The grand old man of Indian politics Atal Bihari Vajpayee has left for his heavenly abode at 93, marking the “end of an era” peppered with diplomacy, aggression and milestones all the way.
An eloquent speaker, Vajpayee was also a poet, voracious reader and fond of Indian music and dance. Early into his career, Vajpayee’s impeccable oratory skills impressed even Prime Minster Jawaharlal Nehru who predicted that this young man would one day take the PM’s chair. And it was Vajpayee’s poetic charm that forced PV Narasimha Rao’s to request Vajpayee to represent India in the UN, convinced that Vajpayee’s words could hit the right notes against Pakistan.
From being at the helm of one of the shortest terms in Indian history to heading one of the largest coalition governments, Vajpayee was known to have great political acumen and a softness of heart. The PM of India for three different terms “ the first being the shortest of 13 days in 1996, to a full term from 1999 to 2004, besides the eleven months between 1998 and 1999 “ Vajpayee’s career stated with the Bharatiya Jana Sangh, a Hindu right-wing political outfit connected to RSS. For Vajpayee there was no looking back after his first victory to the lower house of Parliament from Balrampur. Vajpayee became the driving force of the Jana Sangh and became its national president in 1968 along with other seasoned campaigners like L K Advani.
One of the hallmarks of Vajpayee’s tenure was that in May 1998, India conducted 5 underground nuclear tests in Pokhran, 24 years after India conducted its first test in 1974. It was Vajpayee’s tact and astuteness that came to the fore when key nations were split on responding to the tests. India not only managed to endure the sanctions but continued with its defence programme with Vajpayee refusing to buckle under international pressure.
Vajpayee’s real test of aggression was the Kargil war, which also included artillery exchanges at Siachen Glacier. Operation Vijay, launched in June 1999, saw Indian forces battle against militants and Pakistan soldiers, braving severe weather conditions and treacherous terrain. It was Vajpyee’s letter to US President Bill Clinton that set the tone and tenor of aggression. He said it in simple words: “if the infiltrators did not pull out, he will get them out”. This was a clear message that India was ready to cross the LoC and even use nuclear weapons which prompted US to diffuse a catastrophe. Vajpayee was hailed as a hero and a bold leader.
But besides the aggression, Vajpayee reached out to Pakistan on numerous peace initiatives. His constant push for full-scale diplomatic peace process with Pakistan, besides the historic Delhi-Lahore bus service in February 1999 and the Lahore declaration is testimony to the fact the Vajpayee was willing to extend a hand of friendship despite all odds. His second attempt to restore Indo-Pak relations was when he invited Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf to Delhi and Agra for a joint summit and peace talks. Vajpayee made a last attempt for peace with Pakistan in August 2003.
Vajpayee’s biggest test came from within when he was balancing the coalition dharma and RSS agenda. This was a crucial period where he had to handle intense pressure from RSS and hard-line VHP. It was here that he was faced with a Hindutva agenda which included Ayodhya, repealing Article 370 which gave a special status to Kashmir and enacting a uniform civil code applicable to adherents of all religions.
As Vajpayee fades into eternity and the nation rises to salute one of its finest leaders, his ethos of Hindustaniyat, Insaniyat and Jamhooriyat will remain etched in the pages of India’s history.
