ATAL BEHARI VAJPAYEE
SOME OF THE POEMS OF A GREAT POET.
For the greater part of his political career, Mr Vajpayee has been on the opposition benches.
Most politicians who remain in the opposition for prolonged periods tend to become cynical
critics and chronic castigators. Negativism often becomes part of their psyche. One reason
why Vajpayee has succeeded in developing a universal appeal is that he is singularly free
from any such negativism. His criticism is rarely personal, and even when it is, there is
no malice in it. His witty and satirical barbs may make the victim squirm with discomfort,
but they do not cause wounds and so leave no scars behind. The final upshot is invariably
constructive.
Students of India-Pakistan relations now readily concede that the period 1977-79,
namely the period when Vajpayee was the External Affairs Minister was the best the two
countries have ever experienced since independence. Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz
Sharif himself testified in 1991 when he came to New Delhi to participate in Rajiv
Gandhi's funeral. At his invitation Vajpayee called on him and said "Mr. Vajpayee,
I have not met you before. But I have no hesitation saying that Pakistan's relations with
India have never been as warm and cordial as they were when you were your country's Foreign
Minister".
Today's politics abounds with pygmies of various shapes and sizes. Vajpayee, therefore,
towers above contemporary political leaders like a colossus. No wonder, the hopes and
expectations that the people have come to have in him are enormous. Every opinion poll
conducted in the country during the past one year or so amply bears out this fact.