Atal Bihari Vajpayee

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Atal Bihari Vajpayee (25 December 1924 – 16 August 2018) was an Indian statesman who served three terms as the Prime Minister of India, first for a term of 13 days in 1996, then for a period of 13 months from 1998 to 1999, and finally for a full term from 1999 to 2004. A member of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Vajpayee was the first Indian prime minister not belonging to the Indian National Congress to serve a full five-year term in office.

Early Life and Education

Atal Bihari Vajpayee was born on 25 December 1924 in Gwalior, British India, into a middle-class Brahmin family. His father, Krishna Bihari Vajpayee, was a school teacher and a poet. Vajpayee completed his schooling from the Saraswati Shishu Mandir, Gwalior. He then attended Victoria College (now Laxmi Bai College) in Gwalior for his graduate studies, followed by DAV College, Kanpur, where he completed his post-graduation in Political Science.

Political Career

Vajpayee's political career spanned over five decades. He was first elected to the Lok Sabha (the lower house of India's Parliament) in 1957 from Balrampur in Uttar Pradesh. A founding member of the BJP, he played a crucial role in the party's rise to prominence in Indian politics. Vajpayee was known for his eloquent speeches and was a skilled orator in both Hindi and English.

Prime Minister of India

Vajpayee served as the Prime Minister of India three times. His first term in 1996 was short-lived, lasting only 13 days. He returned to power in 1998, leading a coalition government known as the National Democratic Alliance (NDA). During his second term, India conducted nuclear tests at Pokhran, which led to international sanctions but also established India as a nuclear power.

In 1999, Vajpayee was re-elected and served a full term until 2004. His tenure was marked by significant economic reforms, including privatization of government-owned enterprises and encouraging foreign investment. He also sought to improve Indo-Pakistani relations, initiating a historic bus service between Delhi and Lahore.

Legacy

Vajpayee is remembered for his contributions to India's economic reforms and efforts to improve relations with Pakistan. His government is credited with accelerating the pace of India's economic growth and infrastructure development. Vajpayee's foreign policy initiatives, particularly towards the United States and China, helped enhance India's international standing.

Death

Atal Bihari Vajpayee passed away on 16 August 2018, at the age of 93, after a prolonged illness. His death was mourned across the nation, and he was accorded a state funeral.

Awards and Honours

Vajpayee received several awards, including the Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian award, in 2015. He was also awarded the Padma Vibhushan in 1992.