THE STATESMAN WHO SHAPED INDIA WITH HIS VISION, RESOLVE

Atal ji understood Indian democracy and also the need to make it stronger

- NARENDRA MODI

Today, 25 December, is a very special day for all of us. Our nation marks the 100th jayanti of our beloved former prime minister, Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee ji. He stands tall as a statesman who continues to inspire countless people.

Our nation will always be grateful to Atal ji for being the architect of India's transition into the 21st century. When he took oath as PM in 1998, our nation had passed through a period of political instability. In about nine years, we had seen four Lok Sabha elections. The people of India were getting impatient and sceptical about governments being able to deliver. It was Atal ji who turned this tide by providing stable and effective governance. Coming from humble roots, he realized the struggles of the common citizen and the transformative power of effective governance.

One can see the long-term impact of Atal ji's leadership in so many sectors around us. His era marked a gigantic leap in the world of information technology, telecom, and communications. This was particularly important for a nation such as ours, which is also blessed with a very dynamic Yuva Shakti. The NDA government under Atal ji made the first serious attempt to make technology accessible to the common citizens. At the same time, there was foresight in connecting India. Even today, most people recall the Golden Quadrilateral Project, which connected the length and breadth of India. Equally notable were the Vajpayee government's efforts to enhance local connectivity as well through initiatives such as the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana. Similarly, his government gave a push to metro connectivity by doing extensive work for the Delhi Metro, which stands out as a world-class infrastructure project. Thus, the Vajpayee government not only boosted economic growth but also brought distant regions closer, fostering unity and integration.