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New Delhi, From appealing people not to vote for them to flaunting the unsuccessful tag, changing name in each election to losing huge sums of money in security deposits -- some tenacious <keyword id="20022603" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="independent" source="keywords">Independent</keyword> candidates have tried these all but losing elections became a habit for them. Tamil Nadu's K Padmarajan, who proudly calls himself the "Election King", might be the only candidate in the election fray who urges people not to vote for him, so he can retain his tag of being "most unsuccessful candidate", a feat also registered in the Limca Book of records. The 65-year-old tyre repair shop owner also finds pride in his entry in the <keyword id="19981515" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="guinness-book-of-world-records" source="keywords">Guinness Book of World Records</keyword> for candidate with most contested elections. He claims to have lost Rs 80 lakh so far in security deposits which gets forfeited every time he loses an election besides expenses for filing nomination amid fanfare. Gearing up for his 239th attempt, Padmarajan has filed his nomination for the 18th <keyword id="19895394" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="lok-sabha" source="keywords">Lok Sabha</keyword> elections from Thrissur in Kerala and Dharmapuri in Tamil Nadu. "I began fighting elections in 1988 from my home town of Mettur, located in Tamil Nadu. I have contested 238 elections so far including against former prime ministers <keyword id="20374221" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="atal-bihar-vajpayee" source="keywords">Atal Bihar Vajpayee</keyword>, P V Narsimha Rao and Manmohan Singh. This will be my 239th attempt. I pick a unique battle every time," he told PTI. Asked about his campaign plans, Padmarajan said, "I ask people not vote for me, I don't want the votes but I want to continue to hold the tag of most unsuccessful candidate. I don't campaign but when I go for filing nomination, I do that in a grand way." From former chief ministers like Jayalalitha, M Karunanidhi, YSR Reddy and AK Antony to filmstars Hema Malini and Vijayakanth -- the list of bigwigs against whom Padmarajan has contested is long. Indore's Parmanand <keyword id="21190647" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="tolani" source="keywords">Tolani</keyword> is taking forward his father's legacy who fought elections as independent candidate for three decades. "My father passed away in 1988 and I am taking forward his legacy. I have contested 18 elections so far including eight Lok Sabha and eight Vidhan Sabha. I will be contesting the upcoming Lok Sabha polls too," 65-year-old Tolani told PTI. "My father's wish was that we do not have to stop the trend till someone from the family gets elected. If I am not able to do it in my lifetime, my two daughters will carry forward the baton," said Tolani, who is a property broker. <keyword id="21190648" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="vijay-prakash-kodekar" source="keywords">Vijay Prakash Kodekar</keyword> from <keyword id="19897309" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="pune" source="keywords">Pune</keyword>, a retired staffer from state electricity board, has a different agenda behind contesting elections as independent candidate -- advocating zero budget poll campaigns. He can be seen pushing a steel cart on wheels in streets of Latur, where he is planning to contest the Lok Sabha polls. A flex board on the cart says "Main bhi Pradhanmantri". "The message why cannot any poor individual be the Prime Minister of the country. Why this exorbitant expenditure by parties on election campaigns? Polls can be fought on zero budget and the money can be utilised for public welfare," said 78-year-old Kodekar, who campaigns wearing a white dhoti. Having contested 24 elections so far, Kodekar uses a different name for different elections. "Some elections I have contested using the name Vijay, some with 'Rashtrapati' and some with the name 'Znyosho' -- as I am a disciple of Osho. I complete the name change formalities and then I contest the polls using the new name," he said. Hyderabad techie Ravinder Uppula, uses different campaign strategies for each Lok Sabha election he fights. In 2014 -- it was anti-corruption march and in 2019 it was a liquid only fast. "I promise during my campaign that if I get elected, I will get a lie detector test done every 100 days so public who votes for me doesn't feel cheated. That is how our politicians should do as well to weed out corruption," he said. Uppula, however, is disappointed with the poll campaign expenses. "It should not be an expensive deal to canvass in this country, an agenda and the right promise should be enough rather than the poll fray leaving the voters with no choice except voting for a smaller thief or a bigger thief," he added. The strange obsession of the independent candidates has also been featured in the book "The Power of The Ballot: Travail and Triumph in the Elections". Sharing the saga of some of the independent candidates' stint at the elections, the book decodes "why do some people contest every time knowing they will lose?" Kaka Joginder Singh, also known as "Dhartipakad", was a textile-shop owner who contested and lost over 300 elections. He died in 1998. In elections, he always contested independently, and always lost his security deposits. He earned the nickname Dhartipakad after several unsuccessful runs for the post of the President of India. The year with the greatest yield for him was during the tenth presidential elections in 1992 in which he earned fourth place in the polling with 1,135 votes, losing to Shankar Dayal Sharma; it was his best performance. He also contested elections from 14 states of India in the 1990s, mostly for state assemblies. Singh died in 1998. Long before <keyword id="19895781" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="narendra-modi" source="keywords">Narendra Modi</keyword> chose Varanasi as an election destination, the city had Narendra Nath Dubey "Adig". Often referred to as Kashi's Dhartipakad, he has been fighting every election as an independent candidate since 1984, losing his security deposit each time. He passed away in 2022.

