Atal ji’s sharp wit: Rajnath Singh narrates a humorous Pakistan-related anecdote

Lucknow (The Uttam Hindu): Today the country is celebrating the 101st birth anniversary of former Prime Minister and Bharat Ratna Atal Bihari Vajpayee. The entire nation is paying homage to him on this occasion. Atal ji was popular not only in India but also in the entire world including neighboring country Pakistan. In this connection, Defense Minister Rajnath Singh, while remembering Atal ji during a program organized in Lucknow, shared a very interesting and historical anecdote of his visit to Pakistan. Rajnath Singh said that Atal ji's personality was so great and his wit was so amazing that even his opponents were convinced by him.

The Defense Minister recounted an incident when Atal Ji was on a visit to Pakistan. A female journalist told him that she wanted to marry him, but she had one condition: Kashmir as a dowry. Atal Ji immediately responded with his trademark smile. He told the woman that he was ready to marry her, but with one condition: he wanted all of Pakistan as dowry. Atal Ji's precise and sharp reply left everyone present speechless.

Speaking at a solo poetry recital held on the eve of Atal Bihari Vajpayee's birth anniversary, the Defence Minister said that Atal Bihari Vajpayee's stature was not defined by his positions, but by his deeds and towering personality. He said that some people in the world are respected because of their positions, but Atal ji was one of those rare individuals who, despite holding no position, were revered for their conduct and work ethic. Despite the turmoil of public life, he always remained vibrant and humble. This is why, despite his absence, people continue to flock to pay their respects.

Recalling his student days, Rajnath Singh said that while studying in Class 10, Atal ji wrote his famous poem, "Hindu tan man, Hindu jeevan, rag rag Hindu mera parichay." In 1942, during a camp at Kalicharan College, when he recited this poem in front of RSS chief M.S. Golwalkar, the entire auditorium resounded with applause. Scholars of the time had predicted that this boy would write India's future. Finally, the Defence Minister recalled Atal ji's timeless lines, "No one becomes great with a small mind, no one stands with a broken heart," which remain a source of inspiration for every Indian even today.