The universe has gifted many treasures to India, and Atal Bihari Vajpayee is among the most precious, a shining symbol of wisdom and leadership. He is a true son of Bharat Mata. You might wonder why I say ‘he is’ instead of ‘he was,’ because in our hearts, legends never die. That’s why he is forever present with us.
He always felt proud of two things: being an Indian and being a Hindu. While not everyone might understand this, he firmly believed in ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’— “the world is one family” while also valuing the shared heritage and bloodline of Hindus.
He always introduced himself through his rhymes like:-
“Hindu tanman Hindu jiwan rag rag Hindu Mera parichay…..

 

 

Atal Bihari Vajpayee, who lived from December 25, 1924, to August 16, 2018, in Delhi. During his final rites, Namita Bhattacharya performed the ceremonial lighting of the funeral pyre. Namita’s mother, Rajkumari Kaul, resided with her husband, Brijsharan Kaul, in Vajpayee’s official residence for an extended period following his tenure as Prime Minister. Political circles often whispered about the nature of the relationship between Rajkumari and Atal Bihari Vajpayee, yet no one ever spoke ill of their connection.

 

 

 

 

A tale of heartaches

Unfinished love stories really hit us hard, making us feel sad about what could have been. Whether it’s due to things we can’t control, bad timing, or complicated emotions, these incomplete tales show us just how vulnerable we are and how unpredictable love can be. People were not happy about the daughter of a wealthy family falling for a regular guy. Eventually, she ended up marrying someone else. It sounds like a storyline from an 80s or 90s movie, but this is actually the love story of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, which has always intrigued the nation.

 

He held the Prime Minister position three times: first for a brief period of 13 days from May 16 to June 1, 1996, then for two consecutive terms—8 months from March 19, 1998, to October 13, 1999, and again from October 13, 1999, to May 22, 2004. Besides being a politician, he was also a talented Hindi poet, journalist, and an exceptional orator. Vajpayee was one of the founders of the Bharatiya Jana Sangh and served as its president from 1968 to 1973. He also played a significant role in editing various newspapers and magazines that promoted national pride, such as Rashtradharma, Panchjanya, and Veer Arjun.

Atal has always been open about this story

This story takes us back to the 1940s when Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Rajkumari Haksar were students at Victoria College, now known as Lakshmibai College, in Gwalior.I’m pretty sure you’ve heard many love stories, but let me tell you one of the most unique tales about a boy and a girl . A boy who came from a middle-class background with lots of sincerity and intelligence and literally I don’t have any words with a gift for speech that left people speechless. His eloquence was so captivating that no one could pass by without stopping to listen.
And Then there was a rich girl, Rajkumari, heir to a royal family with loads of grace and virtues. Her beauty was like the cherry on the cake, complementing her personality perfectly. It was an era when boys loved with all their hearts, but expressing that love to a girl was not easy. Yet, he was Atal, full of courage, and so he wrote a letter to the Rajkumari. Understanding the hesitation and discomfort she might feel, he decided not to give it to her directly. Instead, he cleverly slipped the letter inside a book, hoping she would discover it there.
He waited weeks after week months after months but didn’t get any response from Rajkumari ji.
What do you think.. Rajkumai ji did not respond!! Ahh it’s not like that she also wrote a letter and placed it under a book as she knew very well that Atal ji was a good scholar and most of the time he was in the library. But destiny had already planned something and that book never reached him.
And with a heavy heart he accepted that the love line was just missing from his palm.
The truth was that Rajkumari ji always wanted to be the better half for Atal ji but the obstacle was much heavier which couldn’t be passed.
And destiny just took them apart and with a heavy heart Rajkumari ji became someone else’s bride. But atal was atal in his love so he decided not to be with someone else husband.