PM campaign on a cart, most unsuccessful record: Independents who never call it quits

Acclaimed actor <keyword id="475128" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="pankaj-tripathi" source="Orion">Pankaj Tripathi</keyword> will be starring in the biopic of India's former Prime Minister <keyword id="628328" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="atal-bihari" source="Orion">Atal Bihari</keyword> Vajpayee. <keyword id="6363889" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="pankaj" source="Orion">Pankaj</keyword> said in a statement: "It's my honour to portray such a humane politician on screen. He was not just a politician but so much more, he was an excellent writer and a renowned poet. Getting to be in his shoes is nothing but a privilege for an actor like me." The film will be helmed by three times National Award winner Ravi Jadhav, one of the renowned directors of the Marathi film Industry and written by Utkarsh Naithani, according to a statement issued by the makers. 'Main Rahoon Ya Na Rahoon Yeh Desh Rehna Chahiye- <keyword id="6378278" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="atal" source="Orion">ATAL</keyword>' revolves around the journey of Atal Bihari Vajpayee, a leader of India and one of the co-founders and a senior leader of the Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP). National Award Winner Director Ravi Jadhav mentioned: "For me as a director, I couldn't have asked for any better story than that of <keyword id="1269800" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="atalji" source="Orion">Atalji</keyword>. On top of this, having an exemplary actor like Pankaj Tripathi to bring to screen Atalji's story and the support of the producers. I hope that I can live up to people's expectations with ATAL." Producer <keyword id="3162130" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="vinod-bhanushali" source="Orion">Vinod Bhanushali</keyword> shared: "Unanimously, we all had imagined Pankaj Tripathi playing Atalji since we began discussing the film. We are delighted to have one of India's finest actors playing the part." Producer Sandeep Singh added: "India is soon going to celebrate the life of Atal Ji and his political ideologies. We have a powerful duo of Pankaj ji and Ravi ji to bring the story to life. We aim to release this film on Christmas 2023, which also marks the 99th birth anniversary of Bharat Rana Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ji." 'Atal', presented by Bhanushali Studios Limited and Legend Studios, is produced by Vinod Bhanushali, Sandeep Singh, Sam Khan &amp; Kamlesh Bhanushali in association with 70MM Talkies and co-produced by Zeeshan Ahmad &amp; Shivv Sharma. SEE ALSO: <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/thelife/personalities/news/sandhya-devanathans-journey-from-andhra-university-to-meta-india/slidelist/95583304.cms">Sandhya Devanathan’s journey from Andhra University to Meta India</a> <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/a-suitable-boy-writer-vikram-seth-and-his-curious-case-of-missing-racks/articleshow/95593360.cms">A Suitable Boy writer Vikram Seth and his curious case of missing racks</a>

Pankaj Tripathi to star in Vajpayee's biopic

Filmmakers <keyword id="3162130" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="vinod-bhanushali" source="Orion">Vinod Bhanushali</keyword> and <keyword id="6354782" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="sandeep-singh" source="Orion">Sandeep Singh</keyword> have come together to bring on-screen the life of late Prime Minister <keyword id="47100" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="atal-bihari-vajpayee" source="Orion">Atal Bihari Vajpayee</keyword>. The biopic is titled 'Main Rahoon Ya Na Rahoon, Yeh Desh Rehna Chahiye - ATAL'. The film is an adaptation of the book 'The Untold Vajpayee: Politician and Paradox' by renowned author Ullekh N.P. Talking about the film, Vinod said, "I have been a great fan of Atalji all my life. A born leader, a statesman par excellence, a visionary. Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee ji was all the above. His contribution to our nation-building is unparalleled, and it is our great honour that Bhanushali Studios Ltd is bringing his legacy to the silver screen." Adding to that Sandeep Singh shared, "Being a filmmaker, I feel that cinema is the best medium to communicate such untold stories, that will unveil not only his political ideologies, but his humane and poetic aspects, that made him the most loved leader of the opposition as well as India's most progressive Prime Minister." The makers, who are scouting for the actor to portray the role of Atalji, will soon announce the actor and director of the film. Scheduled to go on floors in early 2023, the film will be released on Christmas 2023, which marks the 99th birth anniversary of Bharat Ratna Atal Bihari Vajpayee. 'Atal' is presented by Bhanushali Studios Limited and Legend Studios, and is produced by Vinod Bhanushali, Sandeep Singh, Sam Khan, Kamlesh Bhanushali and Vishal Gurnani, and co-produced by Juhi Parekh Mehta, Zeeshan Ahmad and Shivv Sharma. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/education/news/coaching-classes-and-edtechs-make-the-most-false-claims/articleshow/92518895.cms">Parents beware: Coaching classes and edtechs make the most false claims</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/gadgets/news/realme-techlife-watch-r100-review/articleshow/92515922.cms">Realme TechLife Watch R100 review – decent performance with some room for improvement</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/news/paytm-is-on-the-cusp-of-a-cup-and-holder-breakout-explaining-the-rally/articleshow/92517971.cms">Paytm is on the cusp of a ‘cup and holder breakout’ — explaining the rally</a>

