New Delhi: A distinguished statesman, respected Parliamentarian, a writer, poet, Bharat Ratna and India’s first non-Congress Prime Minister to serve a full five-year term – any of these can be used to describe Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
One of his understated qualities was witty humour.
As the nation celebrates Vajpayee’s 101st birth anniversary, Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh took a trip down memory lane to highlight the three-time PM’s sense of humour.
Speaking at an event in UP, Rajnath recalled Vajpayee’s famous bus yatra to Pakistan in February 1999, when the Lahore declaration — aimed at de-escalating tensions between the neighbouring countries – was signed.
A Pakistani woman, impressed by Vajpayee’s speech, proposed marriage to him and wanted Kashmir as a gift.
Not flustered even for a moment, Vajpayee, a lifelong bachelor, said he was ready to marry her if he got the entire Pakistan as dowry.
“During a visit to Pakistan, a woman asked Vajpayee, ‘Would you marry me, and give Kashmir in exchange’. Vajpayee ji said fine but you have to give me whole of Pakistan as dowry,” said Rajnath, one of the leaders who worked closely with Vajpayee.
“Vajpayee’s sense of humour was remarkable,” said Rajnath.
It not only reflected his sharp wit but also his unwavering stance on Kashmir.
Rajnath mentioned another instance, from the Emergency period.
Vajpayee had immense back pain while he was in custody, and was rushed to the AIIMS.
Where the doctor asked him if the pain was a result of his bending down, Vajpayee said, ‘Doctor sahib, I do not know how to bend in life; perhaps I must have turned somewhere,’ recalled Rajnath.
Vajpayee passed away on August 16, 2018 at the age of 93.
