Atal Bihari Vajpayee

Atal Bihari Vajpayee (often wrongly spelt Behari; अटल बिहारी वाजपेयी in Devnagari) (born December 25, 1924) was the Prime Minister of India in 1996 and again from October 13, 1998 until May 19, 2004.

Vision and Character

See Also: Indian Nationalism, Hindutva, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh

Related Topics:
Indian Nationalism - Hindutva - Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Atal Bihari Vajpayee's politics have grown from a base of intelligence, vigorous idealism and discipline to wisdom, practicality and leadership. Vajpayee spread the gospel of Mookerjee, who hailed the richness of Hindu culture, history customs and the diverse peoples and philosophies that compose Hindu society. Mookerjee was one of the first political proponents of Hindutva, or Hindu Nationalism.

Related Topics:
Hindu - Hindutva

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Mookerjee and Vajpayee strongly opposed the separate civil law codes for different religions. They opposed the special status of the state of Jammu and Kashmir.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Vajpayee brought Hindutva to national prominence in the 1980s. He strongly defended Hindu culture against the criticism of Westernized citizens and cultural invasion, asking common Hindus to take pride in who they were.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Vajpayee's politics evolved from these core beliefs to support strong national defence, patriotic community and national service from young Indians, and free-market, pro-opportunity and pro-business economic system. He felt India should rise to its inherent role as a regional and world leader by example and progress, but never should the fundamental security and integrity of the nation be sacrficed to accommodate others.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Though often a fiery, inspirational orator and a man of strong convictions through the 1950s and 1960s, Vajpayee entered the mainstream in the mould of a leader maturing his beliefs and agenda to reality and appearing thus more moderate than many of his colleagues. In all his three terms, he was Prime Minister leading a coalition, not just his own political party, which compromised the BJP's core, and most controversial agenda. And many groups only entered the coalition only with the assurance of Vajpayee being the PM.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~