Twenty-One Poems

by Atal Bihari Vajpayee

This selection of 21 poems by Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee highlights the concerns and the convictions, the sensitivity and the determination of the leader of a nation of over a billion people. In addition to clear and forceful verses on the evils of violence, the perils of self-serving attitudes and the supreme importance of love for the nation and our fellow human beings, the collection also contains moving and very personal poems written at moments of crisis.

Genres: Poetry

67 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2001

About the author

With regard to his poetry he wrote, "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 despirited voice of dejection but the stirring shout of victory.

Reviews

[Tejas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Powerful

Raj badla
Taj badla
par nahi Samaj badla

...

bina Krishna ke
Aaj
Mahabharat hona hain,
koi Raja bane,
rank ko to rona hain.

...

peeth me chhuri sa chaand,
Rahu aya rekha phand,
mukti ke kshan me baar-baar bandh jaata hun,
Geet Nahin gaata hun.

...

haar nahi maanunga,
raar nahi thanunga,
kaal ke kapaal par likhta-mitata hun
Geet NAYA gaata hun.

[Kunal Chhabaria · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautifully written poems. Some give you goosebumps. Even if you don't read the entire book, read these 4 poems by Atal Bihari Vajyapeeji:
1.) Uchai
2.) Kaurav Kaun, Pandaav Kaun
3.) Satta
4.) Jung nahi hone denge.

[Malvika · Rating 5 out of 5]

This small collection of twenty-one poems are like tiny windows in the skyscraper personality of Atal ji. Translations have been able to do justice, but as the Translator's Note mentions, some flavour has been lost. A must read in current times when war prevails, with strong takes on violence and warfare by a former leader of the nation.

[Udit Nair · Rating 5 out of 5]

खुबसूरत और सरल।

[Happy reader · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading a couple of poems from the book. The curation could've been stronger.

[Anirud Thyagharajan · Rating 3 out of 5]

On the whole, I liked reading these poems.

Most of them were circling similar themes -- of regret, patriotism, of religion, and of not giving up.