Atal Bihari Vajpayee's biopic is on the works based on the book, The Untold Vajpayee

On August 16th, a day after India’s 71st Independence Day, Atal Bihari <keyword id="40921" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Vajpayee">Vajpayee</keyword>, the former Prime Minister, passed away in New Delhi at the age of 93. Vajpayee led the central government from 1998 to 2004, and till date is the only Indian Prime Minister from a party other than the Congress to complete a full term. The former <keyword id="14666" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="BJP">BJP</keyword> leader is set to be joined in this regard by current PM Narendra Modi, when the latter completes his term in May next year. Vajpayee has long been credited with moderating the BJP’s political position with his centrist <keyword id="35497" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="policies">policies</keyword> and socioeconomic reforms, thereby offering voters a viable national alternative to the Congress. A nine-time member of the Lok Sabha and two-time Rajya Sabha MP, he leaves a lasting legacy, and will be remembered for a slew of progressive and bold policies. Here are five of them:- Privatisation Vajpayee made privatisation a key component of his economic agenda when he set up the disinvestment ministry in 1999. Over the course of his tenure as PM, he oversaw the divestment of government holdings in more than 30 non-strategic public-sector companies such as VSNL, Maruti, Hindustan Zinc and Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd. What makes this policy all the more impressive is that Vajpayee had to overcome a considerable amount of opposition, not only from rival parties but from within his own Cabinet to implement it. Nuclearisation In May 1998, a month after his government came to power, Vajpayee ordered the commencement of five nuclear tests in Rajasthan’s Pokhran district. The move, which signalled India’s nuclear ambitions, drew the ire of Western powers, but it also highlighted India’s ability to defend itself from its neighbour Pakistan, which was building its own nuclear capability at the time. He always maintained that India would not use nuclear weapons first, stating that they would never be “weapons of aggression”. <keyword id="6354776" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Telecom">Telecom</keyword> Upon his death, Vajpayee was hailed as “the father of modern telecom in India” by leaders in the industry. Under his National Telecom policy, which was introduced in 1999, Vajpayee opened up the sector and implemented a number of structural reforms such as making mobile service providers offer services on a revenue share basis as opposed to a fixed-fee arrangement. This led to a reduction in call rates, a dramatic surge in mobile subscribers and encouraged competition among telecom operators. Roads and infrastructure While Vajpayee was prime minister, he launched a number of massive infrastructure projects to develop India’s roads and railway network. His government approved and funded the operations of the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation, which completed the first phase of the Delhi Metro in 2006. He also championed the Golden Quadrilateral scheme, a project to link all four of India’s major urban centers - Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Kolkata - by highways. Most importantly, though, was his Pradhanmantri Gramin Sadak Yojna scheme to improve road connectivity in India’s rural regions. <keyword id="45865" type="CITY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Indo-Pak">Indo-Pak</keyword> relations and Kargil Vajpayee made a number of steps to cement ties with Pakistan, such as the establishment of the Delhi-Lahore bus service in February 1999. He took the bus to Lahore and met with Nawaz Sharif, who was the leader of Pakistan at the time. Their meeting culminated in the signing of the Lahore Treaty, which outlined the country’s plans to steer clear of nuclear warfare. The goodwill was shortlived, however. A full-scale war took place in Kargil the following June. In July 2001, Vajpayee pushed for a peace summit with his new Pakistani counterpart, Pervez Musharraf in Agra. An agreement never materialised over the course of the summit, but not for his lack of trying.

Here are 5 policies that former Indian PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee will be remembered for

(Image Credit- Financial Express) 2018 was a year where we lost some of India's top politicians, actors, and important personalities. These people made a huge impact on our lives and contributed aplenty in their respective fields. Here's remembering those who left us in 2018 
	
	<div type="Slideshow" msid="67193134" hostid="261" title="Here's remembering those who left us in 2018" firstImageMsid="67193135" slideCount="5"></div>

Here's remembering those who left us in 2018

The man whom India’s first <keyword id="71" type="POSITION" weightage="100" keywordseo="Prime-Minister">Prime Minister</keyword> <keyword id="6360386" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="Jawaharlal-Nehru">Jawaharlal Nehru</keyword> prophesied to become the Prime Minister of India one day, the man whom the then Prime Minister <keyword id="6359397" type="PERSON" weightage="80" keywordseo="Manmohan-Singh">Manmohan Singh</keyword> called the “Bheeshm Pitamah of Indian politics,” the man who led an Indian delegation to the United Nations for a discussion on the Kashmir issue despite being in the opposition… Yes, we are talking about no other than former Prime Minister <keyword id="47100" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Atal-Bihari-Vajpayee">Atal Bihari Vajpayee</keyword>, whom even the opponents regard with utmost respect and is invariably referred to as Atal ji by one and all. 
 The political life of Atal Bihari Vajpayee, spanning across seven decades, has numerous exemplary accomplishments and statesmanship. He was the man who helped build the <keyword id="58687" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="Bharatiya-Janata-Party">Bharatiya Janata Party</keyword> (BJP) from an insignificant political player, with just two <keyword id="6355187" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="80" keywordseo="Lok-Sabha">Lok Sabha</keyword> MPs in the 1984 elections, to the ruling party of today. In the very first general election that the BJP contested in 1984 – amid unprecedented pro-Congress wave following Indira Gandhi’s assassination – the BJP could manage to win merely two seats in the Lok Sabha. 
 
