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Profile
of the Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee
by
: Mehru Jaffer
Even after half a
century of participation in public life Atal Bihari Vajpayee,76 prime
minister of India admits that he is unable to distinguish today
between the Kauravas and the Pandavas of the world. Using symbolically
names of the two ruling families who go to war with each other in the
Mahabharata, the pre historic Indian epic, Kaurava Kaun Kaun Pandava
(Who is Kaurava Who is Pandava) is only one of the many poems where
the poet prime minister bemoans the increasing absence of ethics and
morality in present day politics.
Whatever critics and
admirers may have to say about Vajpayee's political views both agree
that the prime minister is honest to the core. Many may not love the
man but none can deny that Vajpayee indeed is the moderate, liberal
face of the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). He
is admired for constantly putting up a fight within the BJP itself to
control Hindu radicals that forever try to highjack his more broad
based agenda.
Leader of an alliance
of over 20 parties, Vajpayee is respected for being a consensus
builder. He did anger many within the country and raised fears around
the world when he ordered nuclear blasts in India in May 1998 but he
is also admired for his humble bus ride to Lahore, the cultural
capital of neighbouring Pakistan in the hope of rapprochement.
Vajpayee first stretched his hand of friendship to his Muslim
neighbours in Pakistan when he was foreign minister in 1977 and claims
Faiz Ahmed Faiz, Pakistan's greatest poets as one of his favourite
writers. India has an on going problem with Pakistan over Jammu and
Kashmir that started half a century ago and is responsible for
draining much of its diplomatic energy apart from the tragedy it
involves on the ground.
Born in a high caste
family of Brahmins, Vajpayee has spent a life time trying to rise
above communal politics and fighting caste prejudices. A student of
political science, he was jailed by the British for anti-colonial
activities. After independence in 1947, he earned his living working
as a journalist and as a social worker. He won a seat in parliament in
1957.
While still young,
Vajpayee became known for his fiery speeches that are able to arouse
great emotions amongst his audience. His purpose in life remains to
pursue a secular, inclusive, integrative agenda and to make sure that
India remains a home to all communities, not more to some and less to
others. Most precious to him is the diversity and unity of his country
and its democratic system. After all if it were not for its vibrant
democracy how could the son of an ordinary village teacher like
himself rise to the highest office in the country?
His favourite colour is
blue, that stands for the loftiness of the heavens and the depth of
the seas. He loves to retreat now and again preferably into the
mountains even as he believes that height is never enough if it is not
accompanied by expanse. One of the many famous sayings of the elderly
Indian leader is never to let himself reach so high that he is unable
to bend down to embrace another human being. But what makes Khushwant
Singh, senior journalist like most about Vajpayee is the fact that he
represents an end to the days of dynasties in India.
Vajpayee is a bachelor
and does not misuse what belongs to the country to the advantage of
his family, especially children. In the absence of children the prime
minister is able to shower all his attention on other loves instead
like reading, writing, films, music and pottering around in the
kitchen. And considering that his favourite food is fish and Chinese
cuisine Vajpayee is surely in for more than one feast in Indonesia,
the largest island country in the world famous for dishing out one of
the meanest bowls of noodle soup outside of China. Diplomacy Bakmie
what?
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