End of an Era in Indian Politics

India keeps losing its stalwarts of Indian politics this year. First J.Jayalitha of AIADMK in Tamilnadu then K. Karunanidhi of DMK in Tamilnadu and Somnath Chatterjee of Communist Party in W.Bengal and now India's most popular Prime Minister after Pt Jawahar Lal Nehru and Mrs Indira Gandhi, Atal Bihari Vajapayee who was admitted in All India Institute of Medical Sciences took his last breath today at 05;02 PM in New Delhi. Atal Bihari Vajpayee is regarded as a great orator who gave India a strong opposition party including bringing a non Congress government in power for first time which completed its full tenure. Apart from this he had a very long and fruitful career as leader of opposition,Foreign Minister,Prime Minister,Poet,Social Servant,Journalist and Writer.He was such a great charismatic leader that India's first Prime Minister Pt Jawahar Lal Nehru had predicted that he would become Prime Minister of the country when Atal Bihari was still in his youth and was sitting in opposition of Nehru. He was such a great stalwart that he was regarded as a tall and great leader not with in his party but out side party.It was during his Prime Ministership that India Visited a swift in its foreign policy and USA started getting close through the Civilian Nuclear Deal .His USA counter part President Bush also appraised him for his cooperation in Civilian Nuclear Deal. He extended his hands of friendship towards Pakistan through Lahore Summit and a Bus Service. He was born in Madhya Pradesh in North India on December 25,1924 but has lived his political life in Uttar Pradesh. During the demolition of Babri Mosque in Ayodhya he apologized to the nation but at the same time advocated that a scientific investigation be allowed to extract the proof of Ram Temple and ordered an excavation of site of dispute. While he advocated that a friendly ties be maintained with Pakistan he warned Pakistan from any unwanted steps towards borders and Kashmir. It was during his Prime Ministership that Pakistani troops infiltrated above the hills of Kargil and pushed back by Indian Army.It was referred as Kargil War. It was during his tenure that a scientist from a minority Muslim community was credited with honor of becoming President of India -The highest constitutional post in India who pioneered India's Missile program and tested second Nuclear Bomb in the Run of Pokharan successfully despite being aware of geo-political odds and reciprocations .His legendary speeches on many occasions including at the time of his resignation from a 13 days government,his speech during Kargil War,his advice during Gujrat Riots,his speech in Hindi in United Nations when he was external Affairs Minister ,his speech on Ayodhya Issue,his poetry and journalism are regarded as milestones of Indian Politics,Society and Literature. He sheltered and nourished a chain of new age politicians including current Prime Minister Narendra Modi.He will be regarded as one of the finest political leaders India has produced in post independence period.Here is one of his poetry on philosophy of life and death in his favorite language Hindi in which he had actually written these lines. मृत्यु को चुनौती देती अटलजी की पंक्तियां- ठन गई, मौत से ठन गई। जूझने का मेरा कोई इरादा न था, मोड़ पर मिलेंगे इसका वादा न था रास्ता रोककर वह खड़ी हो गई यूं लगा जिन्दगी से बड़ी हो गई।मौत की उम्र क्या, दो पल भी नहीं जिन्दगी सिलसिला आज कल की नहीं मैं जी भर जिया, मैं मन से मरूं लौटकर आऊंगा कूच से क्यों डरूं?तू दबे पाँव चोरी छिपे से न आ सामने वारकर फिर मुझे आजमा मौत से बेखबर जिन्दगी का सफर शाम हर सुरमई रात बंसी का स्वर,बात ऐसी नहीं कि कोई गम ही नहीं दर्द अपने पराए कुछ कम भी नहीं। प्यार इतना परायों से मुझको मिला न अपनों से बाकी है कोई गिला,हर चुनौती से दो हाथ मैंने किए आंधियों में जलाए हैं बुझते दिए, आज झकझोरता तेज तूफान है नाव भंवरों की बांहों में मेहमान है,पार पाने का कायम मग़र हौसला देख तूफां का तेवर तरी तन गई मौत से ठन गई।।