He led the BJP from two seats in 1984 to being the single-largest party in 1996. He was invited to form the government as the leader of the single-largest party, though he did not have the majority. Here he showed he was a true statesman and not like any other power-hungry politician who would have tried every trick of the trade (read horse trading) to cobble up majority and remain in power. But he gracefully put in his papers when he did not get enough support. 
 
In 1977, as foreign minister in the Morarji Desai government, he delivered his speech at the UN in Hindi and became the first Indian leader to do so. 
 
He also served as the country’s Prime Minister from 1998 to 2004. His tenure had many accomplishments like the nuclear test, Lahore summit, Kargil victory and ushering in growth and economic development. However, after his defeat in the elections, he retired from active politics in 2005. 
 
His current state Vajpayee suffered a stroke in 2009, which silenced the great orator. He now remains confined to his bed or wheelchair in his SPG (<keyword id="494734" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="Special-Protection-Guard">Special Protection Guard</keyword>)-guarded Krishna Menon Marg bungalow, where he lives with his adopted daughter Namita. He also suffers from dementia and often fails to recognise people. 
 Unlike the good old days, no one visits him these days, except <keyword id="6436232" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="80" keywordseo="LK-Advani">LK Advani</keyword> and former Uttarakhand chief minister BC Khanduri. He rarely ventures out of his sprawling bungalow, except for checkups at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences. However, leaders cutting across various political parties visit him to wish him on his birthday (25 December). Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh makes it a point to visit him personally on his birthday. According to sources, Prime Minister <keyword id="6354477" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Narendra-Modi">Narendra Modi</keyword> is likely to inaugurate Patna AIIMS on Vajpayee’s birthday this year as a mark of tribute to him. Vajpayee had laid its foundation stone when he was the Prime Minister. 
 
He is also a prolific poet and many of his poems like Kadam milakar chalna hoga and Door kahin koi rota hai were sung by the late Ghazal maestro <keyword id="6385431" type="PERSON" weightage="80" keywordseo="Jagjit-Singh">Jagjit Singh</keyword>. Now, singer Bappi Lahiri will also compose an album of his other poems. 
 
As much as you write about him, it seems less. According to recent media reports, the Narendra Modi government might confer Bharat Ratna to Vajpayee. This would be a befitting tribute to this great statesman.

Atal Bihari Vajpayee: The Forgotten Statesman

The good boy of Indian government,Narendra Modi is on duty all the time, the <keyword id="6365387" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="PMO">PMO</keyword> has said. It also added that no leave records of former PMs are available with it, according to a report by a news agnecy. 
 The Prime Minister's Office (PMO) said this when an <keyword id="6356198" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="RTI">RTI</keyword> applicant sought a copy of leave rules and procedures for the Prime Minister of the country from it and the <keyword id="116854" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="cabinet-secretariat">Cabinet Secretariat</keyword>. "The Prime Minister can be said to be on duty all the time," the Right to Information (RTI) response from the PMO said. 
 The applicant also wanted to know if former prime ministers <keyword id="6359397" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Manmohan-Singh">Manmohan Singh</keyword>, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, H D Deve Gowda, I K Gujral, P V Narasimha Rao, Chandrashekhar, V P Singh and <keyword id="12596" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Rajiv-Gandhi">Rajiv Gandhi</keyword> had availed any leave and were there any records. 
 "Information regarding leave record of previous PMs is not a part of records held by this office. However, it may be noted that no leave has been availed by present PM i.e. <keyword id="6354477" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Narendra-Modi">Narendra Modi</keyword> since taking over charge," the RTI reply said.

Narendra Modi hasn't taken a single leave from office till date

<keyword id="15141" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Indian-Air-Force">Indian Air Force</keyword> (IAF) got the first squadron of ‘Made in India’ fighter jets ‘<keyword id="6376012" type="COMPANY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Tejas">Tejas</keyword>’, now named 'Flying Daggers 45'. 
 
Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) handed over two Tejas aircrafts, which were inducted in Bengaluru, and seven more will be added by 2017 to become fully operational. 
 
All squadrons of Tejas will be made up of 20 planes in total, including four in reserve. 
 
These Light Combat Aircrafts (LCA) entered Air Force 33 years after the project was conceived, giving a major boost to Indian defence aviation system. 
 
Tejas will eventually replace the ageing fleet of MiG-21 planes. 
 
