Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday paid floral tributes to former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee at ‘Sadaiv Atal’, the memorial dedicated to the Bharat Ratna awardee, on his death anniversary.
In a post on X, PM Modi said Vajpayee’s unwavering commitment to India’s development continues to inspire the nation. “Remembering Atal Ji on his Punya Tithi. His dedication and spirit of service towards the all-round progress of India continue to inspire everyone in building a developed and self-reliant India,” he wrote.
Union Ministers JP Nadda, Kiren Rijiju, and Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, JD(U) MP Sanjay Jha, and Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta also visited the memorial to pay homage. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, in his tribute, recalled Vajpayee’s vision of a strong and prosperous India. “I pay homage to Atalji on his punyatithi. He worked all his life with the resolve of building a strong and prosperous India. The nation will always remember his tremendous contribution,” Singh posted on X.
According to the Ministry of Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation, the central platform at ‘Sadaiv Atal’ features nine square polished granite stone blocks with a central ‘Diya’, symbolising Navarasas, Navaratras, and Navagrahas. The memorial is surrounded by nine bas-relief walls inscribed with Vajpayee’s prose and poetry, designed for visitors to read while performing a pradakshina (circular walk). Stones sourced from across India were used in the construction to reflect the spirit of “unity in diversity.”
Atal Bihari Vajpayee, born on December 25, 1924, in Gwalior, served as India’s Prime Minister three times and was the first non-Congress leader to complete a full term in office. His tenure as Prime Minister spanned briefly in 1996 and then from 1998 to 2004. He also served as External Affairs Minister in Morarji Desai’s government between 1977 and 1979.
A poet, orator, and statesman, Vajpayee passed away on August 16, 2018, at AIIMS in New Delhi, leaving behind a legacy of inclusive politics and visionary leadership.