A person who wasn’t really there this year. A person who has been ailing for a long time. Yet, this year more than any other, I missed his presence, his wisdom, his sense of humour, his ability to rise above politics and stand for the nation. This year, my person of the year is Atal Bihari Vajpayee
I can’t remember the last time that I missed someone in public life, so much. He had charisma, brilliant oratory, and a wicked sense of humour. But, above all that was an innate sense of decency. And, it is this decency that I miss.
As a young person getting interested in politics for the first time, i have this memory of an India Today cover with Salman Khursheed and ABV hugging – they had gone to Geneva to discuss Kashmir, on behalf of India. The PM at that time was PVN. There is a time for politics, and there is a time for setting it aside, and all concerned knew that lakshman rekha.
I wish the Government of India puts its petty differences aside and awards him the Bharat Ratna next year. Let it be in his lifetime, not posthumous …
For those too young to remember him, here is he in action in Parliament talking about the Jan Lok Pal Bill – yes it has been under discussion from before i was born (and that is a long time ago :D)
Agree with you completely!! RT”@calamur: just blogged – Person of the Year – http://t.co/kLAsQfyZ“
http://t.co/gUhEqvUS
Thanks designed for sharing such a good idea, post is good, thats why i have read it entirely
Great choice for the Person of the Year!
The nation misses Atalji more than ever now. Lets pray for his healthy and long life!
Person of the Year http://t.co/RGO5vNGP via @zite
http://t.co/BeYgCe0v good one by @calamur . give it to him and ms swaminathan when they r alive.
“@ShankkarAiyar: Totally endorse “Person of the Year http://t.co/8cF90w6p“
Person of the Year http://t.co/9kxRrftQ via @zite
Person of the Year http://t.co/8lC794AA || @calamur calls to give Vajpayee as Bharat Ratna (Sonia called ABV Gaddar when he was PM).
Well I find this a bit surprising, because I thought Person of the year should/could be a person who is active in he year! However, this is indeed logical that forced ‘absence’ of the person through the year remind people that how desperately people miss him/her is indeed a most important qualification in itself to be conferring this title “Person of the Year”! 🙂
Atal Bihari is not only missed by BJP, but others because he could have given very meaningul expression to what has been happening in country with great degree of decency (as you have pointed out). Though LKA has been doing it, but he lacks oratory of ABV!
I second your recommendation that he be given Bharat Ratna Now before its too late!
Interesting (and agreeable) choice, but am rather disappointed by your inability/unwillingness to explain in greater detail as to why you decided upon Atalji. The man had much more going for him than just decency, oratory, and wit.
ABV is a true mass leader, 100% self-made, and timeless – the only other such guy who made it to PMO was probably Lal Bahadur Shastri.
A lovely little note on atalji 🙂 http://t.co/dHBfwsZN
Great man. Completely in sync with what you want to say. Need sm ppl like him arnd.
Flipped thru his poems on his bday. Just love them.
My person of the year too – Atal Bihari Bajpayee – http://t.co/CQc04xdR Thanks @calamur for writing this.
To anoint a saint or to lament the absence of one any longer smacks of fascist yearning.
A clip of ABV speaking on #Lokpal in the #Parliament ( via @calamur ) http://t.co/8I7rkXFE
A clip of ABV speaking on #Lokpal in the #Parliament ( via @calamur ) http://t.co/8I7rkXFE