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Atal Bihari Vajpayee was a prominent Indian politician and poet who served as the Prime Minister of India for three terms. He was a co-founder and senior leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party, and was known for his diplomatic efforts to improve relations with neighboring countries like Pakistan. Vajpayee left an indelible mark on Indian politics and was honored with the Bharat Ratna, India’s highest civilian award.
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About the Atal Bihari Vajpayee
Atal Bihari Vajpayeewas an Indian politician and poet who was Prime Minister of India, first for a term of 13 days in 1996, then for a period of 13 months from 1998 to 1999, followed by a full term from 1999 to 2004. He was the first non-Congress prime minister to serve a full term in the office. Vajpayee was one of the co-founders and a senior leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party. He was a member of the RSS, a Hindu nationalist volunteer organisation. He was also a Hindi poet and a writer.
He was a member of the Indian Parliament for over five decades, having been elected ten times to the Lok Sabha, the lower house, and twice to the Rajya Sabha, the upper house. He served as the Member of Parliament from the Lucknow constituency, retiring from active politics in 2009 due to health concerns. He was among the founding members of the Bharatiya Jana Sangh, of which he was president from 1968 to 1972. The BJS merged with several other parties to form the Janata Party, which won the 1977 general election. In March 1977, Vajpayee became the Minister of External Affairs in the cabinet of Prime Minister, Morarji Desai. He resigned in 1979, and the Janata alliance collapsed soon after. Former members of the Bharatiya Jana Sangh formed the Bharatiya Janata Party in 1980, with Vajpayee its first president.
During his tenure as prime minister, India carried out the Pokhran-II nuclear tests in 1998. Vajpayee sought to improve diplomatic relations with Pakistan, travelling to Lahore by bus to meet with Prime Minister, Nawaz Sharif. After the 1999 Kargil War with Pakistan, he sought to restore relations through engagement with President Pervez Musharraf, inviting him to India for a summit at Agra. Vajpayee’s government introduced many domestic economic and infrastructural reforms, including encouraging the private sector and foreign investments, reducing governmental waste, encouraging research and development and privatisation of some government owned corporations. During his tenure, India’s security was threatened by a number of violent incidents including 2001 Indian Parliament attack and 2002 Gujarat riots which ultimately caused his defeat in 2004 general election.
The administration of Narendra Modi declared in 2014 that Vajpayee’s birthday, 25 December would be marked as Good Governance Day. In 2015, he was conferred India’s highest civilian honour — Bharat Ratna, by the then President of India, Pranab Mukherjee. He died in 2018 due to age-related illness.
Frequently Asked Questions
Atal Bihari Vajpayee was born on December 25, 1924.
Atal Bihari Vajpayee served as Prime Minister of India for three terms: first for a 13-day term in 1996, then for a 13-month term from 1998 to 1999, and finally for a full term from 1999 to 2004.
Atal Bihari Vajpayee was one of the co-founders and a senior leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). He was also the first president of the BJP after it was formed in 1980.
During his tenure as Prime Minister, Atal Bihari Vajpayee sought to improve diplomatic relations with Pakistan, including traveling to Lahore by bus to meet with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. He also invited President Pervez Musharraf to India for a summit in Agra.
Atal Bihari Vajpayee was a member of the Indian Parliament for over five decades, having been elected ten times to the Lok Sabha (the lower house) and twice to the Rajya Sabha (the upper house). He was also a member of the RSS, a Hindu nationalist volunteer organization.
During Vajpayee’s tenure as Prime Minister, India carried out the Pokhran-II nuclear tests in 1998, and his government introduced domestic economic and infrastructural reforms, including encouraging the private sector and foreign investments, reducing governmental waste, and privatizing some government-owned corporations.
In 2015, Atal Bihari Vajpayee was conferred India’s highest civilian honor, the Bharat Ratna, by the then President of India, Pranab Mukherjee. Additionally, the administration of Narendra Modi declared that Vajpayee’s birthday, December 25, would be marked as Good Governance Day.
14 Quotes by Atal Bihari Vajpayee
- 1.
The UN’s unique legitimacy flows from a universal perception that it pursues a larger purpose than the interests of one country or a small group of countries.
Atal Bihari Vajpayee10th prime minister of India in 1996, 1998 and from 1999-2004
- 2.
The reality is that international institutions like the UN can only be as effective as its members allow it to be.
Atal Bihari Vajpayee10th prime minister of India in 1996, 1998 and from 1999-2004
- 3.
We hope the world will act in the spirit of enlightened self-interest.
Atal Bihari Vajpayee10th prime minister of India in 1996, 1998 and from 1999-2004
- 4.
People who ask us when we will hold talks with Pakistan are perhaps not aware that over the last 55 years, every initiative for a dialogue with Pakistan has invariably come from India.
Atal Bihari Vajpayee10th prime minister of India in 1996, 1998 and from 1999-2004
- 5.
Global interdependence today means that economic disasters in developing countries could create a backlash on developed countries.
Atal Bihari Vajpayee10th prime minister of India in 1996, 1998 and from 1999-2004
- 6.
No state should be allowed to profess partnership with the global coalition against terror, while continuing to aid, abet and sponsor terrorism.
Atal Bihari Vajpayee10th prime minister of India in 1996, 1998 and from 1999-2004
- 7.
We believe that the United States and the rest of the international community can play a useful role by exerting influence on Pakistan to put a permanent and visible end to cross-border terrorism against India.
Atal Bihari Vajpayee10th prime minister of India in 1996, 1998 and from 1999-2004
- 8.
The Bio-diversity Convention has not yielded any tangible benefits to the world’s poor.
Atal Bihari Vajpayee10th prime minister of India in 1996, 1998 and from 1999-2004
- 9.
Our nuclear weapons are meant purely as a deterrent against nuclear adventure by an adversary.
Atal Bihari Vajpayee10th prime minister of India in 1996, 1998 and from 1999-2004
- 10.
There was an implicit conviction that the UN would be stronger than the sum of its constituent member-states.
Atal Bihari Vajpayee10th prime minister of India in 1996, 1998 and from 1999-2004
- 11.
You can change friends but not neighbours.
Atal Bihari Vajpayee10th prime minister of India in 1996, 1998 and from 1999-2004
- 12.
Poverty is multidimensional. It extends beyond money incomes to education, health care, political participation and advancement of one’s own culture and social organisation.
Atal Bihari Vajpayee10th prime minister of India in 1996, 1998 and from 1999-2004
- 13.
In the euphoria after the Cold War, there was a misplaced notion that the UN could solve every problem anywhere.
Atal Bihari Vajpayee10th prime minister of India in 1996, 1998 and from 1999-2004
- 14.
The overwhelming public sentiment in India was that no meaningful dialogue can be held with Pakistan until it abandons the use of terrorism as an instrument of its foreign policy.
Atal Bihari Vajpayee10th prime minister of India in 1996, 1998 and from 1999-2004