Mrs. Kaul’s engagement

In the book ‘Atal Bihari Vajpayee: A Man of All Seasons’, a relative of Rajkumari Kaul shared, “She truly wished to marry Atal, but her family strongly opposed it. Even though Atal belonged to the Brahmin community, Kaul believed his family was of a higher status. When the family traveled from Gwalior to Delhi for Mrs. Kaul’s engagement, chaos erupted during the 1947 partition. Consequently, the wedding was held in Gwalior.” During the tumultuous times of the partition, Rajkumari’s father, Govind Narayan Haksar, a Kashmiri Pandit, arranged her marriage to another Kashmiri Pandit, Brij Narayan Kaul. In truth, Haksar was reluctant for his daughter to marry someone who would later become a significant figure in Indian politics. BN Kaul, Mrs. Kaul’s husband, was a professor at Ramjas College and eventually served as the warden of Ramjas Hostel.

The Rekindling of Friendship: Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Rajkumari Kaul’s Bond in Delhi

The bond of friendship grew stronger once more in Delhi. Atal ji became involved in mainstream politics, while Rajkumari Kaul’s father arranged her marriage to college professor Brij Narayan Kaul. After tying the knot, Rajkumari Kaul’s family settled on the Ramjas College campus at Delhi University.

In the following years, the unmarried Vajpayee emerged as a prominent politician. After quite some time, Vajpayee had a chance encounter with Mrs. Kaul in Delhi, who was now BN Kaul’s wife

 

Atal arrived in Delhi as a young Member of Parliament. He got the chance to speak at Ramjas College, where he encountered Professor Brijnarayan Kaul and his wife, Rajkumari Kaul. This reunion with Rajkumari took place after 16 years. After that, it felt like a pattern began. Atal’s black Ambassador car was frequently spotted parked outside Professor Kaul’s home.

BN Kaul often posed challenges for the hostel students when they tried to return late for their drinking escapades. During this period, someone decided to lodge a complaint with Mrs. Kaul. When a group of hostel students visited the Kaul residence to voice their concerns, they unexpectedly ran into Vajpayee.

The students residing in that hostel recall the warden as quite strict. He would make his rounds to the hostel every evening back in the 1960s. During that time, Atal began visiting Professor Kaul’s home frequently. Many students from the hostel would spot the warden there when they dropped by. Atal enjoyed engaging in conversations with the students, and Mrs. Kaul often joined in, treating them to sweets and other goodies. The Kaul family eventually moved into Atal’s bungalow located in the Lutyens Zone. An IAS officer, who studied at that college and later rose to high-ranking positions, mentioned that during those years, they had no inkling of the friendship between Atal and Rajkumari. It was only many years later that they learned about it. At that time, the Jan Sangh had a significant impact on the student union at Delhi University. After this IAS officer became the foreign minister in Morarji Desai’s government, he visited Atal at his Lutyens Zone residence and found Professor Kaul, Mrs. Kaul, and their two daughters there. In fact, Atal had later taken up residence in the college quarters of the Kaul family.

At one point, the Kaul couple moved into Vajpayee’s residence. At first, the visiting leaders were taken aback by the presence of another woman in the Prime Minister’s House, but eventually, they got used to it. The RSS had concerns about the connection between Rajkumari Kaul and Vajpayee. Several leaders suggested that Vajpayee should either part ways with Rajkumari or marry her. However, Vajpayee chose to ignore both pieces of advice.

The Influence of Rajkumari Kaul: Unspoken Bonds and Political Speculations

During a program, Vajpayee remarked that while he was unmarried, he was not a celibate. This statement sparked a wave of speculation within political circles, yet no one approached Vajpayee with direct inquiries. Concurrently, rumors began to circulate regarding Rajkumari Kaul’s influence over Vajpayee. Journalist Karan Thapar recounts in his book, Devil’s Advocate, that he made numerous attempts to secure an interview with Vajpayee, all of which were unsuccessful. One day, he called the residence on Raisina Road, and a woman’s voice answered; it was Rajkumari Kaul. After explaining his situation, she offered to speak with Vajpayee. The following day, he received an invitation for an interview, during which she informed him that since he had communicated with the high command, it would be difficult for him to decline his request.

Rajkumari Kaul mentioned in an interview, “Atal Bihari Vajpayee and I never found it necessary to clarify our relationship.” She added, “I never needed to explain anything to my husband regarding my bond with Atal. Our connection was deeply rooted in mutual understanding.”