Here are the other details about Tejas that you should not miss 
 1. The name Tejas, which means radiance, was given by former Indian Prime Minister <keyword id="47100" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Atal-Bihari-Vajpayee">Atal Bihari Vajpayee</keyword>. 
 
2. The first Commanding Offier of the ‘Flying Daggers 45’ will be Group Captain M Rangachari. He will have seven officers under him 
initially, 42 air warriors and about 20 non-commissioned officers. 
 
3. IAF's squadron number 45, 'Flying Daggers', has to its credit the shooting down of a Pakistani naval surveillance aircraft in 1999, some 300 km northeast of Karachi, killing all 16 people on board. 
 
4. Tejas is far superior to Pakistan's JF-17 built jointly with China. 
 
5. While the idea to have an indigenous fighter aircraft was conceptualised in 1970s, actual work started on the aircraft only in the 1980s and the first flight took place in January 2001. 
 
6. It is pegged as the world's smallest and lightest supersonic fighter, a project which was started in 1983 with Rs 560 crore funds. Now, the total cost stands at around Rs 55,000 crore. 
 
7. The upgraded version of Tejas, with Active Electrically Scanned Array Radar, Unified Electronic Warfare Suite, mid-air refuelling capacity and advanced beyond the vision range missiles, will cost between Rs 275 crore and Rs 300 crore. 
 
8. Due to its small size and the extensive usage of carbon composits, Tejas’ radar cross section is very less compared to other aircrafts like MiG-29, F-16. 
 
9. Tejas will have a reach of at least 400-km and will mostly be used for close air-to-ground operations. For any strikes which happen deep into enemy territory will have to be undertaken by Russian-origin Sukhoi-30MKIs or the Rafales. 
 
10. IAF plans to induct over 80 aircraft with better specifications known as Tejas 1A. 
 
(Image: Reuters)

10 things you should definitely know about the brand new ‘Made in India’ fighter jet ‘Tejas’

NEW DELHI: Less than a five-minute drive from the Ashoka Road headquarters of BJP, where the old guard is losing ground to the new, <keyword id="47100" type="PERSON" weightage="40" keywordseo="Atal-Bihari-Vajpayee">Atal Bihari Vajpayee</keyword> sits quietly in a wheelchair in his SPG-guarded Krishna Menon Marg bungalow watching snatches of television and reading newspaper headlines. 
 The master orator, who was silenced by a stroke in 2009, cannot grasp either the small print or the big picture of what's happening within the party he nurtured. The three-time <keyword id="71" type="POSITION" weightage="40" keywordseo="Prime-Minister">Prime Minister</keyword> — last between 1999 and 2004 — bid adieu to active politics almost a decade ago. Now, as Modi — whom he'd wanted removed as Gujarat <keyword id="5269" type="POSITION" weightage="40" keywordseo="Chief-Minister">chief minister</keyword> after the Godhra riots of 2002 — tightens his hold over BJP, some of his close friends and followers are feeling slighted or pushed to the wall. 
 Unlike the good old days, no one comes calling on him with complaints about the party or to listen to his poetry. The only regular visitors are N M Ghatate, Vajpayee's friend of nearly six decades, L K Advani and B C Khanduri (the general-turned-politician who was chief minister of <keyword id="44522" type="CITY" weightage="40" keywordseo="Uttarakhand">Uttarakhand</keyword>), who come to sit by his side or ask daughter Namita about his health. 
 Ghatate who visits him almost every week, sometimes even twice, says, "Prime Minister <keyword id="6359397" type="PERSON" weightage="40" keywordseo="Manmohan-Singh">Manmohan Singh</keyword> makes regular inquiries about his health and never misses wishing Vajpayeeji personally on his birthday." The two, Ghatate says, have an old association. Ghatate remembers how then PM PV <keyword id="6358441" type="PERSON" weightage="40" keywordseo="Narasimha-Rao">Narasimha Rao</keyword> called Vajpayee to complain that his <keyword id="6355261" type="POSITION" weightage="40" keywordseo="Finance-minister">finance minister</keyword> Manmohan Singh had taken criticism of his budget by the opposition to heart and had offered to resign. 
 During a career spent mostly in opposition, Vajpayee had criticized everyone, from <keyword id="6383869" type="PERSON" weightage="40" keywordseo="Nehru">Nehru</keyword> to his daughter <keyword id="5513" type="PERSON" weightage="40" keywordseo="Indira">Indira</keyword>, but never realized it could hurt someone so much. Ghatate says Vajpayee immediately called Singh and told him not to take such comments to heart as they were meant to score political points. The Rao government was saved an embarrassment, and a new friendship was forged. 
 Ghatate says Vajpayee is still mentally alert. "But the stroke he suffered does not let him speak." Till then, he'd kept himself busy with books and writing. Within two months of the 2004 electoral defeat, he wrote a four-page article on the successful NDA coalition experiment and how even <keyword id="1575" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="40" keywordseo="Congress">Congress</keyword> had to fall in line; he argued that coalitions were here to stay. 
 
