PrintFriendly
Bharat Ratna and the architect of Chhattisgarh, the Hon’ble Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee, was a towering figure in Indian politics who will continue to inspire future generations through his achievements. Today, lakhs of people across social, political, and public life are contributing their best to nation-building, inspired by Atal Ji. For the karyakartas of the Bharatiya Janata Party, he was a father figure.
The way the luminous Atal Ji, with his humble and dedicated personality, resided in the hearts of people across the political spectrum is truly rare. Simple and unassuming, dressed in a dhoti and kurta, he was so approachable that no karyakarta or common citizen ever hesitated to meet him or express their views.
Atal Ji possessed a multifaceted personality. As a poet, writer, and journalist, he was blessed with the special grace of Goddess Saraswati. His sacred work in nurturing newspapers and magazines such as Rashtradharma, Panchjanya, and Swadesh through nationalist journalism continues to guide the nation and society even today.
As a skilled statesman, he remained a tireless devotee of Antyodaya—the upliftment of the poorest—and dedicated his entire life to national service. Atal Ji was a great architect of modern India who, through initiatives such as the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana, the Golden Quadrilateral Project, and the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, ensured that the continuous stream of development reached even the last person in
Atal Ji’s life embodied unparalleled principles of nation-building. Leaders of the opposition and rival political parties were also influenced by him and often sought his valuable advice.
society. Roads are key indicators of progress in any region, and the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana has brought prosperity and new opportunities to remote and underprivileged areas. The Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan has accomplished the unprecedented task of bringing every child into the school system.
Atal Ji’s life embodied unparalleled principles of nation-building. Leaders of the opposition and rival political parties were also influenced by him and often sought his valuable advice. Rising above partisan politics, he consistently stood for the national interest.
Having joined the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) during his student days, the deep sense of patriotism within him remained evident throughout his life, reflected in both his poetry and his work. In the political arena, where grudges are often harboured, he never held ill will toward anyone. His innate simplicity and magnanimity made him acceptable to people across diverse ideologies.
More than 31 per cent of the population of Chhattisgarh belongs to the tribal community. The Congress party, which ruled the country for several decades, treated the tribal community largely as a vote bank, while their genuine upliftment was never a priority. Former Prime Minister Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee addressed this long-standing neglect by establishing the Ministry of Tribal Affairs during his tenure.
Today, numerous welfare schemes for the upliftment of tribal communities are being implemented across states such as Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Maharashtra, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, and the Northeastern region. He also made India a nuclear power without succumbing to pressure from so-called economic superpowers.
Atal Ji firmly believed that infrastructure development is the lifeline of any nation. He encouraged private-sector entrepreneurship in sectors that had long been considered non-competitive and reserved exclusively for the public sector. This visionary approach fostered quality, efficiency, and healthy competition, significantly strengthening the Indian economy.
Thanks to the foresight of Hon’ble Atal Ji, the long-cherished dream of creating the state of Chhattisgarh—struggled for by our ancestors over generations—has been fulfilled. This year marks the silver jubilee of the state’s formation for the three crore people of Chhattisgarh. Every citizen of the state is expressing heartfelt gratitude to Atal Ji, the architect of our state.
Under the leadership of Hon’ble Chief Minister Shri Vishnu Deo Sai, we have declared this year as ‘Atal Nirman Varsh.’ Every decision taken by our government reflects Atal Ji’s philosophy of good governance. Whether it is the many initiatives aimed at doubling farmers’ incomes—including the procurement of paddy at Rs. 3,100 per quintal—the promotion of millets, pulses, oilseeds, and medicinal crops, or the encouragement of organic and natural farming, all clearly demonstrate our government’s unwavering commitment to the welfare of farmers.
The Mahatari Vandan Yojana, aimed at the economic empowerment of women, and the construction of Mahatari Sadan, along with welfare measures such as providing Rs. 5,500 per standard bag to tendu leaf collectors—known as ‘green gold’ in Chhattisgarh—and the distribution of footwear, are all driven by Prime Minister Modi’s guarantee and the commitment to good governance inspired by Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
Under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, the double-engine government led by Shri Vishnu Deo Sai has established a Department of Good Governance and an agency dedicated to it, adopting a zero-tolerance policy against corruption. Innovations such as e-office systems have brought greater transparency and efficiency to government functioning.
With the objective of simplifying daily life and promoting entrepreneurial activity, the double-engine government has implemented nearly four hundred policy reforms. These initiatives firmly establish Chhattisgarh as a model state for good governance.
Today, the Prime Minister of the country and the world’s most popular leader, Shri Narendra Modi, along with our esteemed Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh, Shri Vishnu Deo Sai, are steadfastly dedicated to realizing the vision of a developed India and a developed Chhattisgarh. This journey from resolve to achievement will truly be possible only through the inspiration of Atal Ji. This alone will be the truest tribute to him.
(The writer is Deputy Chief Minister, Chhattisgarh)