A fantastic orator, poet, diplomat and a mass leader, he served the nation as prime minister thrice. He became prime minister for the first time in 1996 for 13 days, for 13 months again in 1998 and completed full term of five years in 1999 to 2004.
India’s victory over Pakistan at Kargil, nuclear tests at Pokhran, the Golden Quadrilateral connecting India’s four metro cities Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai and Mumbai by road, growing leadership of India at international levels are few among his many achievements.
Born in Gwalior on December 25, 1924, Vajpayee was a brilliant parliamentarian and served the House as a member for four decades. He announced retirement from active politics in December, 2005, citing his ill health.
