A man of masses : AB Vajpayee आज वास्तव में भारतीय राजनीति के एक युग का अंत हो गया, जय जवान, जय किसान,,, जय विज्ञान।।। माननीय श्री अटल बिहारी वाजपेयी को।। भावपूर्ण श्रद्धांजली.

A man of masses : AB Vajpayee
आज वास्तव में भारतीय राजनीति के एक युग का अंत हो गया, 
जय जवान, जय किसान,,, जय विज्ञान।।। 
माननीय श्री अटल बिहारी वाजपेयी को।।
भावपूर्ण श्रद्धांजली

ठन गई
मौत से ठन गई
जूझने का मेरा इरादा न था
मोड़ पर मिलेंगे इसका वादा न था
रास्ता रोक वह खड़ी हो गई
यों लगा ज़िन्दगी से बड़ी हो गई
मौत की उमर क्या है?दो पल भी नहीं
ज़िन्दगी सिलसिला,आज कल की नहीं
मैं जी भर जिया, मैं मन से मरूँ
लौटकर आऊँगा,कूच से क्यों डरूँ?

Atal Bihari Vajpayee: Bheeshma Pitamah of Indian politics is No More. "Andhera chutega, Suraj niklega, Kamal khilega." These Immortal words are engraved in India's heart!

The Man whom India’s first PM Nehru prophesied to become the Prime Minister of India one day, the man whom the then PM Manmohan Singh called the “Bheeshma Pitamah of Indian politics,” the man who led an Indian delegation to the UN for a discussion on the Kashmir issue despite being in the opposition. Yes, we are talking about no other than Ex PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee, whom even the opponents regard with utmost respect and is invariably referred to as Atal ji by one and all .

Political life of Atal Ji spanning over seven decades, has numerous exemplary accomplishments and statesmanship. He was the man who helped build Bharatiya Janata Party from an insignificant political player, with just two Lok Sabha MPs in the 1984 elections, to the ruling party of today. In the very first general election BJP contested in 1984 – amid unprecedented pro-Congress wave following Indira Gandhi’s assassination – BJP could manage to win merely two seats in the Lok Sabha.

He led BJP from two seats in 1984 to single-largest party in 1996. He was invited to form the govt as the leader of the single-largest party, though he did not have the majority. Here he showed he was a true statesman and not like any other power-hungry politician who would have tried every trick of the trade (read horse trading) to cobble up majority and remain in power. But he gracefully put in his papers when he did not get enough support.

In 1977, as foreign minister in Morarji Desai govt, he delivered his speech at UN in Hindi and became first Indian leader to do so. He also served as country’s PM from 1998 to 2004. He had many accomplishments, nuclear test, Lahore summit, Kargil victory, ushering in growth, economic development. After his defeat in elections, he retired from active politics in 2005.

Vajpayee suffered a stroke in 2009, which silenced the great orator. He now remains confined to his bed or wheelchair in his SPG (Special Protection Guard)-guarded Krishna Menon Marg bungalow, where he lives with his adopted daughter Namita. He also suffers from dementia and often fails to recognise people.

Unlike the good old days, no one visits him these days, except LK Advani and former Uttarakhand CM BC Khanduri. He rarely ventures out of his sprawling bungalow, except for checkups at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences. However, leaders cutting across various political parties visit him to wish him on his birthday (25 December). Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh makes it a point to visit him personally on his birthday. PM Modi inaugurated Patna AIIMS on his birthday as a mark of tribute to him. Vajpayee had laid its foundation stone when he was PM.

He is also a prolific poet & many of his poems like Kadam milakar chalna hoga and Door kahin koi rota hai were sung by the late Ghazal maestro Jagjit Singh. Singer Bappi Lahiri to compose an album of his poems. Bharat Ratna is a befitting tribute to this great statesman.

Bharat Ratna Atal Bihari Vajpayee is a unique politician, who had no enemies and friends across the political spectrum.

While his public life is an open book, he carefully guarded his private life. Here are few nuggets of information about Atal Bihari Vajpayee. Do you know them?

Do you know that Vajpayee's oratorical skills were first recognised in an inter-university eloccution contest. Vajpayee's train was delayed and by the time he arrived at the venue, the competitions were over and judges were busy finalising the winners. On Vajpayee's request, they allowed him to speak. After his speech, they revised the winners list and no marks for guessing who won the contest.

Do you know that Vajpayee, the die-hard RSS Pracharak-turned-politician, was once the member of All India Students Federation, the Communist student wing. However, he soon shunned communism and embraced Hindutwa ideology.

Do you know that In 1960s, he adopted the family of his close friend BM Kaul after the latter's death. The grand daughter of BM Kaul is Vajpayee's adopted grand daughter, who married Ranjan Bhattacharya, a Bengali.

Manali was Vajpayee's favourite place. Whenever he was low in spirits, he used to escape to Manali. Even as Prime Minister, he took a week's leave from duties to spend time in Manali.

After retiring from active politics, Vajpayee said the BJP was in the safe hands of LK Advani and Pramod Mahajan. Ironically, both could not become prime ministers.

सत्ता का खेल तो चलेगा, सरकारें आएंगी, जाएंगी, पार्टियां बनेंगी, बिगड़ेंगी मगर ये देश रहना चाहिए।