By Prarthana Mitra
Former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee died on Thursday at the age of 93. He breathed his last in New Delhis AIIMS hospital where he was admitted for the last few weeks following a long bout of illness.
A statement was released by the hospital authorities who were treating the three-time Prime Minister for nine weeks read, “It is with profound grief that we inform about the sad demise of Former Prime Minister of India, Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee at 05:05 pm on August 16, 2018,
After suffering from a stroke in 2009, Vajpayees cognitive abilities took a blow he never really recovered from. Diagnosed with a kidney tract infection, urinary tract infection, low urine output and chest congestion this June, he was admitted to the hospital and has been under observation ever since. After his condition deteriorated over the last few days, he was placed under life support and visited by top politicians from his own party and others. Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu, BJP leaders Rajnath Singh and Amit Shah, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia were some of the notable visitors. LK Advani, one of his closest colleagues and his deputy in the NDA government from 1998 to 2004, also visited him last week.
A prolific career spanning close to a century
The first BJP leader to be sworn in as the nations Prime Minister for three consecutive terms (in 1996, 1998-99, and from 1999-2004), the news of Vajpayees death roused the entire political community to mourn the death of the partys tallest leader.
Very few today will remember a young Vajpayee as an active participant in 1942s Quit India Movement or as a member of the RSS. His role as a staunch opponent of the Emergency, however, will remain as memorable as his provocative stance on the Ram Janbhoomi movement in 1995. After all, he became the Prime Minister only three years later and went to retain the seat for six years.
Elected ten times to the Lok Sabha from four different states, and twice a member of the Rajya Sabha, his parliamentary skills were instrumental in launching the Bharatiya Jan Sangh in 1951, and later the BJP, into national politics. A published poet, Vajpayee also dabbled in law, journalism and activism.
Many are calling his demise the end of a critical era in Indian politics, during which BJP grew into a formidable power under Vajpayees leadership. Independence Day decorations at the BJP office were taken down as soon as the news of his worsening condition hit the wire.
The New York Times obituary mentions his immense contribution towards easing Indo-Pak relations (with the Lahore declaration) and building closer ties to America. Even today, he remains one of the few BJP leaders revered by opposition leaders and BJP critics. His birthday which coincides with Christmas is and will continue to be celebrated as Good Governance Day.
Prarthana Mitra is a staff writer at Qrius