Shiv Kumar Sharma, who was Vajpayee’s personal secretary for 50 years, has tales deeper than that.
While many have lot to say about the late former prime minister and one of the most beloved leaders of India and his politics, Shiv Kumar Sharma, who was Vajpayee’s personal secretary for 50 years, has tales deeper than that. His interaction with the revered leader went beyond that of politics — it was up close and personal.
Sharma talks about Vajpayee, his leader and guiding light:
“In 2007, Atal Bihari Vajpayee had a stroke. He also underwent two operations. After that he had difficulties in walking. We used to take him around in a wheel chair. However, after 2011, his health started deteriorating severely. During the last few days before getting hospitalised in AIIMS, he had expressed that it was time for him to leave.
He spent last few years of his life within the four-walls of his house. He would wake up everyday at 6 am. Post his morning tea, his physiotherapist used to come for two hours. This was followed by his breakfast, most of which was in liquid form because it was difficult for him to digest solid food.
He loved old movies, he would watch television for hours without saying anything. In the last two years, however, he hardly used to say anything at all. He once told me in 2005 that it is time for him to take a back-seat. He had said he would now work the party from behind the scenes and leave stage for the younger leaders.
The only complaint that Vajpayee had, Sharma recalls, is curbing of his personal freedom after he became the prime minister. He once asked the SPG staff to let him travel in a car without glass, so he can also see outside, but they didn’t let him. He wanted to stay as close to them as possible.”
The one who did it
No bias over caste, religion
Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s journey as a parliamentarian started in Balrampur in Uttar Pradesh. Vajpayee and Vidhan Sabha candidate Surajlal Gupta campaigned together in its Utraula assembly segment in 1967. Jana Sangh worker Ratanlal Gupta said Vajpayee didn’t care about caste and religion, and recalled the time when they stopped at the home of Haider Ali in Mahdeya village. “It had a good population of Brahmins and we informed him that by having food at his place, his Brahmin vote bank might slip away,” Gupta said. But Vajpayee laughed this away, punning on the Hindi word khisakna’ or slipping away. “Jo khisakna tha, pet me khisak gaya. Ab vote khiske ya rahe.”
Conducted Pokhran Test
Vajpayee’s second term as PM is known for Nuclear tests conducted at Pokhran desert in Rajasthan, in May 1998. Vajpayee also pushed for peace process with Pakistan. He inaugurated the historic Delhi-Lahore bus service in February 1999. He also pitched for resolving the Kashmir dispute and other conflicts with Pakistan. But Pakistan ditched India by launching Kargil War, wherein Pakistani soldiers infiltrated into the Kashmir Valley and captured border hilltops around Kargil.
Bidding Adieu To Politics
The 2004 General Election brought about the downfall of the NDA, which lost almost half its seats and the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) assumed the reins of power. Vajpayee refused to take up the position of the Leader of the Opposition paving the way for Lal Krishna Advani’s leadership of BJP. He then lived his life in retirement and seclusion owing to ill health.
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