NEW DELHI; Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday paid tributes to former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee on his death anniversary, saying his dedication to India’s progress continues to inspire efforts to build a developed and self-reliant nation.
“Remembering Atal Ji on his Punya Tithi. His dedication and spirit of service towards the all-round progress of India continue to inspire everyone in building a Viksit (developed) and Atmanirbhar (self-reliant) India,” Modi posted on X.
Vajpayee, born on December 25, 1924, in Gwalior, served as Prime Minister three times — briefly in 1996, from 1998 to 1999, and for a full term between 1999 and 2004. He was the first Prime Minister after Jawaharlal Nehru to win two successive mandates.
A parliamentarian for over four decades, Vajpayee was elected to the Lok Sabha nine times and to the Rajya Sabha twice. He also served as Foreign Minister, Leader of Opposition, and chaired several key Parliamentary committees.
His political journey began during his student years when he joined the Quit India Movement in 1942. A political science and law graduate, he had a deep interest in foreign affairs, which shaped his work as External Affairs Minister.
Vajpayee started his career in journalism before joining the Bharatiya Jana Sangh in 1951, which later evolved into the Bharatiya Janata Party. Born to a schoolteacher’s family, he went on to become one of the most respected leaders of post-Independence India.