25th December marks the 98th birthday of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee in India (December 25, 2022). Since 2014, the anniversary of Vajpayee’s birth has been observed as Good Governance Day. Vajpayee, who was born in Madhya Pradesh’s Gwalior in 1924, was popularly known as the “man of the masses.”
A tribute to former Prime Minister Bharat Ratna Atal Bihari Vajpayee ji. He is credited with starting far-reaching reforms in the government. India will always remember his outstanding service and efforts towards our nation’s progress.#MyGovMorningMusings #GoodGovernanceDay pic.twitter.com/DsBRu0fUIX
— MyGovIndia (@mygovindia) December 25, 2022
His foray into mainstream politics began in 1942, when he joined the Quit India Movement. Vajpayee had a keen interest in foreign affairs while studying political science in college. Vajpayee, a Bharat Ratna Awardee, joined the Bharatiya Janata Sangh, the forerunner of the BJP, in 1951. He co-founded the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in 1980 with his close associate and later deputy Prime Minister, Lal Krishna Advani.
Vajpayee was appointed Prime Minister of India for a brief period in 1996, followed by a second and third term from 1998 to 2004. Following Jawaharlal Nehru, Vajpayee was the first person to hold the position of Prime Minister of India for two consecutive terms. Atal Bihari Vajpayee received the Padma Vibhushan, the country’s second-highest civilian honour, in 1992. Following that, he was awarded India’s highest civilian honour, the Bharat Ratna.
The Logical Indian
Atal Bihari Vajpayee Birthday: 5 lesser known facts about Atal Bihari Vajpayee
In addition to politics, the late former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee was an eloquent speaker and prolific writer. He is well-known for his poems, the majority of which he wrote in Hindi. Vajpayee, an active member of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and later the RSS-affiliated Jana Sangh, held several important portfolios in his political career, including the crucial minister of external affairs.
India TV News
He became the Jana Sangh’s face due to his oratory and organisational abilities. Following the death of Deendayal Upadhyaya, the mantle of the party’s leadership was passed to him, and he was elected national president in 1968. Vajpayee led the Jana Sangh to national prominence alongside Nanaji Deshmukh, Balraj Madhok, and L K Advani.
He was appointed Minister of External Affairs in March 1997.
For his active participation in the Quit India Movement, he was imprisoned for 23 days.
He served in parliament for 45 years, being elected 11 times to the Lok Sabha and twice to the Rajya Sabha.
During his presidency, India successfully conducted a nuclear test in Pokhran, Rajasthan. Shakti was the name of the operation.
Former President Pranab Mukherjee bestowed the highest civilian honour, the Bharat Ratna, on him in 2015.
Due to health issues, Atal Bihari Vajpayee died on August 16, 2018.
