Remembering Atal Bihari Vajpayee: Here are some interesting facts about the former PM

Atal Bihari Vajpayee. File Pic

A brilliant orator and a leader who commanded immense respect and admiration from leaders and opposition alike, Atal Bihari Vajpayee donned several hats during his political career.

One of the prominent leaders of the country and founding member of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Vajpayee passed away on August 16, 2018, at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) after a prolonged illness. He was 93.

Vajpayee served as Prime Minister thrice -- briefly in 1996, and then for two terms between 1998 and 2004. He undertook three terms as the 10th Prime Minister of India. His first term lasted for 13 days in the year 1996, his second term lasted 13 months (1998-1999). He then served a full five-year term from 1999 to 2004.

Remembering Atal Bihari Vajpayee: Here are some interesting facts about the former Prime Minister of India

• Atal Bihari Vajpayee was born on December 25, 1924, in Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh to Krishna Bihari Vajpayee and Krishna Devi in a middle-class Brahmin family. His birthday has been declared Good Governance Day by the NDA government.
• He joined the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) as a swayamsevak in 1939 and became a full-time pracharak in 1947.
• By virtue of his oratorical and organisational skills, he became the face of Jana Sangh. After the death of Deendayal Upadhyaya, the mantle of its leadership fell on his shoulders and he became its national president in 1968. Along with Nanaji Deshmukh, Balraj Madhok and L K Advani, Vajpayee led the Jana Sangh to national prominence.
• His first entry into parliament was in 1962 through the Rajya Sabha. He served the Lok Sabha, the lower house of parliament, for 10 terms that began in 1957 and concluded in 2009.
• He is the only politician to have won from six different Lok Sabha constituencies from four states.
• He was a Member of Parliament for 47 years -- elected 11 times from Lok Sabha and twice from Rajya Sabha.
• Vajpayee was the first Indian politician to deliver a speech in Hindi at the United Nations General Assembly.
• Atal Bihari Vajpayee was imprisoned for 23 days for participating in the Quit India Movement.
• On 13 May 1998, he led India's successful nuclear tests - Operation Shakti at Pokhran in Rajasthan and put India in the league of the world's elite nuclear club.
• The Government of India conferred Vajpayee with the highest civilian honour Bharat Ratna on December 24, 2014.