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A Birthday Greeting Atal Behari Vajpayee completes 86 years on December 25, 2010 By V Shanmuganathan Atal Behari Vajpayee is respected worldwide as India’s most influential and charismatic politician. The world recognises him as an outstanding leader who achieved economic development and a historic peace process with Pakistan. After 2004 election results, he revealed his heart and made a touching reference. He had said "Victory and defeat are part of life which are to be viewed with equanimity. My party and alliance have lost, but India has won." ALL over India people want to know about the health of Atalji. Workers are very much concerned about him. There is a great desire to see him. Recently some people came to Delhi from south India to see him. They wanted to have a glimpse of their beloved leader. One Kamakshipuri Swamy from Coimbatore wanted to have a photograph along with Atalji. I took some of them to his house in Krishna Menon Marg, New Delhi. Atalji’s personal secretary explained to them about his inability to meet them all. Yet, the admirers of Atalji, wanted to know about his daily schedule. Then he explained to them about his food, his frequent friendly chit-chat with the people around him, that he reads newspaper and watches TV news, etc. He told them that all the important issues, updating about latest developments are personally explained to him by important leaders. After giving the refreshments he gave them books written by Atalji. O! It was a wonderful sight to see. Atalji has a pleasing, irresistible, magnetic and appealing personality. He commands respect. He attracts people because of his sweet behaviour. Atalji is able to understand the finer feelings, delicacies and sensitivities of different sections of people. In his long career as the writer, editor, political thinker, politician, Member of the Parliament, minister, prime minister he evolved as very special personality. One of the leading paper in Delhi wrote about him after 2004 election results, "history will remember Atal Behari Vajpayee as one of India’s finest prime ministers." Even today, I remember the words of late CN Annadurai. He was the first non-Congress CM of Tamil Nadu who fought against imposition of Hindi as the official language. He spoke in the Parliament after hearing the speech of Atalji, "if this is the attitude, we are not against Hindi language". Because of his broad vision aversions are removed. People with various backgrounds are won over by his majestic handling of issues and emotions. Even today Vaiko, leader of MDMK, often quotes the name of Atalji as a leader with kindness and compassion. Shri Nitish Kumar, CM of Bihar State was drawn very close to Atalji due to the friendly qualities of Atalji. Even today people say that Nitish Kumar was inspired by the leadership qualities of Atal Behari Vajpayee. Because of his friendly nature, Atalji is able to connect people with various backgrounds. Every nook and corner of our country knows him and his personality. It was the first time since Independence that a non Congress party government had completed its term under his leadership. Chinna Pazham, an uneducated lady who belongs to a socially weaker section of our society did lot of service in Madurai. She has worked for the upliftment of poor people, particularly dalit women. Atalji came to Tamil Nadu as Prime Minister and gave an award to her for the selfless service. Not only that, after the award was given, on the dais, he touched the feet of that lady. He appreciated her wonderful attitude of care and concern about the sufferings of others and helping them. Next day, all papers of Tamil Nadu published the photo of Atalji touching the feet of a village woman in front of TV cameras on the dais in the public function held in Madurai. No doubt, every Tamilian's heart was moved and overwhelmed by the supreme affection of Atalji. People of the entire State, cutting across the party divisions, en masse were immensely pleased by the behaviour of Atalji. Atalji is considered as a soft person. But he stunned the world when a series of nuclear tests at Pokhran were conducted in May 1998 under his leadership. The bus journey to Pakistan in February 1999 was widely acclaimed and admired as a sincere initiative towards solving the outstanding problems of the subcontinent. India’s honesty has made an impact on the pragmatic world community. Later, when this gesture of friendship turned out to be a betrayal of faith in Kargil, Atalji successfully handled the situation in repulsing back the intruders from the Indian soil. Atalji has a remarkable persuasive skill. When Tamil Nadu and Karnataka was fighting for Cauveri water, he called the Chief Minister of both the states, heard their problems patiently and solved the problem amicably during his period. Then he sincerely tried for linking various rivers to solve the problem of flood and drought. During Vajpayee’s government India experienced one of its fastest periods of economic growth. India became an emerging power in information technology due to the reform programmes executed under his guidance. Vajpayeeji's, philosophy is that every region, every community and every citizen in our country should enjoy the fruits of India’s prosperity and progress. Former India's Prime Minister, Shri Atal Behari Vajpayee is respected worldwide as India’s most influential and charismatic politician’. The world recognises him as an outstanding leader who achieved economic development and a historic peace process with Pakistan. After 2004 election results, he revealed his heart and made a touching reference. He had said, "Victory and defeat are part of life which are to be viewed with equanimity. My party and alliance have lost, but India has won. Dear countrymen, we have given up office but not our responsibility to serve the nation . We have lost an election, but not our determination." This undaunted resolve and unshakeable commitment with hard work will bring a better future for the party as well as our nation. At the grass root level, people are gearing up to celebrate the birth day of Atalji on December 25, in a grand manner.

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