A tribute to beloved Vajpayee ji from "teens of the new millennium"

It happens rarely in a nation's political life that the demise of a leader evokes so much emotion across the nation, across the political spectrum. And, that also for whom who organizationally affiliated to a party representing the right most end of politico-ideological continuum. It must be unprecedented in  comparison to a pan India appeal for Gandhiji, an individual All -in- One.
Sir, we, the teens of new millennium,  started to develop the political consciousness when you were leading the troubled , chaotic coalition after a 'stable hiatus' of sri Rao period. This period engendered a lot of "national curiosities" in blooming minds.Perhaps ,this period of 13 days, 13 months and 'desired 13' years was an era of last political churning having reminisces of "Nehruvian consensus" which you epitomized to give even oppositions an equal space.
Our political formative age took shape by each of your act whether it be bold  "operation Shakti- Buddha smiled again" , 1998 nuclear testing defying westen hysteria or giving befitting reply to pakistan in 1999 Kargil war. You dared to come out of "hesitation of history" and filled vigor in the entusiasm of growing teens who could take pride in their leaders. Your "jai jawan , jai kisan , jai vigyan" sloganeering paved path for technological rise which got manifested in IT boom and later our recognition as nuclear tech power giving way for desired NSG waiver. we  truly found an apt  leader in you to lead our country in the new millennium when high aspirations were rushing among all of us.
Sir,your enthralling speech making capability enchanted everyone. You unique way of taking long pause is still mysterious. Your pause gave your lovers to take 4-5 sips of tea hurriedly without loosing the thread of speech in shrilling whisper of lips and hot tea; you made political commentators to bet with each other for what would be your subsequent lines; you confounded oppositions to speculate what you will dwell upon; you made budding teens like us think that radio/TV got technical snag, but you were just strategizing what to speak so that all get proven otherwise in their calculations. Sir, it was the most hilarious part of your personalty.
Sir, you were epitome of temperance even amidst polarisizing incidents such as Gujarat riots, Parliament attack etc. happened in your regime. Your enunciation of "Raj Dharma"  was itself a clarion calling insertion in the political lexicon which must keep on guiding politicians for generations to come.
Sir, you gave the call of "shining India" ,it  raised high hopes for even  people at the bottom of pyramid by Gram sadak yojna ,Antodaya yojna and ambitious Golden Quadrilateral to connect farmers/rurals ending "bichaulia" who hindered the farmers' produce due to lack of connectivity.
Sir, even pakistanis too have high words for you despite your affiliation to the party which they may never want to come in power. Your "lahore Bus journey" in 1999 ," Agra summit" in 2001, "composite dialogue" in 2004 et al make them believe that you did make sincere effort to invoke bonhomie between two. This is when residual grudges of kargil war, nuclear testing in thier backyard etc. were residing in their minds. Sir,Your calling of " insaniyat, kashmiriyat and jamoohriyat" even made disgruntled  kashmiris believe that you were the best PM so far.
Sir, you led ministry of external affair wayback post emergency period, troubled 1970s reminisces, when cold war period was in new ascendency after a brief détente. Later, in 1994, PM sri Rao chose you to lead the team ,defending the allegation of human right violation, in J&K at the UN ,by pakistan, despite you being then on the other side of political table . Sir, we doubt present political dispensations will even imagine about such gestures. We feel you were the last column of such stature in our political history.
Sir, we, as a school going teenager ,used to be frequently asked whom we idolize the most as a living national figure. Most of us were invariably falling for Kalam sir. Sir, it was you who gave us such a beloving president who inspired young generations relentlessly.
Sir, you are physically no more with us but your political wisdom laced in poetic verses will always reverbate across the Indian sociopolitical space and beyond. Perhaps, you are needed the most today when there is increasing abdication of Raj Dharma, Coalition Dharma, and Manav Dharma.
Sir, now most of us are in late twenties or early or mid thirties, prepared to embark on your footprints, we miss your "moral compass" to look upon always. May you rest in peace,sir!!!