A better part of Vajpayee's day, Ghatate says, is spent with physiotherapists, doctors and nurses. "I go there and just watch him or talk to family members. He understands everything but cannot have a conversation," he says. Vajpayee's favourite food — Chinese and prawns — is now served only in small portions. 
 
 
 Advani, who was <keyword id="230854" type="POSITION" weightage="40" keywordseo="deputy-PM">deputy PM</keyword> in the last NDA government, is reported to have wistfully told some people that Vajpayee would consult him on "everything". When asked if BJP leaders still asked him for advice, he is believed to have replied, cryptically, "When they need to." 
 
For Ghatate, who first met him in the 1950s, the sight of the silent statesman is heart-rending. Vajpayee, who had known Ghatate's father, Babasaheb Ghatate, a senior Hindu Mahasabha leader, took the young law student under his wing in Delhi and treated him like a younger brother. 
 
Of all the things that the protracted illness has taken away, Ghatate misses Vajpayee's sense of humour the most. When Ghatate gave him the news of the death of JN Dixit, Manmohan Singh's first national security advisor, Vajpayee said, "He was a good man. His problem was he used to work hard and worry a lot about the consequences." Ghatate pointed out Vajpayee's NSA and Dixit's predecessor Brajesh Mishra was also hard working, to which Vajpayee retorted with a mischievous smile, "Yes, Brajesh too was hard working, but then I had to worry about the consequences," Ghatate recounted this to Mishra and the two had a good laugh. 
 
Ghatate has been busy compiling Vajpayee's jokes and witticisms into a book. He has so far collected about 80; he knows there are many more out there.

A Peek Into The Life Atal Bihari Vajpayee Now Leads

With a vision to make air travel affordable to many more, the <keyword id="6354477" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Narendra-Modi">Narendra Modi</keyword> government plans to cap airfares between small towns and cities. 

	A proposal under consideration by civil aviation ministry will allow airlines to bid for the right to operate flights between hundreds of small towns and cities located within one hour of flying distance from each other. Airfares between these cities will be capped at Rs 2,000 or Rs 2,500 per passenger. The balance will be paid back to these companies by the government through the levy of a cess on national and international flights.
 

	A senior civil aviation ministry official told ET that India can become the third-largest aviation market in the world, if it makes its 300 million middle class Indians fly at least once a year through these initiatives.
 

	The plan is part of the new civil aviation policy that is likely to be out for public consultation by the end of this month and has the in-principle approval of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
 Some industry and government experts believe this could be the Indian aviation's mobile phone moment. Just as the <keyword id="685752" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="Atal-Bihari-Vajpayee-government">Atal Bihari Vajpayee government</keyword> in 1998-2004 sparked a telecom revolution through cheaper call rates, the Modi administration's plan could eventually lead to surge in flying due to cheap fares and easy availability of flights. 

	But there is a caveat here. Cities to benefit from this scheme will only be from states that have lowered VAT on jet fuel to 5 per cent or less.
 

	"We are aiming at addressing two key issues with this proposal. One is to increase air connectivity in the interiors of the country and the second is to ensure that states reduce valueadded tax (VAT) on jet fuel to 5 per cent or lower, which will go a long way in making the aviation business viable," said a senior civil aviation ministry official, who did not want to be identified.
 

	While regional connectivity is going to add to the number of fliers in the country, a reduction in VAT on jet fuel would lower cost of operations for the aviation industry and would mean cheaper tickets.
 

	Many Indians now travel to their destinations using crowded and rickety state transport bus services or trains. Only a few are able to afford air travel. Previous initiatives to expand flying opportunities through low-fare airlines did not work as costs were still high and many of them paid high maintenance and terminal charges.
 

	The government's plan if approved would mean a revamp of existing air strips and small airports in the country and the creation of several new ones.
 Small aircraft operators believe that the policy will not just work but also be sustainable. "If India dreams of becoming an elite economy in the world, we should do it now. This regional connectivity push will not just make India fly but also ensure business for a number of small aircraft operators who are in the market for a long-term perspective," said <keyword id="2793" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Rajesh-Kumar">Rajesh Kumar</keyword> Bali, secretary of Business Aircraft Operators Association. 

	However, a passenger body feels that it might not work.
 "It will not work between smaller cities as alternative models like roads and railways between smaller cities is much more effective than taking a flight. We would also oppose the proposal of a cess, as that would increase fares for passengers," said D Sudhakara Reddy, president, Air Passengers <keyword id="161452" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="Association-of-India">Association of India</keyword>. 

	While the consumers in smaller cities will be charged between Rs 2,000 and Rs 2,500 for a flight ticket, the deficit for a particular route will be arrived at through a bidding process and will be compensated by the government.
 

	"The operator seeking lowest viability gap funding for a particular route will be allowed to operate for a period of time. The deficit arrived at through bidding would be funded through a regional connectivity fund to be created by the central government," said the official quoted above. The regional connectivity fund will be provided funds through a 2 per cent cess on both domestic and international flight tickets.
 

