Atal Bihari Vajpayee: Life of the charismatic leader in pictures

Vajapyee was not known as Atalji, a name that translates into unyielding, for nothing. He could go against the grain of his party if he saw it deviate from its path. There were times when Vajpayee would withdraw into a shell, due to disagreements with party colleagues, at times forcing them to mollify their icon. (ABP Live)

In his personal life, Vajpayee was a versatile poet and a writer. He was fond of food, Indian music, dance and loved nature. (ABP Live)

Vajpayee proved to be an astute politician, at times seen as a statesman. He combined the compulsions of politics with his BJP's rightwing ideology but would seldom budge from the USP of his high ethical pedestal. (ABP Live)

Former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, who passed away here today evening, was known for his oratory skills. Fifteen years after he addressed the nation one last time from the ramparts of Red Fort, he bade the world a painful goodbye. (ABP Live)

Vajpayee did his Masters in Political Science, studying at the Victoria College in Gwalior in Madhya Pradesh and at the DAV College in Kanpur in Uttar Pradesh, where he first contested - and lost - elections on behalf of the Bharatiya Jana Sangh, the Bharatiya Janata Party's predecessor. By then he had embraced the Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS). (ABP Live)

Vajpayee served as the prime minister between 1996 and 2004 in three non-consecutive terms - first for 13 days, then for 13 (RPT) 13 months between 1998 and 1999 and then from 1999-2004. (ABP Live)

Vajpayee served as the prime minister between 1996 and 2004 in three non-consecutive terms - first for 13 days, then for 13 (RPT) 13 months between 1998 and 1999 and then from 1999-2004. (ABP Live)

Vajpayee wrote several books and Hindi poetry. He was a master of pauses, an expert at evading replies, often shrugging off tough posers with a huge laugh, a cold stare or a long pause. (ABP Live)

In December, 2005, Vajpayee had announced his retirement from electoral politics at a party gathering in Mumbai. He was a parliamentarian for nearly 47 years. (ABP Live)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi mourned the death of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee on August 16. PM Narendra Modi said that his death marked the end of an era. Calling it a personal loss, he said, I have no words, I am filled with emotions right now. Our respected Atal ji is no more. Every moment of his life he had dedicated to the nation. (ABP Live)

Atal Bihari Vajpayye had a unique distinction of being a member of Parliament for 12 terms -- a 10-time Lok Sabha member and twice of Rajya Sabha. The only time he lost a Lok Sabha election was against Madhavrao Scindia of Congress from Gwalior in 1984, when he lost by a margin of close to 2 lakh votes. (ABP Live)

Prem Prakash, the veteran journalist and the Chairman and founder of ANI shared his experience with the former PM and said he was a warm-hearted person who had the unique capability of easily drawing a person into conversation and making him/her feel comfortable in no time. But at the same time, he was a tough decision maker too. (ABP Live)

One of his favourite retreats was Manali in Himachal Pradesh. About this, Vajpayee said: 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 dispirited voice of dejection but the stirring shout of victory. (ABP Live)

India under the governance of Vajpayee had witnessed major historic events like in May 1998, India conducted underground nuclear tests in Rajasthan's Pokhran desert. The tests were held just a month after the government had been in power. The victory of three-month-long Kargil War bolstered the image of Vajpayee and he was hailed across the country for his bold and strong leadership. (ABP Live)

Vajpayee was also the first ever person from the BJP to have become the Prime Minister. In fact, several years before he became India's Prime Minister, former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru had once commented that Vajpayee will one day become Prime Minister. (ABP Live)

Atal Bihari Vajpayee, one of the most charismatic leaders, is no more. The former prime minister breathed his last on Thursday after a prolonged illness at Delhi's All India Institute of Medical Science (AIIMS). He was 93. (ABP Live)