Bharat Ratna for Atal Bihari Vajpayee !!!

It is of no use to expect that Congress Govt. will confer Bharat Ratna to Atal Bihari Vajpayee since he was the first and the only non-Congress prime minister to last a five-year term, giving a big setback for this political party owned and run by Nehru-Gandhi family. Still I think we all must debate on this issue and see whether he should get this award or not.

In my personal view I strongly feel that he is one of the most suitable candidates for Bharat Ratna, at least in the field of politics. Other suitable candidate for this award seems to be Sachin Tendulkar who has achieved almost all milestones in Cricket and considered as God of this Sport. Sachin unarguably has set so many world records that nobody appears to be even close to break these records in future. Let us see why Atal should get Bharat Ratna. His major achievements are:-

• The first and the only successful steering, in the history of Indian politics, of a non-Congress party government to complete its term with an unwieldy coalition of 17 parties National unity and a "historic peace process" with Pakistan, which left India better off than when he took office.
• Historic inauguration of Delhi-Lahore bus service
• The economic growth and reform programmes achieved under the NDA Govt.
• India became an emerging power in information technology, business processing outsourcing and biotechnology.
• Improvement in infrastructure, increase in foreign capital investments, deregulation of trade, investment and corporate laws.
• Successful completion of nuclear test in Pokhran in 1998 even after strong opposition of international community and steering out India from intense international criticism and the steady decline in foreign investment and trade.
• Emphasis on National Highway Development Project and Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojna.
• He has actively participated as freedom fighter during Quit India movement in 1942-45 which may not be known by many people.
• Interestingly, Vajpayee is the only person to have been elected nine times to the Lok Sabha, or Indian House of the People.

He was one of India's most influential and charismatic politicians, and the most significant one outside of the Nehru-Gandhi dynasty. He has been accommodative to all political and religious views and several of his initiatives have fructified now in creating a country on the progressive path. It was a bunch of corrupt people and the media which pulled down his Govt. achievements (as is known today). If you have a look at the list of earlier recipients of this Award, there is need to institute a new Award (Superior to Bharat Ratna) for him. When persons like Rajiv Gandhi can get Bharat Ratna who was involved in Bofors Scandal, Indira Gandhi who imposed emergency onto our democratic country which is a black spot in Indian history, then

why not Atal should be awarded Bharat Ratna who has been very polite yet firm, a saffron leader yet very moderate and very strong yet diplomatic when dealing other countries. Bharat Ratna is given to the persons who have made our country proud by excelling in their own fields and bringing us international recognition and in case of Atal, even his strong opponents would agree that he has gone far beyond criteria set for this award. For example a strong critic of BJP, a noted journalist Vir Sanghvi, writing in The Hindustan Times, said the premier's exit was not the one he expected and not the one he deserved. "Regardless of the circumstances of the Bharatiya Janata Party's shock defeat... history will remember Atal Bihari Vajpayee as one of India's finest prime ministers," Sanghvi wrote.

Vajpayee's final address after his resignation as PM gave no hint he had lost any of his enthusiasm. "My party and alliance have lost, but India has won," Atal said. "Dear countrymen," he had said, "we have given up office but not our responsibility to serve the nation. We have lost an election, but not our determination". Then with the philosophical words, "victory and defeat are a part of life which are to be viewed with equanimity" and a farewell "Jai Hind" (Hail India), he was gone. What a personality!!!

Last but not least, no wonder if Sonia or Rahul Gandhi will announce to award Bharat Ratna to Quattrochi!!!!! Or may be to themselves!!!!!!