While Haridwar is waiting for the ashes of its beloved leader Atal Bihari Vajpayee to arrive for their immersion in the holy Ganga some people recount the fond memories associated with the iconic leader gathered during his countless visits to the pilgrimage city.
Meanwhile, the local administration and police have been informed on Friday that some senior BJP leaders would reach Haridwar on August 19 with the ashes of the deceased BJP patriarch which would be immersed in the Ganga on the same day.
While the leader’s mortal remains were being consigned to the flames in Delhi some people who had the opportunity of seeing Vajpayee intimately reminiscence on different facets of the multi-faceted personality, particularly his humour and wit which left their deep imprint on the national psyche. Speaking to The Pioneer, Ramesh Bhateja from Roorkee who has recently been bestowed by the Union ministry of MSMEs with ‘Swachh Shree’ award said, “ I remember Atal Bihari Vajpayee came to our house in Saharanpur many years ago when he was the External Affairs Minister. We hosted lunch for him. My elder brother was former chairman of the Nagar Palika. So many years have passed since he visited our house, but the memory is still vivid in my mind. I asked him why his speeches were not being published verbatim in the newspapers. He jocularly said to me, ‘Ap aa jao patrakarita mein, phir roz dalna akhbar mein.’ He was such a person, a true leader of the masses without the least vanity of towering above us.”
Sharing some lighter moments they had experienced while with him, he said, “Vajpayee ji said complainingly to the family members that he had been served with rice kheer after the meal while he loved rasogullas. He said that when he would come next we must make it a point to serve him rasogullas.”
Former district BJP president Kuldeep Gupta said, "I printed hundreds of copies of Atal Diary in 2012 in which his poems showed up on the pages. They were distributed among some eminent people of the city. His poem 'Geet naya gata hun' carved a special place in the hearts of the people here. They are timeless, they are inspiring."