Government hostage in a major standoff in Ayodhya over the Ram Mandir. 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 organization hung over the nation.[8]
[edit] Remainder of term
In late 2002 and 2003 the government pushed economic reforms, and the country's GDP growth
accelerated at record levels, exceeding 67%. Increasing foreign investment, modernization of
public and industrial infrastructure, the creation of jobs, a rising high-tech and IT industry and
urban modernization and expansion improved the nation's national image. Good crop harvests
and strong industrial expansion also helped the economy. The Government reformed the tax
system, increased the pace of reforms and pro-business initiatives, major irrigation and housing
schemes and so on. The political energies of the BJP shifted to the rising urban middle-class and
young people, who were positive and enthusiastic about the major economic expansion and
future of the country.
In August 2003, Prime Minister Vajpayee announced before Parliament his "absolute last" effort
to achieve peace with Pakistan. Although the diplomatic process never truly set-off immediately,
visits were exchanged by high-level officials and the military stand-off 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 recognized Tibet, as a part of China,
which was reacted to positively, by the Chinese leadership, who the following year, recognized
Sikkim, as a part of India. Sino-Indian Relations, improved greatly, in the following years.
In NovemberDecember 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 controversies 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 vigor
were obvious factors in such speculations. 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 a Vikas Purush, (Man of Progress), comparing him to Bhishma
Pitamah of the Mahabharata epic, a man respected by all political outfits and hundreds of
millions of people.
As the BJP prepared for general elections in 2004, Vajpayee was still the choice of the BJP, and
crucially of the wider NDA, for the Prime Minister's job.

[edit] 2004 general election

The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) was widely expected to retain power after the 2004
general election. The parliament had been dissolved before the completion of term to capitalize
on the perceived 'feel-good factor' and BJP's recent successes in Assembly elections in
Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chattisgarh. The BJP hoped to capitalise on the slogan "India
Shining" and released many ads touting the economic growth of the nation.
However, the coalition sidestepped controversial and ideological questions in favour of breadand-butter economic issues during the campaign and subsequently 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. On July 4, 2004 Vajpayee shifted to his new
residence 6-A Krishna Menon Marg in New Delhi from 7 Race Course Road.[16]
Vajpayee attended the swearing-in ceremony of the new government, despite his party's decision
to boycott it. Vajpayee was criticized for sacrificing core issues like Hindutva and the Ram
Temple to please Muslim voters (the BJP lost the Muslim vote by a heavy margin). Vajpayee
expressed his anger and frustration at being blamed and at a high-level party meeting, he decided
to give up the position of the Leader of the Opposition to Lal Krishna Advani. However, he
retained his post as Chairman of the NDA.

[edit] Later career

In December 2005, Vajpayee announced his retirement from active politics, declaring that he
would not participate in the next general election. At a rally in the western city of Mumbai,
Vajpayee said "I will not participate in any electoral politics. There are many other leaders to
take forward the work which I and other senior leaders have been doing. In a now famous

statement at the BJP's silver Jubilee rally at Mumbai's historic Shivaji Park, Vajpayee announced
that "from now onwards, Lal Krishna Advani and Pramod Mahajan will be the Ram-Laxman (the
two godly brothers much revered and worshipped by Hindus) of the BJP."[17]
Vajpayee was referred to as The Bhishma Pitamah of Indian Politics by Prime Minister Dr.
Manmohan Singh during his speech in the Rajya Sabha.[18]
Vajpayee was hospitalized at AIIMS for chest infection and fever and on 6 February 2009 he was
put on ventilator as his conditioned worsened. It may be noted that at 84, he does not have
diabetes or high blood pressure and he is on one kidney for the past 25 years.Vajpayee underwent
several knee replacement surgeries during the 90's.[19] Unable to participate in the campaign for
the 2009 general election due to his health, he wrote a letter urging voters in his Lucknow
constituency to back BJP candidate Lalji Tandon. Finally Lalji Tandon was able to retain the
Lucknow seat of Vajpayee even though NDA suffered electoral reverses in that state by just
managing to win 15 of the total 80 seats. The tall apolitical image of Vajpayee was said to be the
main reason behind Lalji's success in Lucknow even though BJP's position was poor in Uttar
Pradesh.[20]

[edit] VajpayeeAdvani duo

Through the 90s and the first few years of the 21st century, the Atal Bihari Vajpayee-LK Advani
combination steered the BJP to heights it had never before witnessed. Their political relationship
provided stability, continuity, experience and authority to a party that was beginning even then,
to severely lack a solid second-rung. As Advani himself acknowledged, rarely do two political
leaders share such a bond, a working relationship that allows them both to thrive and grow
without disturbing the fine balance of that bond.
Vajpayee, the poet-Prime Minister and Advani as his able and trusted lieutenant, brought depth
and gravity to the BJP leadership. It still is, and will be in many ways, the gold standard to which
the BJP will hold itself for many years to come.

[edit] Awards

1992, Padma Vibhushan[21]

1993, D.Lit from Kanpur University[22]

1994, Lokmanya Tilak Award[22]

1994, Best Parliamentarian Award

1994, Bharat Ratna Pandit Govind Vallabh Pant Award[21]

[edit] Works

[edit] Social and political

Nayi chunauti, naya avasara (Hindi Edition). (2002). ISBN 978-8170165019.

India's Perspectives on ASEAN and the Asia-Pacific Region. (2003). ISBN 9789812301727.

NEW DIMENSIONS OF INDIA'S FOREIGN POLICY. (1979).

Decisive days. (1999).

When will atrocities on Harijans stop?: A.B. Vajpayee's speech in Rajya Sabha. (1988).

Heal the wounds: Vajpayee's appeal on Assam tragedy to the parliament. (1983).

National integration. (1961).

Sakti se santi. (1999).

Rajaniti ki rapatili rahem. (1997).

Vicara-bindu (Hindi Edition). (2000). ISBN 978-8170164753.

Bindu-bindu vicara. (1997).

Kucha lekha, kucha bhashana. (1996).

Back to square one. (1998).

Dynamics of an open society. (1977).

Na dainyam na palayanam (Hindi Edition). (1998).

Bindu-bindu vicara (Hindi Edition). (1997).

Kucha lekha, kucha bhashana (Hindi Edition). (1996).

Sekyularavada: Bharatiya parikalpana (Da. Rajendra Prasada Smaraka

vyakhyanamala). (1996).

[edit] Autobiography

Atal Bihari Vajpayee, meri samsadiya yatra (Hindi Edition). (1999). ISBN 9788173152818.

Four decades in parliament. (1996).

Atala Bihari Vajpayee, samsada 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).

Suvasita pushpa: Atala Bihari Vajapeyi ke sreshtatama bhashana. (1997).

[edit] Poetry

Twenty-One Poems. (2003). ISBN 978-0670049172.

Kya khoya kya paya: Atala Vihari Vajapeyi, vyaktitva aura kavitaem (Hindi Edition).
(1999). ISBN 978-8170283355.

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)

[edit] Speeches

Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, selected speeches. (2000). ISBN 978-8123008349.

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 Test.

www.atalbiharibajpai.com