Atal Bihari Vajpayee, the "unshakable" and "undomitable" one!

On the occasion of his 99th birthday, we pay tribute to the tenth prime minister of India—a man who lived up to his name.

In a masterful diplomatic manoeuvre, Prime Minister PV Narasimha Rao of India showcased the nation's democracy in 1994 when he dispatched opposition leader Atal Bihari Vajpayee to reaffirm India's position on the contentious issue of Kashmir. But by taking Rao's lead, Vajpayee demonstrated his statesmanship and unselfish love for the country! 

It is difficult to picture an Indian prime minister designating an opposition leader to head a delegation inside an international conference, given the pervasiveness of party worker betrayal in these times. Thankfully, those were the illustrious times when leaders of India's democracy had vision beyond narrow political agendas. The art of forming and controlling society—led by conscience and empathy rather than just ambition—was an endeavor of dignity, and politics was not always a mudslinging contest. 

Vajpayee endured harsh political crackdowns and the infamous National Emergency (1975) for a significant portion of his tenure as a Leader of the Opposition. In spite of everything, he seldom ever, if ever, harbored resentment toward the Gandhis and the INC. 

He served as India's prime minister for thirteen days in 1996. He was the leader for thirteen months in 1998. Ultimately, Vajpayee served as India's first prime minister without a congressional background, serving a full term in 1999. This is our endeavor to honor some of the many amazing accomplishments made by India under the leadership of Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee, as today is his 99th birthday. We will go into further detail about why he is regarded as one of India's greatest prime ministers today!