Considerable Efforts Were Made to Create Confusion About the Relationship Between the RSS and Atal Ji: Ashok Tandon
Atal Ji Spoke Only What He Wanted to Say: Ram Bahadur Rai
New Delhi, May 29, Thursday
- Documentary “Shat Shat Atal” screened at IGNCA
- Discussion held on the book “Atal Sansmaran”
- An engaging and heartfelt dialogue on the life, thoughts, and legacy of Atal Ji
Remembering the multifaceted personality and contributions of Bharat Ratna Atal Bihari Vajpayee—former Prime Minister of India, an eloquent orator, a sensitive poet, and one of the country’s most admired public figures—a special event featuring the screening of the documentary “Shat Shat Atal” and a book discussion was organized at the Samvet Auditorium of the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA), New Delhi. The documentary was directed by Atul Pandey and produced by Atul Gangwar. The event was organized by IGNCA, an autonomous institution under the Ministry of Culture, Government of India.
The documentary “Shat Shat Atal” presented Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s political journey, leadership, national vision, commitment to democratic values, and deep human sensitivity in a compelling manner. Through the film, the audience was able to closely experience many inspiring and emotional facets of Atal Ji’s personality.
Following the screening, a discussion was held on “Atal Sansmaran”, a book authored by senior journalist Ashok Tandon, who served as Media OSD to Atal Bihari Vajpayee. The discussion featured the author Ashok Tandon and Padma Bhushan Ram Bahadur Rai, President of IGNCA. The session was moderated by Anurag Punetha, Head of the Media Centre at IGNCA.
During the discussion, both speakers shared several recollections from Atal Ji’s life, reflecting upon his ideas, work ethic, humane nature, and experiences in public life. They highlighted the many dimensions of Vajpayee’s personality, emphasizing that he was not merely a politician but a powerful symbol of India’s democratic traditions, culture of dialogue, and nationalist politics. They noted that his life continues to inspire younger generations and that his ideas remain relevant in shaping contemporary India.
Recalling his first encounter with Atal Ji, Shri Ram Bahadur Rai said, “I first heard Atal Ji speak in 1962. Around 10–15 of us cycled nearly 75 kilometres just to listen to him.” Sharing a personal anecdote, he remarked that Vajpayee Ji always spoke only what he himself intended to say. No one—whether a journalist or anyone else—could make him say something against his own judgment.
Author Shri Ashok Tandon observed that the media and political opposition had made considerable efforts to create confusion regarding the relationship between Atal Ji and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). He noted that the book contains an important chapter examining this relationship. He also narrated the interesting episode of then President Dr. Shankar Dayal Sharma appointing Atal Ji as Prime Minister, an account that is included in the book as well.
Speaking about Lal Krishna Advani, Tandon said that during the BJP government of that period, both Vajpayee and Advani enjoyed equal stature. They not only respected one another but also complemented each other in leadership and governance.
Concluding the discussion, Anurag Punetha remarked that the book is a must-read, as it brings to light several lesser-known aspects of Atal Ji’s life and personality.
The programme witnessed the participation of a large number of distinguished personalities from the fields of literature, journalism, culture, and public life, along with researchers and students. The event provided a meaningful opportunity to revisit the memories of Atal Bihari Vajpayee and engage in a serious reflection on his philosophy of life and enduring contribution to the nation.
