Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ji

My dear

Most powerful nation

You and your satellites failed miserably

When a man of simple Indian values

Transformed India into a full-fledged nuclear state

With Pokhran Nuclear Tests in 1998

I am sure Your speech in Hindi in 1977

Continues to echo in United Nations General Assembly

As Your poems continue to inspire

People and politics stuck in difficult times

It was your vision to take Bharat (India) to Moon

With Chandrayaan-1 project passed on 15^th August 2003

Making distances shorter

With beautiful Golden Quadrilateral Project

Connecting Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai

What a world class highway project was that!

Along with the first Metro project from Kashmere Gate to Seelampur

I still remember singing the song

School chale hum during my school days

When You launched Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan

Making education a fundamental right for 6-14 years

And the great boom

In the Telecom sector!

History and future will bow down to YOU

For leading the glorious Operation Vijay (victory)

Wining the Kargil War

While time didn’t favor you then

But I wish you were here

To witness Section 370 being revoked

And Ram Mandir being built finally.

It’s all Your strength and governance

To lead Bharat

Back to Her real essence

Her true cultural

And spiritual strength!

You continue to be the most revered, powerful, non-controversial, Bheeshma Pitamah of Indian Politics and my favorite poet.

The poem is dedicated to Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ji, 10th Prime Minister of India and a highly important political leader who set a new benchmark for good governance due to which His birth anniversary (25th December) is celebrated as Good Governance Day in India. I grew up listening to powerful speeches, poems, and stories about His leadership from my grandfather who was a huge fan.

He continues to be an inspiration for people from all spheres of life including but not limited to politics, business, religion, science, and a lot more. On His 96^th birth anniversary, I bow down to His political and cultural intelligence, rich poetry, and vision for a powerful nation.

Success didn’t come to Him easy but He was ATAL and stood by His never-ending valor and determination. His first term was only for 13 days in 1996, then for 11 months in 1998-1999, and finally His government was in full power from the period 1999-2004.  Read more about His achievements here.

Here’s the link to Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ji’s speech in United Nations General Assembly in Hindi: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NQLV8ic7iWc

His powerful speech after Kargil War: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w50Wsq0S45A

A collection of some of his great poems: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D6gWVmn0bBQ

This one’s my personal favorite:

टूटे हुए सपनों की कौन सुने सिसकी

अन्तर की चीर व्यथा पलकों पर ठिठकी

हार नहीं मानूंगा रार नहीं ठानूंगा

काल के कपाल पे लिखता मिटाता हूं

गीत नया गाता हूं |

– अटल बिहारी वाजपेयी

Featured image source: Amar Ujala

If you have a fond memory of His speech, meeting, poem or governance, please share in the comments below.

Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam (One World Family)

-Srishti Moudgil