PM Modi Dedicates a Poem to India’s Poet Prime Minister Vajpayee

Video Editor: Ashutosh Bharadwaj

"His passing away marks the end of an era,” said Prime Minister Narendra Modi on former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee after his demise at AIIMS in New Delhi on 16 August. He was 93.

India grieves the demise of our beloved Atal Ji. His passing away marks the end of an era. He lived for the nation and served it assiduously for decades. My thoughts are with his family, BJP Karyakartas and millions of admirers in this hour of sadness. Om Shanti

Narendra Modi, Prime Minister

PM Modi quoted a poem of Vajpayee to express his feelings. The poem spoke of Vajpayee's lack of fear of death.

लेकिन वो हमें कहकर गए हैं-
“मौत की उमर क्या है? दो पल भी नहीं,
ज़िन्दगी सिलसिला, आज कल की नहीं
मैं जी भर जिया, मैं मन से मरूं,
लौटकर आऊँगा, कूच से क्यों डरूं?”

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) August 16, 2018

PM Modi also hailed the former prime minister for his ‘exemplary leadership that set the foundations for a strong, prosperous and inclusive India in the 21st century.’

It was Atal Ji's exemplary leadership that set the foundations for a strong, prosperous and inclusive India in the 21st century. His futuristic policies across various sectors touched the lives of each and every citizen of India.

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) August 16, 2018

It was due to the perseverance and struggles of Atal Ji that the BJP was built brick by brick. He travelled across the length and breadth of India to spread the BJP's message, which led to the BJP becoming a strong force in our national polity and in several states.

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) August 16, 2018