Allegations and Dismissals: Balraj Madhok’s Accusations Against Vajpayee

Following the unexpected passing of Deen Dayal Upadhyaya in 1968, Atal emerged as a candidate for the presidency of the Jana Sangh. His main competitor within the party was Balraj Madhok, who began to seek support from RSS leader M S Golwalkar, a figure with significant sway over the Jana Sangh. Madhok made various allegations against Atal, claiming he led an immoral lifestyle and suggesting that a woman was frequently seen visiting him. This was a reference to Mrs. Kaul, who often gave him rides home. While Atal hosted other Jana Sangh leaders at his residence, these accusations ultimately proved unfounded as Golwalkar dismissed them.

Atal’s unique way of living and his time spent with the Kaul family sparked conversations among political circles in Delhi. Nevertheless, the media chose not to highlight it significantly, allowing Atal’s private life to remain largely unexamined. On the day Mrs. Kaul passed away, the Indian Express noted that neither Atal nor Mrs. Kaul ever labeled their relationship, and both consistently kept quiet about it, avoiding any publicity.

The Unbreakable Bond: Rajkumari Kaul’s Lifelong Friendship with Atal Bihari Vajpayee

 

Kuldeep Nayyar mentioned in the Telegraph that  Miss Kaul meant everything to Atal. No one else could support him like she did; she was always by his side. South Indian journalist Girish Renowned journalist shared a story about Rajkumari Kaul. He recounted how Mrs. Kaul would answer the phone whenever he called Atal’s house. Right after picking up, she would introduce herself by saying, “Mrs. Kaul speaking.” At first, she asked Nikam, “Do you know who I am?” To which he replied, “No ma’am.” Mrs. Kaul then responded, “I am Mrs. Kaul, Rajkumari Kaul. I’ve been friends with Vajpayee ji for around 40 years. You didn’t know that?” Nikam, feeling a bit embarrassed, said, “Oh, I’m sorry, I had no idea.” This made Rajkumari Kaul burst into laughter as she reminisced about how Atal Bihari had spent so many years with her and her husband. Former President Pranab Mukherjee also recounted in an interview with Hindustan Times that he lived near Vajpayee. There was a shared door between their homes for easy access. Atal had a love for fish, and Namita often visited their house. He noted that his wife and Mrs. Kaul had a strong friendship. When Namita’s wedding was arranged, his wife took charge of the preparations since the groom was Bengali. It’s worth mentioning that Namita married Ranjan Bhattacharya.

Unrecognized love story within Indian politics came to a close:

 

 

Everyone recognized how significant Mrs. Kaul was. After her passing, some media outlets referred to her as a family member of Atal, which was mentioned in a statement from Atal’s home. Since Atal had been dealing with Alzheimer’s disease, she didn’t play a role in writing that statement. In truth, she meant everything to Atal; she provided him with emotional support. The political community has always understood Mrs. Kaul’s importance. Even during the busy campaign for the 2014 general elections, prominent figures like LK Advani, Rajnath Singh, and Sushma Swaraj attended her funeral. Sonia Gandhi also paid a visit to Atal’s home, and Jyotiraditya Scindia was present at the funeral as well

In his book ‘Jugalbandi’, Vinay Sitapati highlights how Rajkumari Kaul played a significant role in transforming Vajpayee. She helped him become more liberal and open-minded. Having Mrs. Kaul in the life of someone like Vajpayee, who was often caught up in chaos and lived simply, was like experiencing warm sunshine during a cold winter. Although Rajkumari Kaul passed away in 2014, Atal was unable to attend her funeral due to his serious illness that began in 2009. With her passing, a unique and unrecognized love story within Indian politics came to a close.

The End of an Era: Vajpayee’s Final Years and Legacy

 

 

In 2009, Vajpayee suffered a stroke that affected his ability to speak. His declining health became a significant concern, with reports indicating that he relied on a wheelchair and had difficulty recognizing individuals. Additionally, he was diagnosed with dementia and had a long-standing history of diabetes. For several years, he refrained from participating in public events and seldom left his residence, except for medical check-ups at the All India Institutes of Medical Sciences.

 

On 11 June 2018, Vajpayee was admitted to AIIMS in a critical state due to a kidney infection. He was pronounced dead there at 5:05 PM IST on 16 August 2018, at the age of 93.

 

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