The year 2019 marks the 95th birth anniversary of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and BJP's founding member Atal Bihari Vajpayee. His birth anniversary is celebrated as Good Governance Day. An excellent orator, a statesman, a poet and most importantly, a leader of the masses, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, breathed his last on August 16, 2018, at the age of 93. Atal Bihari Vajpayee 1st Death Anniversary: Tracing The Political Journey of Late Former Three-Time Prime Minister.

The former PM was born to Krishna Devi and Krishna Bihari Vajpayee in a Brahmin family on December 24, 1924, in Gwalior. Vajpayee did his early schooling at the Saraswati Shishu Mandir in Gwalior. In 1934, Atal Bihari was admitted to AVM School Barnagar District Ujjain after his father joined as headmaster. Atal Bihari Vajpayee Dies at 93: Bharat Ratna And Former Indian Prime Minister Breathes His Last at Delhi's AIIMS Hospital.

Here Are Interesting Facts About Atal Ji’s Life:

  • Vajpayee was sworn-in as the 10th Prime Minister of India in 1996, when the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) emerged as the single largest party in the general elections that year. However, he failed to prove majority in Parliament and had to resign after 13 days.

  • In 1998, Vajpayee again became prime minister of the country. This time his government lasted for 13 months.

  • Vajpayee became PM of the country for the third time in 1999. This time he completed a full term of five years as prime minister.

  • Vajpayee was the first person to deliver a speech to the United Nations General Assembly in Hindi in 1977.

  • The former prime minister had also participated in the Indian freedom struggle. He was first arrested in 1942 during "Quit India Movement".

  • He had also worked with Deendayal Upadhyaya to form the Bharatiya Jana Sangh.

  • Vajpayee was arrested along with several other opposition leaders from 1975 to 1977 during the Internal Emergency imposed by Indira Gandhi.

  • He also served as the Minister of External Affairs in Prime Minister Morarji Desai's cabinet.

  • The former prime minister was responsible for the formation of Janata Party against the Congress.

  • The Janata Party collapsed soon after Desai resigned as Prime Minister in 1979. The erstwhile members of the Bharatiya Jana Sangh came together to form the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in 1980. Vajpayee became the first president of the saffron party. He held the post till 1986.

  • India conducted five underground nuclear tests in the Pokhran desert in Rajasthan in May 1998 during Vajpayee’s tenure as PM.

Vajpayee was also a noted poet. His published works include Kaidi kavirai ki kundalian, a collection of poems written when he was imprisoned during the 1975–77 emergency, and Amar aag hai. He was conferred India's highest civilian honour, the Bharat Ratna, by the the then President of India, Pranab Mukherjee in 2015. The former PM was admitted to AIIMS on June 11, 2018. Vajpayee died at the age of 93 years on August 16, 2018. He was not only an effective leader when in power, but also a force to reckon when he was in Opposition for close to 40 years.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Dec 24, 2019 11:05 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).