New Delhi, 25 December (H.S.): Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid solemn tributes to former Prime Minister Bharat Ratna Atal Bihari Vajpayee on his 101st birth anniversary, commemorating the statesman’s lifelong dedication to good governance and nation-building on this Christmas Day.

Tribute Details and PM's Social Media Post

In a heartfelt message posted on X (formerly Twitter), PM Modi described Vajpayee as etched in the hearts of the countrymen, emphasizing his brilliance as an orator and poet whose personality, works, and leadership continue to guide India’s all-round development .

The full text reads: Respectful tributes to former Prime Minister Bharat Ratna Atal Bihari Vajpayee ji, who is etched in the hearts of the countrymen, on his birth anniversary. He dedicated his entire life to good governance and nation-building. He will always be remembered not only as an eloquent orator but also as a spirited poet. His personality, works, and leadership will continue to serve as a guiding path for the all-round development of the country.

Vajpayee's Illustrious Life and AchievementsBorn on December 25, 1924, in Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh, Atal Bihari Vajpayee emerged as a towering figure in Indian politics, serving as Prime Minister three times—briefly in 1996 and from 1998 to 2004—marking the first non-Congress government to complete a full term.

A founding leader of the Bharatiya Jana Sangh and later the BJP, he spearheaded transformative initiatives like the Golden Quadrilateral highway project, Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana for rural connectivity, Pokhran nuclear tests in 1998, and economic liberalization that propelled India’s IT revolution and global standing .

Awarded the Bharat Ratna in 2015, Vajpayee’s ideological firmness, diplomatic acumen—exemplified by the Lahore bus diplomacy—and unwavering national commitment continue to inspire, as Modi noted his conduct as the true measure of greatness.

Broader CommemorationsPM Modi’s homage forms part of wider observances, including a planned visit to Lucknow to inaugurate Rashtra Prerna Sthal, a memorial honoring Vajpayee’s legacy, and tributes at the Sadaiv Atal memorial in New Delhi alongside President Droupadi Murmu.

Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar