“हार नहीं मानूँगा,
रार नहीं ठानूँगा,
काल के कपाल पर
लिखता मिटाता हूँ।” ~ Atal Bihari Vajpayee
The birth centenary of Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee is not merely a moment of remembrance. It is a national pause to reflect on a rare style of leadership that combined moral courage with political restraint, decisive governance with democratic grace, and ideological conviction with human sensitivity.
From December 25, 2024 to December 25, 2025, the nation observed the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ji Janm Shatabdi Varsh. This year-long commemoration is not about celebrating the past in isolation. It is about reaffirming values that shaped modern India and continue to guide its future. Atal Ji’s legacy is not confined to history. It lives on in India’s institutions, in its democratic traditions, and very visibly, in the practice of governance across states like Haryana.
Atal Ji shared a deep and respectful bond with Haryana. He often acknowledged the state’s unmatched contribution to the nation through its soldiers and farmers. His iconic slogan, “Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan, Jai Vigyan,” resonated profoundly in Haryana, a land that has consistently stood at the frontline of national service and food security.
Haryana embodies this trinity in spirit and action, producing brave jawans who defend the nation’s borders and resilient kisans who sustain its economy, while increasingly embracing science and technology in agriculture and industry.
Atal Ji belonged to a generation of leaders who viewed politics as public service, not personal power. His life was defined by integrity, intellectual depth, and an unwavering faith in India’s democratic ethos. Even as a committed ideologue, he respected dissent, dialogue, and parliamentary decorum. In an era of rising polarisation, his conduct remains a powerful reminder that disagreement need not descend into discord and that strong opinions can coexist with mutual respect.
As Prime Minister, Atal Ji demonstrated that firmness and compassion are not opposing ideas. India asserted itself with confidence under his leadership, while remaining rooted in responsibility. The Pokhran nuclear tests reflected strategic resolve, while his sustained outreach for peace reflected statesmanship. He believed India must be strong, but equally responsible and ethical in the exercise of power.
Equally enduring was his philosophy of governance. Atal Ji consistently emphasised good governance as the true measure of leadership. For him, governance was not about control, but about trust, transparency, and delivery. This philosophy continues to be actively celebrated and practised in Haryana. His birthday, December 25, is observed as Good Governance Day (Sushasan Divas), a living tribute to his belief that the government must be responsive, accountable, and citizen-centric.
Even today, Haryana’s leadership frequently draws inspiration from Atal Ji’s speeches and vision while shaping administrative reforms and development policies. The continued focus on efficiency, transparency, digital governance, farmer welfare, infrastructure expansion, and grassroots empowerment reflects the enduring influence of his governance framework. It is a testament to the fact that Atal Ji’s ideas were not time-bound political strategies, but timeless principles of administration.
Atal Ji also understood development in its truest sense. Infrastructure, connectivity, and technology were not mere projects for him, but instruments of inclusion. His emphasis on roads, rural connectivity, and telecommunications helped integrate remote regions into the national mainstream. In Haryana, this approach finds reflection in the ongoing emphasis on balanced growth that connects villages with markets, opportunities, and modern services.
Beyond governance and policy, Atal Ji’s greatest contribution was his understanding of India as a civilisational democracy. He believed India’s strength lay in its plurality, its capacity for debate, and its ability to harmonise diversity with unity. His nationalism was confident, never exclusionary; firm, yet empathetic. This inclusive nationalism continues to guide governance practices that seek development without division.
The Janm Shatabdi Varsh is especially significant for younger generations. Atal Ji’s life teaches that leadership is not about volume, but vision; not about confrontation, but consensus; and not about power, but purpose. His journey reminds public representatives that authority must always be tempered with accountability and humility.
As India moves forward with confidence and aspiration, Atal Ji’s words and ideals continue to illuminate the path ahead. His belief in good governance, national unity, and ethical leadership remains deeply relevant in Haryana and across the country.
“दीप जलाएँ, आगे बढ़ें,
अंधियारे से लड़ते जाएँ।”
Remembering Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ji at 100 is not an act of nostalgia. It is a renewed commitment to an idea of India that is strong yet compassionate, modern yet rooted, ambitious yet ethical. That idea continues to guide the nation and finds daily expression in governance inspired by his timeless vision.
(The author is Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha; Views expressed are personal)
