Mananshil Pradhanmantri (A philosopher king) Atal Bihari Vajpayee

ठन गई
मौत से ठन गई
जूझने का मेरा इरादा न था
मोड़ पर मिलेंगे इसका वादा न था
रास्ता रोक वह खड़ी हो गई
यों लगा ज़िन्दगी से बड़ी हो गई
मौत की उमर क्या है?दो पल भी नहीं
ज़िन्दगी सिलसिला,आज कल की नहीं
मैं जी भर जिया, मैं मन से मरूँ
लौटकर आऊँगा,कूच से क्यों डरूँ?

(Rough translation)

Am fighting Am fighting with Death,
though I had no intention to engage;
there were no promises to meet “It” at any turn of life…
“It” stood in front blocking my way, as if “It” was bigger than me and my life…

What is the age of Death? Not even a few seconds, whereas,

Life is a long journey —
not just about past and present nor future;
And I have lived to my fullest, thus want a death of my choosing.
I will come back, so why be afraid of moving ahead (death)?…

A poem written by himself about his own tryst with death. It’s not words only, it’s an experience. He wrote from his experience and so struck a chord with the masses. His way of talking was a conversation between the leader and the people. People call him a good orator but for me he has been a fatherly figure who motivated me to study politics and the art of speaking. Have heard him speaking live in front of the masses and swaying their moods. The famous, long pause he had while speaking was to understand the minds of the people in front of him and then take their thinking to where he wanted them to be.

And the way he rendered his poetry. Classic! Breath taking! Today will quote 2 of his poems from the ones I have always liked, as a tribute to a poet leader who stood tallest amongst equals.

The following written just after Independence when America was helping Pakistan to fight for Kashmir…

एक नहीं, दो नहीं, करो बीसों समझौते
पर स्वतंत्र भारत का मस्तक नहीं झुकेगा।
अगणित बलिदानों से अर्जित यह स्वतंत्रता
त्याग, तेज, तप, बल से ‍रक्षित यह स्वतंत्रता
प्राणों से भी प्रियतर यह स्वतंत्रता।

इसे मिटाने की साजिश करने वालों से
कह दो चिनगारी का खेल बुरा होता है
औरों के घर आग लगाने का जो सपना
वह अपने ही घर में सदा खरा होता है।

अपने ही हाथों तुम अपनी कब्र न खोदो
अपने पैरों आप कुल्हाड़ी नहीं चलाओ
ओ नादान पड़ोसी अपनी आंखें खोलो
आजादी अनमोल न इसका मोल लगाओ।

पर तुम क्या जानो आजादी क्या होती है
तुम्हें मुफ्‍त में मिली न कीमत गई चुकाई
अंगरेजों के बल पर दो टुकड़े पाए हैं
मां को खंडित करते तुमको लाज न आई।

अमेरिकी शस्त्रों से अपनी आजादी को
दुनिया में कायम रख लोगे, यह मत समझो
दस-बीस अरब डॉलर लेकर आने वाली
बरबादी से तुम बच लोगे, यह मत समझो।

धमकी, जेहाद के नारों से, हथियारों से
कश्मीर कभी हथिया लोगे, यह मत समझो
हमलों से, अत्याचारों से, संहारों से
भारत का भाल झुका लोगे, यह मत समझो।
जब तक गंगा की धार, सिंधु में ज्वार
अग्नि में जलन, सूर्य में तपन शेष
स्वातंत्र्य समर की वेदी पर अर्पित होंगे
अगणित जीवन, यौवन अशेष।

अमेरिका क्या संसार भले ही हो विरुद्ध
कश्मीर पर भारत का ध्वज नहीं झुकेगा,
एक नहीं, दो नहीं, करो बीसों समझौते
पर स्वतंत्र भारत का मस्तक नहीं झुकेगा।

This one I love the most and read when in distress…

गीत नया गाता हूं

टूटे हुए तारों से फूटे बासंती स्वर
पत्थर की छाती मे उग आया नव अंकुर
झरे सब पीले पात कोयल की कुहुक रात प्राची मे अरुणिम की रेख देख पता हूं गीत नया गाता हूं

टूटे हुए सपनों की कौन सुने सिसकी
अन्तर की चीर व्यथा पलकों पर ठिठकी
हार नहीं मानूंगा, रार नहीं ठानूंगा, काल के कपाल पे लिखता मिटाता हूं

गीत नया गाता हूं

Born in a middle-class family in Gwalior, his love for the native language, Hindi is beyond words. He became the first person to deliver a speech in Hindi at the UN General assembly.

His fighting spirit is at par with his love for peace. His initiative of starting a bus to Lahore, with himself boarding the first bus and crossing over to Pakistan, is still very clear in my memory. At the same time when we were attacked in Kargil, his firm resolve to push back the enemy also demonstrates his love for his country.

His humour and truthfulness is incomparable. On being questioned about his bachelorhood once, he laughingly said that am a bachelor but not a brahmachari (celibate).

His sarcasm, His wit

His determination, His dedication

His way to make friends beyond party lines. With all his differences, he was a true human being

On this solemn day, I just pay my tributes to this divine soul and pray to Agni to take him to his destination.

वायुरनिलममृत ।
    मथेदं भस्मान्तꣳ शरीरम्  । 
 ॐ क्रतो स्मर कृतꣳ स्मर  ।
    ॐ क्रतो स्मर कृतꣳ स्मर ॥ 

May this life enter into the immortal
breath; the may this body end in ashes. O Intelligence, remember, remember what has been done. Remember, O Intelligence, what has been done, Remember.

अग्ने नय सुपथा राये अस्मान् विश्वानि देव वयुनानि विद्वान्  ।
युयोध्यस्मज्जुहुराणमेनो भूयिष्ठां ते नमौक्तिं विधेम  ॥ 

O Agni, lead us, along the auspicious
path to prosperity, O god, who knowest all
our deeds. Take away from us deceitful sins.
We shall offer many prayers unto thee