Alvida Atal

Prajna Prasad Sravan Kumar

 A common man recalls the common man’s PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee

Yesterday while responding to the status update of one of my college juniors in Whatsapp about the cycles of birth, death and rebirth, I quoted few verses of Adiguru Shankaracharya like “Jabat Janamam tabat maranam, punarapi janani jathareshayanam” and in the evening the nation mourned the departure of Atal Bihari Vajpayee, the prime minister loved by people across different walks of life. This is purely a coincidence, but wish he could take a rebirth.

For a young aspiring village lad like me who had a penchant for wining hearts through oratory, Atal Ji, the beloved prime minister was the perfect role model. Watching him on TV while delivering the prime ministerial address to the nation on Independence Day was a life time experience.

The poise, eloquence and conviction with which he was narrating the valor of our brave soldiers who sacrificed their life during the Kargil War was truly inspirational. I still remember his speech and his signature style of oratory where he cited few lines of Shreemad Bhagwat Geeta “Hatoba Prapsyaysi Swargam Jeetwaba Bhokhyase Mahim” highlighting the essence of war for a noble cause.

For me, he was the first prime minister whose act of governance I realized for the first time. He was the one who fulfilled the long cherished dream of having good roads to Indian villages under the flagship programme of Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana. He definitely won hearts of rural people through sadak, bijli and pani. Being from a village situated on the sides of National Highway 5 connecting Howrah to Chennai, the progress of Golden Quadrangle Project and the impact it had on the people was well recieved.

Winning the heart of the then prime minister Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru in 1957 as a young first timer in Parliament to occupying the office of Prime Minister showcasing the power of coalition politics has truly made the political life of Vajpayee Ji a full circle. He was the first parliamentarian from India who addressed the United Nations General Assembly in Hindi for the first time and was undoubtedly an emissary of “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam”.

Forming a new party in 1980, losing to the opposition candidate by a huge margin in 1984 General Election from Gwalior Constituency and having only two MPs in the parliament to become the prime minister for the first time for 13 days in 1996 and 13 months in 1998 and then leading a stable non-congress coalition government that completed its full term, it requires the charisma and character like that of Atal Ji. He literally proved the essence of being Atal in the times of continuous political ups and downs and a tumultuous political journey.

Atal Ji was regarded as the Ajatashatru of Indian politics who had no enemies and garnered utmost respect from politicians of different rank and file across political parties. His address to the parliament during the floor test of his 13 day government emphasizing the power of democracy truly exemplifies his statesmanship.

He was essentially a consensus seeker and builder who enjoyed wider acceptability across party lines that none of his contemporaries had. For opposition leaders, he was regarded as the right man in the wrong party which he out rightly rejected.

The statesman who practiced Rajadharmaand compelled his party and cabinet colleagues to adhere to the same is none other than Atal Bihari Vajpayee. Being in opposition and supporting the moves of the government that puts the nation at the fore like the first Pokhran Test during the regime of Indira Gandhi Govt and the economic reforms during the P V Narasimha Rao Govt highlights his role as a constructive opposition leader.

Pokhran-II in the summer of 1998 created a new chapter in Indian defence and grabbed all the eye balls of world leaders. Irrespective of possible sanctions from the world powers, the NDA govt did a commendable job for the security of the nation under the strong leadership of AB Vajpayee. Adding Jai Vigyan to the famous quote of Jai Jawan Jai Kisan was a befitting tribute to the daredevilry of Pokhran Nuclear Test.

Being from a family having literary blend of mind, I am equally fascinated by the poetic side of the late BJP patriarch. The content of his poetry and the way he recites has carved a niche of his own in billions of hearts. The iconic lines of Atal Ji “Geet Naya Gata Hoon” may continue to inspire the young parliamentarians to sing a new song each day and bring positivity and change the lives of their fellow constituents.

Few years back while going through the obituary of a departed leader in a leading newspaper daily, came to know that shedding tears and discussing all positive about the departed soul and not focusing on the negative side is an Asian phenomenon. I am not sure whether that’s Asian or a pure humanitarian activity, but the hour needs deepest possible tribute to the beloved Prime Minister Atal Ji. Let his soul rest in peace and let his good work continue to inspire and energizethe people and parliamentarians in particular for a shining India.

(Prajna Prasad Sravan Kumar is an IT Professional and currently based at Kolkata)