This year marks thecentenary birth anniversary of former Prime Minister and Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee ji. He was a visionary statesman who led India into 21st century with his insightful, brave and kind leadership. Today on hiscentenary birth anniversary the entire Nation remembers Bharat Ratna Atal ji,as an ideal personality, whose decency, simplicity and sensitivity found a special place in the hearts and mind of crores of Indians. The whole Nation shall always remain indebted to his extraordinary political career and his immensely significant contribution towards upholding India’s democratic values of growth with unity and integrity.
Early life and Education
Atal Bihar Vajpayee was a stalwart statesman and an accomplished poet and one of India’s most cherished and respected leaders. He wasborn on 25th December 1924 in Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh to Smt. Krishna Devi and Shri Prakash Narayan Vajpayee a school teacher. He completed is primary schooling in Gwalior and then later pursued higher studies in Victoria college (Now Laxmibhai college) and DAV college Kanpur in UP. He joined RSS (RastiyaSwyamsewak Sangha) as a student and later became active in student politics in the region; such involvement established his lifelong commitment to public service.
Political Career
Vajpayee ji joined the Bharatiya JanaSangh in 1951 and later co-founded Bharatiya Janta Party in 1980. He was served as a Member of Parliament in the Lok Sabha for Nine terms and Rajya Sabha for two terms. He also served as the Minister of External Affairsin Janata party Government under Prime Minister Shri Morarji Desai from 1977 to 1979 and later became the Leader of opposition. He served as thePrime Minister of India for three terms with his first term being in 1996 (13 days), 2nd term in 1998-1999(13 months) and 3rd term in 1999-2004 (full term).
He was the first non-congress Prime Minster of Indiato serve his full term in office.
Atal Bihari Vajpayee ji’s Policies Reform and Challenges.
Vajpayee ji’s leadership focused on improving infrastructure, economic growth, strategic planning, and independence in policy-making.
Crucial policy reforms in the defense sector include the Pokhran Nuclear Tests (1998)which demonstrated India’s nuclear capability and established it as a recognizednuclear power.
Further with respect to infrastructural development, TheGolden Quadrilateral Projectwas launched in year 2001 under the National Highways development Project which connected the four major cities of the country – Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Kolkata to boost trade and transport. Also, for rural connectivity the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY)was initiated in 2000 which led to significant improvement in the quality Rural Road connectivity.
The government under Vajpayee ji put a lot of emphasis on improving the access of education to each and every citizen. It initiated the Sarva Siksha Abhiyaan(SSA)which is a flagship program aimed to ensure universal elementary education to all.
Vajpayee ji recognized the need for a Telecom Revolution, and his incredible foresight has led India’s telecom sector to where it is in the present. The government under Vajpayee ji through various policies liberalized the telecommunications sector which led to the rapid expansion of Mobile Network and Internet services connectivity.
The government through itseconomic Reforms continued to successfully implement liberalizationpolicies to attract direct foreign investment and promote privatization of Public Enterprises.
Challenge to Vajpayee Government
However, the Vajpayee government faced a great deal of difficulties and challenged during its tenure.
Post the successful Pokhran Nuclear Tests in 1998, there were a wide range of sanctions imposed on India. However, the Vajpayee government stood strong through waves of such international sanctions and ensured India cements its position as a crucial and recognized nuclear power on the global stage.
Vajpayee ji in the Lahore summit (1999) travelled by bus to Pakistan to meet the then Pakistan PM Nawaz Sharif in a historic effort to ensure peace between two neighboring countries. But later actions of Pakistan led to failure of such efforts and this betrayal led tothe Kargil war 1999.Bharat Ratna Atal Bihari ji ensured India emerged victorious in what turned out to be a global humiliation for Pakistan. The actions of the Vajpayee government during and post the Kargil war earnedglobal respect for the country.
The Parliament attack in 2001 was another challenge that exposed the vulnerabilities in national security which the government recognized to be a crucial subject which has to dealt firmly with.
The Vajpayee government also had to navigate through the economic slowdown due to the Global recession in early 2000s which negativelyaffected India’s economic growth.
Vajpayee ji led government had to deal with coalition politics at a time when the political scenario of the country was undergoing a massive change. Such coalition politics included managing 20 parties in NDA alliance which required constant negotiations and compromise to some extent for the polices to be placed for consideration in the parliament. Vajpayee ji handled this challenge with great maturity and diplomatic skill maintaining stability and progress.
Achievements
Vajpayee ji during his tenure as theForeign Minister in 1977 in Janta Party Government became the first Indian leader to deliver his speech in Hindi at United National General Assembly thus establishing India’s linguistic identity on Global stage.
Vajpayee ji was an established poet who had published several famous and influential literary works. His collection of Poems such as “Meri EkyavanKavitayein” expresses deep patriotism moral reflection and compassion showcasing the emotional depth behind his poetic presence.
He was awarded best Parliamentarian Award, Padma Vibhushan and Bharat Ratna for his contribution in Indian Politics.
Vajpayee ji and Sikkim
Vajpayee ji had a special affection for Sikkim. Atal ji during his historic trip to China in June 2003 achieved a significant milestone which marked a key moment in the India -China relations. During this visit China officially recognized Sikkim as part of India thusresolving long – standing issues. This recognition was acknowledged in China’s revised map which depicted Sikkim as a part of India’s territory. This was a crucial part of a broader agreement between both the nationswhich included the MOU on expanding border trade.
In 2003, during a personal trip to Gangtok, Vajpayee ji met with local leaders and addressed the media, showing his dedication to public engagement.
Vajpayee ji led government granted Scheduled Tribe status to the Limboo and Tamang communities of Sikkim, included Sikkim in the North Eastern Council to address regional growth and security issues, and approved the reopening of the Nathula border trade with China, which boosted Sikkim’s economy and regional connectivity.
Good Governance Day
Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee is still considered as one of the most respected and admired leaders in the contemporary history of India and was even called “Azatshatru” – the one who has no enemies in the political circle, very fondly. His immense love for the nation was expressed not onlythrough his visionary policies but also through his poems that were enlightened with nationalism and sensitivity to the human beings.
The Hon’ble Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi ji, celebrating the everlasting legacy of Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee ji, has declared 25 December, the birth anniversary of Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee ji, as Good Governance Day, which is a tribute to a leader who had dedicated his whole life for the service of his country.
-Niren Bhandari
Tadong, Gangtok
