Life Lessons the Young Generation Should Learn from Atal Bihari Vajpayee

On 16th August 2018, our country saw the demise of another great leader who in his prime took the nation by storm. Atal Bihari Vajpayee was a renowned figure in the Indian politics who advocated and initiated a variety of changes and ushered in a new era in technological milestones for our country amidst intense pressure from all sides. Unlike anyone in precedence, he received the admiration and respect of even the critics.

Atal Bihari Vajpayee was a successful politician and a well-respected and honorable prime minister of our country due to the virtues he possessed. There are many life lessons to be learned from such a figure who commanded the respect of not only his comrades but also the opposition. He showed exceptional leadership qualities even in the face of extreme odds and persisted prompting the admiration of prominent Lok Sabha speaker Sumitra Mahajan who rightfully personified him as a star in the sky of politics who outshone everyone. Following are the life lessons that we believe the young generation should definitely learn from such a prominent figure which will pave the way for their success ahead:

• Being calm and composed: Atal Bihari Vajpayee was one of those extraordinary men who exuded eloquence even in silence. One of the most valuable virtues he possessed was that of a cool character and immense patience. Being an eloquent speaker who commanded the ears and respect of everyone including the opposition, he knew when to listen and when exactly to stay silent while being addressed. Instead of flinging back insults, he calmly chose to demolish accusations respectfully with facts, earning admiration for hishonorable code of conduct from all spheres. Such codes of conduct and cool-headed nature is something that the young should learn from Vajpayee ji.

• Leadership: Due to the unique skills of statesmanship, Atal Bihari Vajpayee was considered a great leader and inspired manyfrom the field of politics and beyond. Industrialists like Ratan Tata and many others attest to this fact and claim to have benefited from the example of his immense character. In today’s world, leadership skills are a necessary asset for the adolescent minds which Atal Bihari Vajpayee has proven with golden examples.
• The strength of character and perseverance: Atal Bihari Vajpayee throughout his lifestood as a pillar of strength and integrity and even after his demise continues to inspire many. The fact that he did not budge in the midst of the Kargil war and went on to conduct nuclear tests later despite opposition proves just that. If not for his perseverance, India would never have been able to recapture lost territory or gain the status of a nuclear state, and even after his demise, he still continues to set examples for the young on the values of life.
• Success in patience: the political career of Atal Bihari Vajpayee was not always filled with instant success. He, in fact, faced massive defeats in the beginning years. He even lost his mentor to unfortunate circumstance but none of those deterred him from his path. He rose up to the pinnacle through his sheer dedication and patience in spite of substantial opposition. The quote ‘nothing is impossible’ has been time and again proven by Atal Bihari Vajpayee to be accurate and is a valuable lesson for the young generation.

• Taking bold decisions: Life is not always as seen through a rose-tinted glass and sometimes situations may demand bold actions in making vital decisions. It is therefore imperative that our young be aware and prepared for such cases. Late Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee has demonstrated this fact quite successfully showing extreme nerve and boldness during the Kargil war of 1999 where he refused to give in an inch of territory and also during the second nuclear test at Pokhran which was done amidst substantial international pressure and extreme secrecy.

There are many life lessons that the young generation should learn and absorb from this great personality. In spite of his success, humilityand simple lifestyle always adorned his personality throughout his life, which should be a true inspiration for the youth on how to lead the life.

We, at the JP International School, believe that to attain the gold standards of success one also needs the values to compliment such skills as shown by our honorable late prime minister. We, therefore, strive to instill the same values in our students that will help them achieve their goals of being successful both professionally as well as personally, and there truly can’t be a better personality to learn all these valuable virtues than the respected Atal Bihari Vajpayee. We believe that if our children could engross the glorious qualities of Atal ji, it will be a matter of pride for all of us.

- JP International School