Vajpayee admired two ‘Atals’ of Lucknow

LUCKNOW: Former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, who passed away in New Delhi on Thursday, was known for leaving people mesmerized with his oratorical skills and inimitable style.

However, not many know that Vajpayee admired two ‘Atals’ of Lucknow who used to imitate him to entertain the audience ahead of his public meetings in Lucknow.

Shailendra Sharma ‘Atal’ and Prashant Singh ‘Atal’, who are now lawyers in the high court, were once famous in Lucknow for copying the style of the BJP stalwart.

They used to captivate the audience in public meetings and election rallies till Vajpayee remained active in politics and contested from Lucknow parliamentary seat.

Vajpayee was so impressed by Shailendra Sharma’s skill of imitating his style that he once quipped that Sharma was “better than him”. Recalling the day, Sharma said: “It was in February 1998, the last day of campaigning for Lok Sabha elections. After the campaigning came to an end, I went to Atalji’s residence at La Place (Hazratganj) along with other party workers. By then, Atal ji knew me.”

“A senior BJP leader tried to introduce me to Atal ji by saying ‘yeh aap ki copy karta hai’ (he imitates your style). To this, Atal ji said he is better than me (Vajpayee),” said Sharma.

He said he first met the former PM at a party meeting in Daliganj in 1991 when he was invited to address the gathering.

Prashant Singh ‘Atal’ also held the audience in awe whenever he took to the stage at public meetings before Vajpayee’s arrival.

“I was arts representative in the Lucknow University Students’ Union (LUSU). We invited Atal ji for a Holi Milan function hosted by the student’s union at Tagore Lawn of the Lucknow University,” Singh said.

“Atal ji was reciting one of his poems when one line just slipped out of his mind. It was then I told him about the missing line. Atal ji appreciated me a lot in front of everyone,” he added.

Narrating another incident, Singh said: “During a public meeting in Alambagh, I was addressing the gathering in Atal ji’s style. Just then he arrived. When I tried to abruptly end my speech, Atal ji gestured me to continue.” Singh said he was first introduced to Vajpayee in 1994 at an ABVP event.

“We had gone to invite Atal ji for the state convention of Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP). He was staying at the state guest house. It was there that the party workers told Atal ji that I imitate him,” Singh said.

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A senior BJP leader tried to introduce me to Atal ji by saying ‘yeh aap ki copy karta hai’ (he imitates your style). To this, Atal ji said he is better than me (Vajpayee)

SHAILENDRA SHARMA ‘ATAL’, lawyer, HC

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Atal ji was reciting one of his poems when one line just slipped out of his mind. It was then I told him about the missing line. Atal ji appreciated me a lot in front of everyone PRASHANT SINGH ‘ATAL’, lawyer, HC