On Saturday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi honoured former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee on his death anniversary, praising the late leader’s spirit of service towards India’s development, which he said continues to inspire citizens in building a ‘Viksit Bharat’.
Taking to X, PM Modi posted, “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 developed and self-reliant India.”
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 developed and self-reliant India.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) August 16, 2025
Early Life and Education
Atal Bihari Vajpayee was born on 25 December 1924 in Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh.
A statesman, poet and writer, he served as Prime Minister of India initially for 13 days in 1996, then for 13 months from 1998 to 1999, and finally for a full term from 1999 to 2004.
Vajpayee was the first Prime Minister since Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru to be elected for two successive mandates.
A veteran parliamentarian with a career spanning more than four decades, Vajpayee, elected to the Lok Sabha nine times and to the Rajya Sabha twice, a record in itself.
According to the Prime Minister’s official website, as India’s Prime Minister, Foreign Minister, Chairperson of several important parliamentary committees, and Leader of the Opposition, he played an active role in shaping the country’s domestic and foreign policies.
Vajpayee first engaged with nationalist politics as a student when he joined the Quit India Movement of 1942, which accelerated the end of British rule in India.
During his college years, as a student of political science and law, he developed a keen interest in foreign affairs, which he later applied as India’s External Affairs Minister at various multilateral and bilateral forums.
He began his career in journalism, but in 1951, he joined the Bharatiya Jana Sangh, the predecessor of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Born into a modest family, the son of a schoolteacher, Vajpayee became a respected leader known for his liberal outlook and commitment to democratic values.
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