Myself being a poet, writer and a orator, I am happy to write few lines about the greatest iconic Indian poet, writer and orator Atal Behari Vajpayee. While studying at S. S. Dempo College of Commerce and Economics, Panjim, I was the first choice to represent the college in the All Goa Inter Collegiate Elocution and Debate competitions. Prof. D.B.Naik who trained me for the Inter-Collegiate Elocution and debate competitions strongly recommended to me that I should watch Atalji’s famous speeches in Parliament so that one day like him, I too could win hearts with my speeches.
Once, when I forgot my speech at an inter-college public speaking competition, I was told by my teacher that Atalji was booed by his fellow school mates as he could not finish the first speech of his life. I too like Atalji learnt a lesson that changed my life. From that day, like Atalji I decided to speak from the heart. When others laughed at me as I could not complete my speech, I said to myself, “If Poet, Writer and Orator Atal Behari Vajpayee can do it, Tennyson Xavier Fernandes can also do it”. It was a pleasure to listen to Atalji’s speeches in Parliament as his speeches sounded like poetry. Atalji’s mesmerising oratory in Hindi not only touched his friends in the BJP but also those in the opposition parties. I fell in love at first sight with the inescapable public speaking abilities of Atalji and inscribed his beautiful quote “I always come with a will not promises” on my heart. Today, whenever I conduct a training programme for my stakeholders, I always begin my mission with a will to touch hearts. Following the footsteps of Atalji, I always ensure that my tone is always full of encouragement and enthusiasm and that I end on a high and a positive note. Poems written by Atal Behari Vajpayee will certainly touch the soul of every Indian citizen. Atalji’s poems are a source of wisdom, motivation and courage to it’s readers. Atalji had an artist within him who spread magic with his words which touched the hearts of all the citizens of India. But every night before I retire in the words of Poet, Writer and Orator Atal Behari Vajpayee to Lord Jesus I pray,
“Mere Prabhu! Mujhe itani oonchaai kabhi mat dena, Gairon ko gale na lagaa sakoon,
Itani rukhaai kabhi mat dena.”
“My Lord Jesus, Never let me climb so high
That I am unable to embrace another stranger, Deliver me from such arrogance.”
Today, on the occasion of Christmas, the birthday of our Lord Jesus Christ which also happens to be the birthday of our Poet, Writer and Orator Atal Behari Vajpayee let us decide to be good human beings with the qualities of the head and the heart and contribute to the development of the great country India. Merry Christmas.
