Atal Bihari Vajpayee: A look back at former PM's life and legacy

Atal Bihari Vajpayee was first sworn in as PM in May 1996, but his tenure lasted only 13 days as he failed to secure support from other parties. He returned to the position in early 1998 after the BJP won a record number of seats in the elections. However, he had to form a weak alliance with regional parties. In 1999, the Vajpayee-led BJP further increased its seats in parliament, solidifying its control over the government for a full term. (File photo)

Following the collapse of the Morarji-led Janata Party government from 1977 to 1980, Atal Bihari Vajpayee established the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in 1980, becoming its first president. The BJP grew in strength and went on to form the government in the late 1990s. Today, it remains the most influential and ruling political party in the world's largest democracy. (File photo)

Atal Bihari Vajpayee uniquely stands out as the only leader to win elections from six different Lok Sabha constituencies in Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, New Delhi, and Gujarat. With a parliamentary career spanning over four decades, Vajpayee was elected to the Lok Sabha nine times and to the Rajya Sabha twice, setting a notable record. (File photo)

Atal Bihari Vajpayee made history as the first external affairs minister to deliver a speech in Hindi at the UN General Assembly, where he effectively highlighted India's positions on crucial issues such as nuclear disarmament, state-sponsored terrorism, and reforms within the United Nations. Throughout his tenure as both foreign minister and prime minister, Vajpayee addressed the UN general assembly on seven occasions, from 1977 to 2003. (File photo)

Vajpayee aimed to enhance diplomatic relations with Pakistan by traveling to Lahore by bus to meet Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. Following the 1999 Kargil War, he continued his efforts to rebuild ties by engaging with President Pervez Musharraf and inviting him to India for a summit in Agra. (File photo)

The Kargil War victory is a major achievement of Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s tenure as Prime Minister. He played a crucial role in leading India through the conflict, making key decisions to push Pakistani forces back across the Line of Control (LoC) while directing the military to avoid crossing it. This restrained approach, though criticized, prevented opening a new front and was a significant part of his leadership during the war. (File photo)

In 1996, Vajpayee's brief tenure saw him initiate plans for India to become a nuclear state, but his government fell after 13 days. Upon returning to power in 1998, Vajpayee-led govt conducted the Shakti nuclear tests at Pokhran on May 5 and 11, marking a key advancement in India's nuclear capabilities and its impact on national security and clean energy. (File photo)

In addition to being a veteran politician and three-time Prime Minister of India, Atal Bihari Vajpayee was also a gifted poet and a renowned orator. His speeches were notable for their eloquent use of Hindi, often enriched with poetic elements. Vajpayee's passion for poetry was inherited from his father, Krishna Bihari Vajpayee, a celebrated poet in the Gwalior princely state. (File photo)

Atal Bihari Vajpayee received numerous prestigious awards throughout his life, including the Padma Vibhushan in 1992 and an honorary D. Litt. from Kanpur University in 1993. In 1994, he was honored with the Lokmanya Tilak Award, the Best Parliamentarian Award, and the Pandit Govind Vallabh Pant Award. In 2015, former Prime Minister Vajpayee was bestowed with India's highest civilian honor, the Bharat Ratna, by President Pranab Mukherjee.