	The official added that these flights connecting smaller cities of the country are likely to start operations from the next fiscal as the government is likely to announce a service tax waiver for these routes in the Budget for next year.
 

	Capping short-haul airfares makes absolutely no sense. Carriers would simply jack up fares on the regular routes, and demand higher pay-outs to cover their costs. We certainly need to boost air connectivity to smaller towns. But the focus ought to be on low-cost airports and other infrastructure support, not artificially repressed fares. Besides, lower taxation of jet fuel is required. The high taxation of aviation fuel in most states is anachronistic harking back to pre-reform days when a tiny elite, comprising mostly the political executive, top mandarins and corporate chieftains, flew. Lower taxes would shore up air traffic

	 
	 
	(Image credits: Indiatimes)

Air travel to become cheap with government plans to cap airfares

<keyword id="1826774" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="former-Indian-President">Former Indian President</keyword> <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=APJ+Abdul+Kalam">Dr A P J Abdul Kalam</a> died in <keyword id="57704" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Shillong">Shillong</keyword> on Monday. That was about the same day, when India experienced a bout of terrorism in Punjab. Was it something of a coincidence? Kalam, the peace keeper was igniting minds about making earth a liveable place at a seminar, as per his last tweet; and a few thousand kilometres away, a society was disintegrating itself with a terror strike. 
 
Kalam spoke the language of peace. But, his work as a scientist often contradicted his words. Why did he work on building missiles and play an instrumental role in Pokhran Test Range second time around, as part of India’s nuclear programme in 1998? His words on peace, that came much later, didn’t seem to resonate the spirit with this incident. However, this is where people didn’t read his intention as well as they saw his gestures. 
 
He was someone who believed in self-defence. A country that was well-defended with latest technology didn’t have to fear anyone. Believing in peace was his innate faith, but that didn’t mean he would sit without preparing for any eventualities should the enemies strike at once. 
 
His road to the Rashtrapati Bhavan, to don the chair of 11 th President of India between 2002 and 2007 was more or less apolitical. He had worked with various governments and had no enemies across partylines. A scientist to the core, Kalam was a people’s man through every second of his existence. 
 
No sooner did the news of his death break on the internet, social networks went berserk. In the days where role models are few and clean images even fewer, Dr Kalam was someone who was not only rare to find, but also difficult to contain. His charisma and aura was a challenge to anybody who believed personal brand building was an exercise to be done by PR agencies. 
 
His demeanour was spirited, honest and forthcoming. There has hardly been any other politician in the recent times who has been as popular and as interactive. 
 
Kalam had a rare gift. He was untiring when it came to imparting his experience to anyone who cared to listen. His core audience was young minds. He loved being amidst them, administer them an oath of honesty and integrity, make them say they would never indulge in corruption and ensure tomorrow’s India was at least aware of the ill effects of corruption. 
 
Majority of the students and persons who posted on social media soon after his death had only praises for him. While it is normal for people to sing praises about the dead, it is imperative to know Kalam was among those rare people who genuinely left a feeling of loss and void among people’s hearts. At 83, he was sprightly and focused. 
 
An author of several books, Kalam was deeply obliging of people who wanted some moments with him. A picture here, a signed copy of a book there, a lecture someone else, a closely interactive meeting with someone who sought his time; Kalam hardly turned anyone down unless he was pressed for time. 
 
Though <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=NDA">NDA </a>led by <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=BJP+">BJP </a>put forth his name for the President, Kalam had no enemies in the then Opposition party of <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=Congress+">Congress </a>at all. He was NDA's poster boy of sorts since he had just completed Pokhran II to bring laurels to the then Prime Minister <keyword id="47100" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Atal-Bihari-Vajpayee">Atal Bihari Vajpayee</keyword>. <keyword id="6366153" type="POSITION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Defence-Minister">Defence minister</keyword> <keyword id="2972300" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Geroge-Fernandes">Geroge Fernandes</keyword> was completely on his side and all the contributions he had to make, for India as a <keyword id="1435588" type="POSITION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Missile-scientist">missile scientist</keyword>. He was known as ‘Missile Man’ much against the soft person who lived inside him. 
 
He checked into Rashtrapathi Bhavan, the abode of the President of India and opened doors of this magnificent structure to the public. People could visit him, meet him and talk to him with shortest of the formalities. He mainly responded to children with utmost keenness, even if they sent them a letter or a book, they were sure to get a response in return. 
 Monday when he died, almost every person on social media has a picture with him on some occasion or the other. Such was the reach of this man who never forgot his roots lie in that quaint village of <keyword id="194058" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Ramanathapuram">Ramanathapuram</keyword> in Tamil Nadu. A south Indian who rose to the highest office, just for doing his job with utmost passion is a story that legends are made of. 
 
He died doing what he loved the best. Parting with his energy, his conviction, and commitment to integrity, and igniting minds with new ideas. He collapsed on the dais where he was delivering a lecture, and passed away probably at that instant, amidst keen young minds which were getting inspired to do something for the country. 
 
