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Atal Bihari Vajpayee

25 quotes

“India is not a piece of land, but a living entity.”
Atal Bihari Vajpayee (1924–2018) first seen 2018 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: As quoted in Agnohotri, V. (2018). Urban Naxals: The making of Buddha in a traffic jam. Also quoted in Kashmir integral part of India, Article 370 should be scrapped: Vijay Rupani Indian Express.
“There are some people who are telling the Muslims not to vote for the BJP whereas the truth is that the BJP has never worked against any minority, including the Muslims.”
Atal Bihari Vajpayee (1924–2018) first seen 2002 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: February 19, 2002, Jaihind . Quoted in Madhu Purnima Kishwar: Modi, Muslims and Media. Voices from Narendra Modi’s Gujarat, Manushi Publications, Delhi 2014.
“I would like this house to join me in paying fulsome tribute to our scientists, engineers and defence personnel whose singular achievements have given us a renewed sense of national pride and self confidence.”
Atal Bihari Vajpayee (1924–2018) first seen 1998 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Extract from Suo Motto statement made in the Parliament, after India’s underground nuclear tests conducted on 11 May 1998.
“We, the Indians, as Guru of the Nations: yes, I believe in that. We can be—or once more become— the hope of mankind. But that requires efforts and courage to be ourselves culturally. Unfortunately, we live in an age of political dwarfs, political managers without vision or courage. But their time is running out.”
Atal Bihari Vajpayee (1924–2018) first seen 1996 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Vajpayee interviewed by Erich Follath and Tiziano Terzani: “Guru der Nationen”, Der Spiegel, 1996/19, p. 163. quoted from Elst, Koenraad (2001). Decolonizing the Hindu mind: Ideological development of Hindu revivalism. …
“I have a vision of India: an India free of hunger and fear, an India free of illiteracy and want. I dream of an India that is prosperous, strong and caring. An India, that regains a place of honour in the comity of great nations.”
Atal Bihari Vajpayee (1924–2018) first seen 1999 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Vajpayee during his 1999 Independence Day speech. Quoted from Vajpayee No More: Here Are His Five Most Powerful Quotes Swaraja, Aug 16 2018
“This terrible tragedy has created the opportunity to fashion a determined global response to terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, wherever it exists and under whatever name. I assured President Bush of India's complete support in this.”
Atal Bihari Vajpayee (1924–2018) first seen 2001 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: After his meeting with George W. Bush in Washington in 2001
“Russia and India both have a geopolitical interest in a peaceful and stable Asia, which would be relieved of outward pressure and would not harbour and suffer from extremists.... Russia and India must do their best so that international community's efforts in Afghanistan were not futile.”
Atal Bihari Vajpayee (1924–2018) said by 2018 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Our aim may be as high as the endless sky, but we should have a resolve in our minds to walk ahead, hand-in-hand for victory will be ours.”
Atal Bihari Vajpayee (1924–2018) first seen 2002 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Vajpayee addresses the nation on Independence Day in 2002. Quoted from Vajpayee No More: Here Are His Five Most Powerful Quotes Swaraja, Aug 16 2018
“In our search for a lasting solution to the Kashmir problem, both in its external and internal dimensions, we shall not traverse solely on the beaten track of the past. Mindsets will have to be altered and historical baggage jettisoned.”
Atal Bihari Vajpayee (1924–2018) said by 2018 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Kinchit nahin bhaybhit main, Kartavya path par jo bhi mile, Yeh bhi sahi woh bhi sahi English translation:I am not afraid of defeat and victory, whatever comes my way of duty, I will accept it, because this is true and that is true.”
Atal Bihari Vajpayee (1924–2018) said by 2018 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Politics is a game of compromise.”
Atal Bihari Vajpayee (1924–2018) said by 2018 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Secularists like you don’t have to spend sleepless nights over this. I will carry the secular baggage on my broad shoulders.”
Atal Bihari Vajpayee (1924–2018) said by 2018 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Hindu tan man, Hindu Jeevan, Rag rag Hindu mera parichay. English translation: Hindu body and soul, Hindu life, in every pore my identity is of a Hindu”
Atal Bihari Vajpayee (1924–2018) said by 2018 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“With the banner of Nationalism in our hearts to build up a Mighty India, let us march forward on the path of Duty. This is no time for rest; this is no occasion for faltering. Let us go onwards and onwards, till we reach the Goal.”
Atal Bihari Vajpayee (1924–2018) first seen 1970 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Bharatiya Pratinidhi Sabha Session- July, 18-19 1970, Chandigarh
“India is an ancient nation and not nation in the making. We are not to build a new nation but to make this ancient nation virile to face the challenge of modern times.”
Atal Bihari Vajpayee (1924–2018) first seen 1968 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Bharatiya Pratinidhi Sabha Session, Indore – September, 7-8, 1968
“Our National life is full of diversities. We have here a variety of languages, of faiths, of communities, of modes of living, and schools and styles of literature and art. This diversity reflects the abundance of our national life, and need to be preserved and promoted.”
Atal Bihari Vajpayee (1924–2018) first seen 1968 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Bharatiya Pratinidhi Sabha Session, Indore – September, 7-8, 1968
“They who interpret secularism as dharma-nirpekshata fail to understand either dharma or secularism. A secular state does not mean an anti-religious state, nor even an irreligious state. For, in that sense, the people of India just never can become secular. A secular state simply means a state which does not identify itself with any specific mode of worship and holds the balance even between all sects- secularism thus mean sampradayanirpekshata and not dharma-nirpekshata.”
