Remembering Atal Bihari Vajpayee: 10 Things You Should Know About Our Former PM

India’s former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, who was one of the most respected politicians in this country, has left us today. The 93-year-old Indian politician was an inspiration to many. The multifaceted man was a poet, a writer and an admirer of fine art and music. He had been in the hospital since June 11, 2018, fighting with his illness. 

The last time BJP won the hearts of Indians, it was because of this celebrated patriarch. He coined the slogan ‘Jai Jawaan, Jai Kisan, Jai Vigyan’ and promoted scientific spirit including technology. Here are a few more facts about the ex-prime minister of India that you must know.

1. Atal Bihari Vajpayee has served a jail time during 1942 for participating in the freedom struggle. 

2. Apart from Nehru, he’s the only PM who held office three consecutive times. 

3. After Indira Gandhi, he was the first PM to lead his party to victory in successive elections.

4. He was called ‘Bhishma Pitamah’ of Indian politics by another former PM Manmohan Singh.

5. He was a bachelor. 

6. He had adopted a daughter Namita and he was called ‘Baapji’ by his closed ones.

7. He joined law college and his father joined him as he was also interested in law. Hence, father and son shared a hostel room and a classroom.

8. He was a messenger of peace. He rode a bus to Lahore in 1999 for Indo-Pak peace along with many celebrities.

9. Much like APJ Abdul Kalam, he gave a lot of importance to science and technology. He conducted the nuclear test in Pokhran in 1998 and made Kalam the hero of his achievement. 

10. He reformed the Indian economy with his futuristic ideas. Our former PM launched two roadways projects – an ambitious highway plan that connected Chennai, Kolkata, Delhi and Mumbai, and a network of all-weather roads for villages in India. He was also the one who initiated privatisation of the economy. During his term as the PM, the GDP rate was more than 8% and inflation down to 4%.

His contributions to our nation are tremendous and we salute the man who brought light when darkness seemed to have descended upon us.

Rest in peace, honourable former prime minister of India, Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

Featured Image Source: Firstpost

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