India Foundation organised the 6th Atal Bihari Vajpayee Memorial Lecture (ABVML) on December 26, 2023, at India Habitat Centre, New Delhi. The lecture was addressed by General V. P. Malik, Former Chief of Army Staff, Indian Army, and Amb Kanwal Sibal, Former Foreign Secretary of India, on the theme “Reminiscences with Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee”. The session was chaired by Shri Suresh Prabhu, Former Union Minister, Government of India, and Chairman, Governing Council, India Foundation. Laced with a string of personal anecdotes, the speakers shared their memories of engagement with the late Prime Minister of India, Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
Amb Kanwal Sibal noted that according to him, Atal Ji’s greatest contribution to national security was his decision to go for the nuclear tests and pave the way for India’s global stance as an emerging nuclear power. Discussing the late Prime Minister’s visit to China in 2003, he stated that it was instrumental in nudging China towards the recognition of Sikkim as an integral part of India, and also helped in the setting up of the Special Representatives (SRs) mechanism to works towards border dispute settlement.
Gen V. P. Malik described Atal Ji’s personality as a visionary statesman who promoted peace while strengthening India by undertaking nuclear tests. He was firm and wanted peace without compromising India’s core interests and strongly resisted external pressures. During his tenure, India’s stature enhanced considerably in the comity of nations. His work ethics mandated deliberations, dialogue and consensus. He was a peace-loving poet, a person who felt the pain of the masses, and was very clear about what he wanted. During his tenure, he worked towards establishing peace with Pakistan, and the historic Lahore bus journey was a part of the move. However, when faced with treacherous infiltrations in Kargil, he decided to give a firm response and refused to go to the United States of America for discussions with Pakistan until their troops had withdrawn from Indian territory. He also ensured that stable foundations were laid to tackle the upsurge of terrorism in Jammu & Kashmir (J&K), and was equally determined to win the hearts and minds of the people of J&K.
Shri Suresh Prabhu pertinently observed that having worked with Atal Ji at close quarters, he could sense that Atal Ji had the remarkable trait of leading a coalition government having many stalwarts, and yet could brew a consensus amongst all the members. The Vajpayee government was one of the most successful Indian governments in getting economic growth and laid solid foundations for infrastructural growth. Atal Ji had sensed that Indian elections were won on the basis of emotions, so he transformed development into an emotive issue, thus pushing it as a major poll agenda. He initiated some of the fundamentally transformational development reforms during his tenure, such as the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana and the Sagar Mala project to develop minor ports of India into major, well-connected ports. Atal Ji was an astute politician struck a sound balance between political expediency and public persona. More significantly, besides being a great politician, he was also an extremely good human being who was very compassionate and had emotions for his colleagues and associates.
The vote of thanks was delivered by Capt Alok Bansal, Director, India Foundation. He highlighted that Atal Ji played a critical role in increasing the vibrancy of Indian democracy by ushering in a unique pluralism in the political spectrum. He noted that for ages to come, Atal Ji shall be etched in our memories as a beautiful manifestation of the core meaning of democracy, as a leader who adorns the throne and the place of opposition with equal grace and humility.
