Their tenures brought an end to the instability which was making a mockery of Indian democracy. Vajpayee came at a time when dirty coalition politics was creating havoc and prime ministers were getting changed at whims and fancies of hitherto irrelevant policians.
During his first tenure Vajpayee and his cabinet resigned just after being 13 days in power. His speech at the end of this first premiership is yet another display of his masterly oratory skills and teaches how to look for hope in defeat as well. The same number 13 turned out to be lucky for him when he stitched a strong NDA alliance to truly become the 10th Prime Minister winning a majority in the 13th Lok Sabha elections. After having sat for decades on the opposition side he ushered an eventful second tenure as Prime Minister of India.
Even now in present time we have BJP in power at the center but differences can't go unnoticed between now and then. There was less of hatred and religious mongering all around; notwithstanding the fact Vajpayee had to keep under control a radical Deputy Prime Minister.
Vajpayee's term started off with a bang at Pokhran. He showed the will power to lead the country in fighting off the sactions imposed by global community after the atomic tests. It helped stamp India's status a peaceful and resposible nuclear power; one which must be respected but not feared.
Vajpayee displayed his optimism for lasting peace with neighbors when he hopped on to the bus to Lahore. But that didn't get paid as soon after that India got engaged in the only war our generation has witnessed so far; and hopefully never will. India came back on top from the Kargil War. Vajpayee and Indian armed forces delivered a potent mix of astute courage and diplomacy to give a fitting reply to our neighboring army's misadventures. The images of Nawaz Sharif making the round trips to US trying to negotiate a respectable end to the conflict with Bill Cinton's help still fresh in our memories.
Kargil War cemented Vajpayee's position at the top. AIADMK under Jayalalitha tried to topple him but she was dealt a blow in the 14th elections of 1999. Vajpayee came back for his third term as prime minister. His first term was for 16 days, second for 572 days and the third for 1683 days.
During this term Vajpayee led India's recovery from post-Pokhran sanctions and also from the injuries of the Kargil War. He literally put the country back on the highway through his Golden Quadrilateral project.
Anyone from my hometown (Durgapur, West Bengal) would vouch for the trans-formative change it brought forward. A journey of around 200 kms. to Calcutta which used to previously take on an average 6-7 hours end-to-end by train, leaving out excess variances caused by political agitations or technical failures, was reduced by half. Overnight a new bus transport enterprise came into existence consisting of luxury and state transport buses which still today continues to flourish. The highways just took away the fact that travelling to Calcutta was anything like a 'big deal'.
The highways also lent lifeline to multiple other businesses; most noted the sweetmeats of Shaktigarh. Today people zoom between Calcutta and second tier cities like Kharagpur, Durgapur, Burdwan etc. in their private cars, super-fast bikes and luxury buses; all thanks to this visionary Prime Minister.
During his tenure the September 11 took place; an event which changed the world we live in for ever. Few months after September 11, Indian Parliament also came under attack from terrorists on another 13th; of December.
Any blemishes and black-spots during his tenure? I think there are one or two. The first one was the hijacking of the Indian Airlines flight to Taliban land. It ended with the release of few dreaded militants who are still creating trouble for India; one being later involved in the November, 2008 attacks across Mumbai. I am not sure if what was done was the best solution achievable but that surely doesn't pay back well even now.
Second was the 2002 Gujrat riots which sowed the seeds of another round of communal animosity within the country since Babri Masjid demolition a decade earlier. Because of some unknown reasons Vajpayee did little to quell the violence in a state which was also then under BJP control. May be he could have demonstrated his statesmanship and authority instead of not leaving it to the state government. Coincidentally Advani was appointed Deputy PM few days prior to the carnage.
In spite of some of the low points he was the one leader who was respected across the political landscape. Fortunately he was from a time when there was no Facebook or Twitter where armies of over-zealous followers are engaged in 24*7 mud slinging. He spoke a pure, vintage and poetic Hindi to articulate his views which may be even the opposition felt good to listen.
Under his leadership there was much less of religious and nationalist fervor attached to every aspect of public life. He was perhaps the most loved and respected Prime Minister in recent history not only because of his position but because of qualities he imbibed and injected into Indian politics which are seldom to found. Perhaps if nothing else, the current bunch of politicians should learn the art of public speaking from him.
Mr. Vajpayee led the country in the period from 1998 - 2004, a period during which people of our age group made the transition from high-school to university. This was the period when political discussion caught our imagination. Under his leadership the next generation BJP leader was expected to be Pramod Mahajan but his untimely death changed the equation.
Unfortunately BJP over played the 'Shinning India' campaign and 'foreign origin' card which backfired in 2004 general elections. It was also unfortunate that because of ill-health he was mostly out of active politics soon after and couldn't provide much needed guidance to the current bunch.
Bharat Ratna Atal Bihrai Vajpayee will long be remembered as the statesman, orator, poet and prime minister to led the country in some of the most troublesome times, elevated India's stature at the global stage and provided stability and growth in face of adversities.
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