Grand Tamasha Vajpayee and the Making of the Modern BJP
Sep 3, 2025
Abhishek Choudhary, author of 'Believer’s Dilemma' and a keen observer of Indian politics, dives into the complex life of Atal Bihari Vajpayee. He shares insights on Vajpayee's evolution within the Sangh Parivar, his pivotal role as foreign minister, and the ideological shifts of the BJP. The discussion extends to his partnership with L.K. Advani, and how the aftermath of the 2002 Gujarat riots shaped his relationship with Narendra Modi. Choudhary also reflects on the challenges of writing political biographies in a nuanced and multifaceted context.
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Research Was Triangulation, Not Archives
- Archival gaps forced Choudhary to triangulate dozens of newspapers, interviews, photos and private papers to reconstruct Vajpayee's later life.
- He warns that interviews can mislead due to planted narratives, memory lapses, and political self-interest.
Middle Caste Rise Reshaped Politics
- The Janata breakup owed more to middle-caste resentments than merely RSS dual membership.
- The political rise of middle castes reshaped Indian politics and weakened old upper-caste dominance.
Vajpayee Loved Foreign Policy Risks
- Vajpayee enjoyed foreign policy and took risky initiatives like visiting China in 1979 despite potential humiliation.
- He liked original ideas and relished the relative insulation of the foreign ministry from day-to-day domestic politics.
