Chronicle Reporter, Bhopal, In my childhood I went to Bhopal for school education. During my stay in Bhopal, I heard that a public meeting of Bharatiya Jansangh president Atal Bihari Vajpayee is being held at Char Batti Choraha, Budhware.
I thought I will go and hear his speech. I was highly impressed by his speech. He said, “Ye Desh Keval Jamin Ka Tukda Nahin, Ek Jeeta Jagata Raashtr-Purush Hai, Himalay Iska Mastishka Hai, Gauri-Shankar Iskee Shikha Hain, Pavas Ke Kaale- Kaale Megh Iskee Kesh Raashi Hain, Dillee Dil Hai, i Kati Hai, Narmada Karadhanee Hai, Porvee Ghat Aur Pashchimi Ghaat Isakee Do Vishaal Janghaen Hain, Kanyakumaaree Iske Panje Hain, Samudra Iske Charan Pakharata Hai, Sooraj Aur Chandrama Iskee Aarti Utarate Hain, Ye Viron Ki Bhoomi Hai, Shooron Ki Bhoomi Hai, Ye Arpan Ki Bhoomi Hai, Tarpan Ki Bhoomi Hai, Isaka Kankar-Kankar Hamare Liye Shankar Hai, Iska Bindu-Bindu Hamare Liye Gangajal Hai, Ham Jiyenge To Iske Liye, Aur Kabhi Marana Pada To Marenge Bhi Iske Liye.
Aur Marane Ke Baad Hamaree Asthiyaan Bhee Agar Samudra Mein Visarjit Ki Jaengi To Vahan Se Bhi Ek Hi Aavaz Aaegee –“Bharat Mata Ki Jay, Bharat Mata Ki Jay”.
These words had huge impact on my life. Patriotism was instilled in me and I decided that my life will be dedicated for my country. This was my first lesson in politics. After that, I accepted honorable Atalji as my Guru and whenever there was an opportunity to listen Atalji, I never missed his speech.
Right from childhood, I became interested in politics, and hence became member of Jan Sangh. During emergency, I was imprisoned and started working in Janta Party after being released from the jail, then became full time worker of Akhil Bhartiya Vidyarthi Parishad.
My first personal interaction with Atalji took place during a meeting of the national executive in Bhopal, when my duty as a worker was to arrange his tea and breakfast. I brought fruits, dry fruits etc. for Atalji after his nap in the afternoon. He said ‘Kya Ghas Phoos Khane Ke Liye Le Aaye’.
He told me to arrange some Kachori, Samosa, Pakode or Phaphde, after which I arranged some namkin for him. The down to earth simple interaction with a young worker like me filled my heart with sense of affinity and respect for him. This simple interaction left a permanent impression upon me. The hesitation I had from a stalwart of his stature was set aside.
He lost election in the year 1984 in Gwalior, but his fun-loving attitude and ability to laugh about defeat was worth emulating. When he visited Bhopal, he told me “Shivraj, I am now unemployed too”.
In 1991, he contested Lok Sabha elections from two seats – Vidisha and Lucknow and decided that he would continue to hold the seat which he would win with higher margin. At that time, I was MLA from Budhni seat of Vidisha parliamentary constituency.
I was responsible for the election campaign in Budhni assembly seat but being the state president of Yuva Morcha, I got the opportunity to campaign in his entire parliamentary constituency.
During the campaign time, I could understand Atalji a lot more. During my speech when I compared him with the opposition candidate, he used to laugh a lot on one of my sentences. I used to say ‘Kahan Munchh Ka Bal Aur Kahan Punchh Ka Bal,’ he used to laughingly say, Dear brother, keep such remarks away.’
He won the Vidisha Parliamentary seat with one lakh four thousand votes and Lucknow with one lakh sixteen thousand votes. He retained Lucknow seat as he won from there with more number of votes and made me contest the by-election from the vacant Vidisha seat.
When I went to meet him after winning the by-election, he addressed me with endearment ‘Aao Vidisha-Pati’ and since then, whenever I met him, he always addressed me by the name Vidisha-Pati. Whenever I went to him even with small problem of Vidisha, he always took it with utmost seriousness.
Once, the railway station halt of one of the trains was discontinued at Ganjbasoda, despite my request to the then Railway Minister Jaffer Sharief, the train halt was not continued.
I approached Atalji and requested him that train stop should be restarted once again at Ganjbasoda. He immediately enquired about the whereabouts of Jaffer Sharief, and coincidently Sharief was present in the parliament house itself. If Atalji wished he could have conversed with Sharief over phone but he told me to accompany him to have direct conversation.
It amazed me that such a great leader took me to the chamber of the Railway Minister for the halt of a train and that is when I understood that how much Atalji was serious towards the simple works that he did not hesitate to go to a Minister for the issues of the common man. I also went along with Atalji to the Minister chamber and the Minister immediately ordered for the train to halt at Ganjbasoda.
It was during Vidhan Sabha election in Madhya Pradesh in 2003, funds towards drought relief was being demanded by the then Congress government from the Union Government. A group of MP BJP parliamentarians thought that if this amount is sanctioned to the state government before the upcoming elections, then the state government will misuse these funds to win elections.
Hence, we parliamentarians together went to meet Atalji, who was the Prime Minister at that time and told him that it is not appropriate time to give any additional funds to the state government.
Upon hearing us Atalji while explaining us said that it is responsibility of the Union Government to help the elected state government of whichever party it belongs to. He urged us to discard such kind of feelings from our heart.
I met with a serious accident at the end of 1998, which caused 8 fractures in my body. During the same period, Atalji’s government lost owing to shortage of one vote in the lok sabha. I also went on stretcher to my cast vote. Once again elections were announced.
At that time, I felt that it is right for me to contest the ensuing elections. I told Atalji that we should seek some other contestant from Vidisha as I am not in a position to contest election.
He told me with affection that “Kheer mein Ikhatte aur Maheri mein Nyaare, this is not done, when you were in good health we fielded you in the election, why we should not ask you to contest election, when you are unwell today, this is not done, you will contest election, leave any worries with the party”.
On this advice I contested election in this fractured condition and won the election. Atalji was such a remarkable human being. I still have many such fond memories of him.Our beloved Atalji is no more with us.
Sabko apna Manne wale, sabko pyaar karne wale, sabki chinta karne wale, sarvapriya ajatshatru rajneta, unke liye koi paraaya nahi tha, sab apne the. He lived his entire life for the country. He was a living legend of Indian cultural values and traditions.
Bharat Mata ke Pujari. His poetry ‘Haar Nahi Manoonga, Raar Nahi Thanoonga, Kaal ke Kapaal par Likhta-Mitta hoon, Geet naya Gaata hoon’ gives us inspiration to work with courage.
Unke Charno mein Shat-Shat Naman-Pranam.
