NEW DELHI, Feb 17 (UNI) Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's long and impressive political career has now become the topic of a doctoral thesis.
Human resource development ministry official Suresh Chand has earned his doctoral degree with his thesis, 'The Contribution of Atal Bihari Vajpayee to Indian Politics', from the Mahatma Gandhi Kashi Vidyapeeth in Varanasi.
A post-graduate degree holder in political science from the Agra University, Chand was looking for a thesis for his PhD course seven years ago when his guide suggested the name of Vajpayee, who was not yet a prime minister.
"I wanted to do research on an Indian politician with an impeccable record of public service," says Chand, who is a special officer dealing with copyright and book promotion in the HRD ministry.
Chand was told by his guide that Vajpayee was the "correct choice" since there was no question mark on his political career.
In the next five years, Chand did extensive research, sifting through tonnes of newspaper reports, articles, essays and other documents available on Vajpayee's political career.
"I was very much impressed by the long years of his public service," says Chand, who was awarded the doctoral degree in 2002.
During his research, Chand, who also holds post-graduate degrees in history and commerce, traced Vajpayee's oratorial skills to his student days in Gwalior.
Once Vajpayee, who was chosen to represent the Victoria College at a national debating competition in Allahabad University, was late to reach the venue because of a delay in the train journey.
The jury, of which Harivanshrai Bachchan was a member, was about to announce the winner.
The young BA student quietly walked to the stage and without any apology began to speak on 'Indian literature', the topic.
"The audience and the jury returned to their seats hearing the speech and he went on to win the first prize," says Chand.
Vajpayee was then the vice-president of his College Students' Union.
Chand, whose doctoral thesis is now a book, titled 'Atal Politik', says during the Quit India Movement, Vajpayee who was keen to join the millions who went to jail, was packed to his village after the area 'kotwal', a family friend, persuaded his father Krishna Bihari Vajpayee.
Vajpayee's first attempt at becoming a Lok Sabha member was a failure.
He lost the election from Lucknow (his present constituency), where he contested following the resignation of Vijayalakshmi Pandit as a Jan Sangh candidate.
He, however, won in his second attempt from Balrampur in Gonda, Uttar Pradesh in 1957, writes Dr Chand, who has met Vajpayee only once at a book launch ceremony.
'Atal Politik', published by IRAM Conversations, a Delhi-based non-governmental organisation, is one of the attractions at the ongoing New Delhi World Book Fair.
