Vajpayeeji full of wit & humour – II

Free Thinker *

When the urn containing the ashes of Vajpayeeji was brought by the State BJP President from Delhi, it was received at Imphal by many people including the State dignitaries. Then the ashes were strewn into the Imphal River by the Hon. Chief Minister . I asked the President , " the immersion should have been done together with the CM". He gave me a Vajpayee style reply, "the Thongra was small ".

When Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee came to Manipur in 1980, for launching his newly formed Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) in the State, he was welcomed by 15 young boys and girls singing "Sana Leibak Manipur"( golden land of Manipur). I was told that Vajpayeeji listened to their song carefully and responded by saying that "it must be a patriotic song" .

In Kolkata, while seeking volunteers for a National Jail-Bharo programme organized by the Jana Sangh demanding the Government recognize Bangladesh, he uttered " I promise you a cup of hot coffee, come to jail just for a day "; that was inimitable Vajpayee style.

Again he made a hilarious but politically correct speech in Jaipur just prior to the 1991 election, when there was a widespread murmur within the Parivar that there would be a Ram toofan (storm/wave). Considering the feelings he said "the problem with the toofan is that we have to be careful not to get blown over ourselves." (Swapan Dasgupta remembers).

When Vajpayeeji was Foreign Minister in Morarji Desai's Government, British Nobel Laureate Philip Noel Baker spoke on why India should not develop nuclear weapons at a London meeting on disarmament; he listened to the speech carefully and later remarked with a nationalistic tone "sab apne apne dhun ke pake hain"( everyone looks after their own interests ).

After the Babri Masjid was demolished a journalist asked him why he did not leave the BJP if he was so unhappy with what had happened. He replied in a very touching but meaningful way " Jaayein to jaayein kahaan ( where should I go? ).

In early 1977, Vajpayeeji made a very thought provoking and very powerful speech at Ramlila Maidan, New Delhi, just after almost all the political leaders were released from jail (Emergency period ).

Thousands of people were waiting to listen, he yelled with emotion "it has been quite long since we met; there are stories to narrate and stories to listen; but first let us breath in the open air of freedom, for who knows how long it will last." The crowd roared back. He was indeed a terrific witty orator, who knew the pulse of the people.

Sonia Gandhi expressed in grief , " Vajpayeeji was a spell- binding orator, a leader of great vision, a patriot to the core for whom the National interest was paramount; but above all, he was a man with a large heart and a real spirit of magnanimity ". When his political adversaries are making such kind remarks, that shows where Vajpayeeji stands.

When the first impeachment motion against a Supreme Court judge, Justice Ramaswami was brought to Parliament, Vajpayeeji was approached to sign the motion. In fact the motion was already signed by many leaders. When his turn came, Vajpayeeji's reaction was "the charges in the motion appeared very minor; they seem like the charge of stealing a chicken".

Vajpayeeji hosted a lunch for President Musharraf at Delhi's Taj Hotel in 2001. Vajpayee saw that the President was reluctant to start the meal. He could read the mind of the President. Then Vajpayeeji immediately called Oberoi, the chef, and gestured towards Musharraf who was not eating. Oberoi assured Musharraf that the food was halal. Mr President acknowledged the wisdom of the Indian Prime Minister with a meaningful smile.

In 2004, the Pravasi Bharatiya Puraskar medal was conferred to Meghnad Desai ( London based columnist). After Vajpayeeji draped the medal around Desai's neck, he asked Vajpayeeji "why did you give it to me? I have criticized the BJP so much ". He pondered for a while and replied, "you criticize everyone".

On conferring him, the Best Parliamentarian Award, Vajpayeeji responded in his inevitable style , " it is tough to find words when you are yourself being honoured; I am aware of my limitations and I recognize my faults; the adjudicators must have ignored my limitations and mistakes to select me; this is a wonderful, unique nation, you can even worship a stone by putting vermillion on it ".