Arguably, Atal Bihari Vajpayee is India's most celebrated Prime Minister. Even though he failed to form a government after the 1996 General Elections, the man, content in his mind to become the Prime Minister stood against all the odds to win the elections in 1998 and become the first non-Congress prime minister to serve full-term in the office.
Born in December 1924, he was one of those leaders who saw India's transformation from British colonial rule to partition and its emergence as the modern nation that would become the world's fastest-growing economy in the future.
Let's honour life of (now) 93-year-old, Atal Bihari Vajpayee by looking at the achievements that make him one of India's most celebrated prime minister.
Indian became a nuclear weapon state under his leadership.
"India is now a nuclear weapons state. We have the capacity for a big bomb now. Ours will never be weapons of aggression." - Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
The Western countries condemned Shri Vajpayee, but for our nation, he was a hero. He successfully made India a nuclear weapon state in the year 1999.
Atal Bihari Vajpayee is the man behind India's success in telecom industry.
A decade after Rajiv Gandhi left the office, India's growth in the telecom industry increased from 0.6% (1989) to 2.8% (1999). When BJP introduced New Telecom Policy (NTP), it led to the rise in telecom sector from 3% (1999) to 70% market penetration until 2012.
He taught us, education is for everyone.
Atal Bihari Vajpayee laid the foundation of Right to Education in India by launching the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan. It became hugely popular as Education for All Movement.
India's GDP grew efficiently during his tenure.
During Vajpayee's rule, India witnessed the Kargil conflict of 1999, two Cyclones in 1999 and 2000, a destructive earthquake in 2001, the worst drought in 2002-03, oil crisis and Gulf War II. Including a massive terrorist attack on the Parliament. But, he didn't let the nation's economy and GDP fall.
Our relationship with the foreign countries improved tremendously.
While his list of achievements with foreign nations is long enough, let's have a look at some of his most efficient works.
- In 2000, Bill Clinton became the first US-President to visit India after Jimmy Carter. This visit marked the beginning of India-US bond that we share till this date.
- He was among the first passengers to travel on Delhi-Lahore bus service from India to Pakistan.
- Trade-tie with the Republic of China put an end to territorial disputes.
- He earned India strategic and military cooperation from Israel.
Another big achievement of Vajpayee as PM of India was to approve the Delhi Metro Project.
If you've been to Delhi, then know that metro project was first approved by Vajpayee government.
India's 10th Prime Minister, Atal Bihari Vajpayee helped India reach the Moon.
Under the excellent leadership of Atal Bihari Vajpayee, India launched Chandrayan-I to the Moon successfully.
Vajpayee had said, "Our country is now ready to fly high in the field of science. I am pleased to announce that India will send her spacecraft to the moon by 2008. It is being named Chandrayaan-1," at the 56th Indian Independence Day in 2003.
He created world-class highways in India to improve the transportation of the nation.
In 1998, Atal Bihari Vajpayee unveiled the National Highway Development Project (NHDP) to construct world-class highways in India and improve the transportation within the nation. The NHDP represents 49,260 km of roads and highways.
Vajpayee is also a great poet.
Apart from being a great leader, Atal Bihari Vajpayee is a poet and fierce speaker. His famous speeches and debates in parliament are still available on the Internet.
Some other achievements.
It was Atal Bihari Vajpayee who introduced ministries like Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Department of North-East Region and converting the Social Welfare Ministry into the Ministry of Social Justice.
On 25 December 2014 President of India announced the Bharat Ratna award to him. His birthday, 25 December, is now commemorated as 'Good Governance Day' to recognise his services to the nation.
Atal Bihari Vajpayee is a politician that every 90s kid would relate to, as they grew up watching him. He is one of the rarest Indian politicians who resides in people's heart. We love to Atal Ji.
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