Atal Bihari Vajpayee (1924–2018) first seen 1968 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Bharatiya Pratinidhi Sabha Session, Indore – September, 7-8, 1968
“The question is not of ‘right’ and ‘left’; the issue really is Democracy versus Totalitarianism. The choice is not between ‘progressivism’ and ‘reaction’; the people have to choose between forces uncompromisingly pledged in their loyalty to the nation with extra-territorial loyalties. Differences are bound to remain in the country, but the Indian nation cannot afford to be divided in its basic commitment to Nationalism and Democracy.”
Atal Bihari Vajpayee (1924–2018) first seen 1969 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: 16th All India Session- Chanakya Nagar, Patna – 28-30 December - 1969
“A Sense of oneness, a sense of indianess requires to be created among our youth to halt the mad rush towards an imported five star video culture. We believe that through dedication and perseverance we will realize national unity and create a new India of our dreams. In Delhi, I gave you a slogan: ”Unite and win, today we are achieving unity, tomorrow we will achieve victory", Vandematram.”
Atal Bihari Vajpayee (1924–2018) first seen 1984 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Indore, 6 - 8 January 1984
“The enemy is within our very hearts and minds. It is the cancer of doubts and despair which is overtaking our people. It is the loss of faith in our system, in the very future of our beloved motherland. This creeping rot must end. I am sure that very soon, by the grace of god and the inherent good sense of the Indian people, it will end. But that calls for a great national effort.”
Atal Bihari Vajpayee (1924–2018) first seen 1983 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: New Delhi, 15-17 April 1983
“We are committed to bridge the gap between the city and the village. We are committed to bridge the gap between capital and the labour. We are committed to bridge the gap between the citizen and the administration. We are committed to bridge the gap between the centre and the states. We are committed to bridge the gap between Linguistic, religious and caste groups.”
Atal Bihari Vajpayee (1924–2018) first seen 1983 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: New Delhi, 15-17 April 1983
“All democracies, especially in developing countries that have considerable diversities and carry the burden of developmental imbalances, have had to grapple with one paramount challenge and that is : how to harmonies’ the legitimate self – assertion of communities that suffered deprivation and dis-empowerment in the past with imperatives of good governance.”
Atal Bihari Vajpayee (1924–2018) first seen 2003 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: New Delhi, January 22, 2003
“My poetry is a declaration of war, not an exordium to defeat. It is not the defeated soldier's drumbeat of despair, but the fighting warrior's will to win. It is not the de-spirited voice of dejection but the stirring shout of victory.”
Atal Bihari Vajpayee (1924–2018) first seen 2000 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: New York September 7, 2000 Asia Society Annual Dinner
“We are nations forged from many traditions and faiths, proving year after year that diversity is our strength. From vastly different origins and experiences, we have come to the same conclusions: that freedom and democracy are the strongest bases for both peace and prosperity, and that they are universal aspirations, constrained neither by culture nor levels of economic development.”
Atal Bihari Vajpayee (1924–2018) first seen 2000 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: New York September 7, 2000 Asia Society Annual Dinner
“Under the agreement of 1951, Tibet is to have autonomy in its internal affairs. But China has violated the agreement. It has interfered in the internal affairs of Tibet. Lakhs of people from China are being settled in Tibet so that the Tibetans shall be reduced to a minority in their own land... Thousands have been taken from Tibet for inculcating a new religion in them... When we recognized the suzerainty of China over Tibet, we made a great mistake. That was an unfortunate day... China has violated the agreement that it signed with India... When people cannot protect and practise even their religion under communism, how can one say that communism and democracy are compatible?... Tibet is not the internal affair of China... The Government of India should think again about the policy it has been pursuing... If we can champion the cause of Algeria’s independence, why can we not speak out for the independence of Tibet? On the same criteria, is Algeria not the internal affair of France?... Our party supports the independence of Tibet... Can Tibet conceivably attain autonomy within China? Communism and autonomy are antonyms... When we were championing the cause of China in the UN, we could as well have championed that of Tibet. Ukraine is a part of the Soviet Union but it has its own membership of the UN... With howsoever much restraint our prime minister may pursue our policy, if that policy does not help solve the problem of Tibet, then we will have to acknowledge that there is need to inject some firmness into that policy, some activism... A large country has swallowed a small one... As far as India is concerned, China has a malevolent eye towards us... How come, the new Government of China has thrown Chiang Kai-shek out but kept his maps?... This is hidden aggression against India. In Uttar Pradesh, China is squatting over two places that it has wrested. Such incidents point to a gathering calamity... The Tibetan refugees now in India should be allowed to campaign for the freedom of their country just as our freedom fighters campaigned in foreign lands for India’s freedom... This is a new imperialism. Its danger is that it comes wearing the disguise of revolution. It comes shouting the slogans of a new era. But this is imperialism, it is expansionism...”
Atal Bihari Vajpayee (1924–2018) first seen 1959 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Lok Sabha Debates, 8 May 1959, cols. 15918–25. quoted from Arun Shourie - Self-Deception _ India's China Policies_ Origins, Premises, Lessons-Harper Collins (2013) ch 10