New Delhi
Former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, being a statesman of global repute, is also well known for his excellent oratory skills. His fiery speeches, laced with wit and humor, often used to leave his opponents and supporters equally spellbound whenever he chose to express his views on pressing issues inside Parliament or at open forums.
He possessed a very command over the English and Hindi and languages, which also reflects in his writings, poems and political commentaries on socio-political issues.
He was a poet, who touched millions of hearts through his thought-provoking poetry, an orator par excellence, a politician of enviable repute, a statesman of international stature and, above all, a very simple human being.
He served as the editor of (i) Rashtra-Dharma (monthly), (ii) Panchajanya (weekly) and Swadesh and Veer Arjun (both dailies).
He was a member of the National Integration Council since 1961, President of (i) All India Station Masters and Assistant Station Masters Association, 1965-70, (ii) Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya Samarak Samiti, 1968-84, (iii) Deendayal Dham, Farah, Mathura, UP, (iv) Janmabhoomi Smarak Samiti, 1969 onwards and (v) Krishna Bihari Vajpayee Memorial Trust, Gwalior.
Reading, writing, travelling, cooking and watching movies were his favorite pastime.
He was a globetrotter and visited several countries while serving as a lawmaker and prime minister.
During his youth, Vajpayee participated in the country’s freedom struggle and went to jail in 1942. later, during the Emergency imposed in 1975-77 by the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, Vajpayee was among several politicians who were detained by the government.
He was awarded Padma Vibhushan by President of India in recognition of his services to the Nation, conferred (I) Honorary Doctorate of Philosophy by Kanpur University, 1993, (ii) Lok Manya Tilak Puruskar, 1994, (iii) Pt. Govind Ballabh Pant Award for Best Parliamentarian, 1994 and Bharat Ratna in 2015.
The historic bus journey to Lahore in 1999 during which he signed the landmark Lahore Declaration with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif for peace and security in the Indian sub-continent is still lauded as one of the major highlights of his government.
