Wednesday, August 3, 2016

2015 : ATAL BIHARI VAJPAYEE (1924 - 2018 )



Commemorative Cover prepared for the First Day of Issue of Definitive Stamp issued on December 25, 2018, the 94th birth anniversary of Atal Behari Vajpayee. 


AB Vajpayee was born on December 25, 1924 at Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh.

He studied at Saraswati Shishu Mandir, Gwalior from where he passed his matriculation.  He obtained his BA in Hindi, English and Sanskrit form Victoria College, Gwalior and MA in Political Science from DAV College, Kanpur.

He was actively associated in various capacities as Organizing Secretary / General Secretary / President with Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (1939 – 1951), Bharatiya Jana Sangh (1951 – 1977), Janata Party (1977 – 1980) and Bharatya Janata Party (1980 – 0000).

A nationalist he was imprisoned for his active role in Quit India Movement in 1942 and Total Revolution Movement in 1975. 

A distinguished Parliamentarian and Statesman, He served as Member of Parliament, Union Minister of External Affairs, Leader of Opposition and Prime Minister of India. 
He died on August 16, 2018 at New Delhi aged 93 years.


Member of Parliament

A veteran parliamentarian for over five decades, He debuted as Member of Parliament at Lok Sabha in 1957 and was re-elected for a record ten terms to Lok Sabha and two terms to Rajya Sabha.

He is the only parliamentarian to be elected from four different states at different elections – Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat and Delhi.

He actively participated in all the debates and his oratorical skills attracted the attention of successive Prime Ministers who included him in all party parliamentary goodwill delegations to foreign nations.

He was an active participant of several parliamentary debates which shaped India’s post independence domestic, economic and foreign policy.

He was the Leader of Parliamentary Board of BJS, JP and BJP, Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha and Chairman of Standing Committees of Parliament including the prestigious Public Accounts Committee for two terms.

Union Minister of External Affairs

He held the portfolio of External Affairs in the first Non Congress Union Cabinet (1977 – 1979) and created history by becoming the first Indian leader to address the United Nations General Assembly in Hindi.

Prime Minister of India

A Man of the masses, He held the post of Prime Minister of India (1996, 1998 – 1999, 1999 – 2004).

He is the first Non Congress Prime Minister to hold the post thrice with two successive mandates, two consecutive terms and complete a full term in office.

He is also the first Leader of Opposition to be elected Prime Minister of India.
         An architect of coalition governments, his first term lasted 13 days, second term lasted 13 months with 13 parties and his third and last term lasted 5 years with 20 parties.

Infrastructure – National Highways Project and Village Roads Project was significantly expanded. The famous Golden Quadrilateral Highway which connects all metropolitan cities of India as conceptualized and completed.  

Finance – Tax reforms and pro business initiatives witnessed sustained economic growth and rise in GDP.

Industry and Trade – Information Technology Parks and Special Export Promotion Zones were established. Private and Foreign Direct investments were encouraged in Automobile, Telecom sectors. 

Education – Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan which improved the quality of education of primary and secondary schools was introduced.

Science – Peaceful Nuclear Explosions named PNE II or Pokhran II or Operation Shakthi 2 or Smiling Buddha were successfully conducted in May 1998. 

Defence – Indian Armed Forces launched Operation Vijay which victoriously evicted Pakistani intruders from Kargil in 1999.

Home Affairs – Jammu and Kashmir peace dialogues were negotiated on the three principles of Insaaniyat (humanity), Jamhooriyat (democarcy) and Kashmiryat (age old Kahmiri legacy of amity).
           Prevention of Terrorism Act (POTA) was promulgated in 2002.  

Foreign Affairs – Lahore Summit (1999) and Agra Summit (2001) were held to negotiate peace, promote commerce and trade between the India and Pakistan. The historic direct bus transport service between New Delhi and Lahore was introduced in 1999.      
          The Special Representative Dialogues were initiated in 2003 to resolve border disputes and improve trade between India and China.

Journalist & Poet

 A voracious reader, vociferous orator and prolific writer he published numerous books, poems, speeches and dialogues on socio political issues in Hindi, Urdu and English. His works have been translated in various Indian languages.

He worked as Journalist for newspapers Rashtradharma, Panchjanya, and Swadesh

Social Activist

He served as Member of National Integration Council.

He was President of All India Station Masters Association, President of Pandit Deendayal Upadhya Smarak Samiti and Dham, Janmabhoomi Smarak Samiti. 



Awards

The Government of India conferred on him the Padma Vibhushan (1992) and Bharat Ratna (2014) for his exemplary services to the nation.

He also received the Outstanding Parliamentarian Award (1994), BG Tilak Award (1994) and GB Pant Award (1994)

The Government of Bangladesh conferred on him the Liberation War Honour (2015). 

Doctorates

The University of Kanpur conferred Honorary Doctorate on him for exemplary service to the nation in 1995

GOOD GOVERNANCE DAY
December 25, the birth anniversary of Atal Bihari Vajpayee is observed annually as Good Governance Day since 2014.
The objectives are to build a transparent and responsible administration, to ensure the welfare of people, to devise good and effective polices for good governance, to give a corruption free administration to the people. 

ATAL TUNNEL 


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