Remembering Atal Ji: A Leader Par-excellence Who Was Loved By The Friends And Foes As Well

By D N Singh

Going round the realms of politics one can come back with a basket load of observations. Different politicians with different philosophies and, of course, various commitments those often surpass the normal parameters of realities.

While discussing Indian politics it is difficult to ignore one politician that was the legendary BJP leader and erstwhile Prime Minister of India, Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

A scribe, poet and politician but in Atal Bihari there used to live a man who was a friend who with his disarming smile and charm had an extraordinary ability to endear any one.

When he smiled, not that he was merely smiling through his eyes but his entire countenance beamed in entirety to produce a gorgeous blend of charm which made him acceptable to all, cutting across party lines and ideologies.

It may be recalled that, once Indira Gandhi had chosen him (when he was in the opposition)  as India’s emissary to negotiate on a very contentious issue with Pakistan. Which he sorted out by the writ of his persona and political acumen.

His outreach was phenomenal and his politics had set a gold standard.

Well, in terms historical accuracy, Vajpayee was, perhaps, the most popular and acceptable-to-all politician in India. The legendary leader had a strong penchant for trouble-shooting in and outside the limits of party.

Once during one of his visits to Odisha, as leader of the opposition in Lok Sabha, on the droughts in Kalahandi district, his unique quality of flattening the curves was noticed.

After the tour from Kalahandi, in the evening he joined the legendary leader Biju Patnaik for dinner on latter’s invite. The venue was at a dance academy where he had dinner and watched a few reeditions of Odissi dance.

Next day while addressing the press when a scribe asked him that, in the day ‘you pour allegations on the state for the precarious drought situation in Kalahandi but in the evening you are with Biju Babu for a dinner-cum-dance treat’?

 

 

His eyes with full of smile and lips drawn broad he retorted, “ Unhon ne aap ko bata dia..nahi bolna chahiye tha” ( did he tell you about that…he should not have). Then an extremely enchanting expression was writ on his face and that was enough to silence the scribe. The issue never got into the pages of any newspaper.

That was Atal Bihari Vajpayee, who always walked on his shoulders.