Image: indiatimes

APJ Abdul Kalam: A flaming torch that ignited young minds

Prime Minister <keyword id="6354477" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Narendra-Modi">Narendra Modi</keyword>’s travel diary could soon be having some more new places. Come July, Modi would be visiting five Central Asian countries with an intent to tap huge natural resources including hydrocarbon and uranium. As per a news report in The Economic Times, Modi plans to spend a day each in Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan and <keyword id="169344" type="COUNTRY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Tajikistan">Tajikistan</keyword>, diplomatic sources told the financial daily. The trip is being clubbed with Modi's maiden visit to <keyword id="6358826" type="COUNTRY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Russia">Russia</keyword> for the Brics summit in <keyword id="271311" type="CITY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Ufa">Ufa</keyword> on July 8 and 9, sources hinted. Modi is also expected to attend the <keyword id="157954" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Shanghai-Cooperation-Organisation">Shanghai Cooperation Organisation</keyword> summit in the same city on July 9 and 10. 
 <keyword id="1333" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Beijing">Beijing</keyword> has made huge inroads in the region, with which it shares geographical boundaries, by laying pipelines to harness hydrocarbon and constructing railway and road network to connect Europe via <keyword id="6360296" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Central-Asia">Central Asia</keyword>. Prime ministerial trips to Central Asia have been few and far between notwithstanding its geographical proximity, strategic importance and abundance of natural resources. 
 While many former Prime Minsters from <keyword id="6358441" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Narasimha-Rao">Narasimha Rao</keyword> to <keyword id="47100" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Atal-Bihari-Vajpayee">Atal Bihari Vajpayee</keyword> and <keyword id="6359397" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Manmohan-Singh">Manmohan Singh</keyword> have visited these countries lack of road and sea access has not allowed India to realise full trade potential with the region. This could change after India develops the Chabahar port in <keyword id="41896" type="COUNTRY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Iran">Iran</keyword> and will use the nation as a transit for Central Asia. India's defence ties with some countries of the region have been upgraded in recent years. India also shares historical bonds with Central Asia and enjoys goodwill in the region, thanks to its ties with the erstwhile <keyword id="6365126" type="COUNTRY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Soviet-Union">Soviet Union</keyword> of which the nations were a part. 
 (Image: <keyword id="-101" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="India-Times">India Times</keyword>)

Modi to fly overseas yet
again in July! This time to 5 Central Asian
countries

<keyword id="42749" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Shashi-Tharoor">Shashi Tharoor</keyword> somehow manages to be in news all the time for some or the other reason. Be it his ‘cattle class’ remark, his alleged affair with a Pakistani journalist, or his Kochi IPL controversy —we’ve heard a lot about the man. But today, the man is in news because he has faced the wrath for praising Narendra Modi-initiated ‘<keyword id="6361202" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Swachh-Bharat">Swachh Bharat</keyword>’ campaign. The <keyword id="1575" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="Congress">Congress</keyword> party today sacked him from the position of party’s spokesman citing breach of discipline as the reason. 
 
What was Shashi Tharoor’s fault? Nothing, just that he appreciated the campaign run by the opposition party i.e. BJP. This raises serious question on the lack of idealism in Indian politics. Can a member of opposition not appreciate a noble campaign launched by the country’s Prime Minister? After all, the Prime Minister belongs to the whole nation and not just a single party of which he is a member of. 
 It’s not that Tharoor was constantly going against the party line or defying the party’s discipline. In fact, he had slammed the <keyword id="6354477" type="PERSON" weightage="80" keywordseo="Narendra-Modi">Narendra Modi</keyword> government for its alleged mishandling of ceasefire violations by Pakistan. He had even dismissed speculations that he was planning to switch to the BJP, and said that those who were demanding action against him had “neither understood his remarks nor bothered to talk to him.” Moreover, he had also made it clear that he was "not pro-BJP, just pro-India," saying that he only supports some of the good programmes of Narendra Modi and not his political ideology. 
 
However, the Congress held him guilty of breaching party discipline. Interestingly, Congress General Secretary Digvijay Singh had supported Tharoor. “I see nothing wrong in Shashi Tharoor accepting to be Brand Ambassador for Swachhta Abhiyan. It is Congress Party programme adopted by Modi,” Singh had said on Twitter. 
 
This incident reflects that in India, the opposition parties take the word ‘opposition’ too literally. For them, party comes before the nation and not vice-versa. In a democracy, the opposition party has an important role to play other than opposing each and every move of the ruling party. The arguments they raise in the Parliament or otherwise, should be constructive for the nation. 
 In the past, we have seen some shiny examples of statesmanship. Erstwhile Prime Minister Indira Gandhi had sent <keyword id="47100" type="PERSON" weightage="80" keywordseo="Atal-Bihari-Vajpayee">Atal Bihari Vajpayee</keyword>, her ardent opponent, to represent India at the Geneva Convention. Even in the 90s, Narasimha Rao (again a Congress Prime Minister) had sent Atal ji to argue India’s case against Pakistan in the UN. But sadly, we do not find such examples of statesmanship any more.

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