Former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s enduring legacy of principled politics, democratic dialogue and consensus-based governance was commemorated on Thursday through two distinct yet complementary exhibitions in New Delhi. Together, they offer a layered portrait of a statesman whose political journey spanned decades and whose influence continues to shape India’s democratic culture.

One exhibition was inaugurated at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) headquarters on the occasion of Vajpayee’s 101st birth anniversary, while the other, titled Atal Prashasti, opened at the Pradhanmantri Sangrahalaya (Prime Ministers’ Museum and Library). While the BJP exhibition foregrounds Vajpayee’s ideological commitment and political ethos, the museum exhibition presents a more personal, chronological account of his life—culminating in a deeply symbolic artefact that encapsulates a turning point in modern Indian political history.

Speaking at the BJP headquarters after inaugurating the exhibition, BJP national working president Nitin Nabin described Vajpayee as a leader who laid “the foundation for a new era of development and good governance” through his steadfast adherence to values and ideology. He said Vajpayee’s politics stood apart in an era increasingly defined by confrontation and noise.

“Through his unwavering commitment to ideology and value-based politics, Atal ji laid the foundation for a new era of development and good governance in the country,” Nabin said. “He symbolised a political culture that taught democracy the culture of dialogue, not just noise.”

The exhibition at the BJP headquarters brings together photographs, documents, speeches and curated narratives that trace Vajpayee’s rise from a young Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) worker and journalist to one of India’s most respected parliamentarians and, eventually, prime minister. Particular emphasis is placed on his role as a bridge-builder—both within Parliament and across political divides—highlighting his ability to combine ideological clarity with openness to dialogue.

Vajpayee’s reputation as a consensus-seeker is a recurring theme. Even as a lifelong member of the Jana Sangh and later the BJP, he earned admiration across party lines for his oratory, wit and capacity to engage opponents with respect. Former rivals have often recalled how Vajpayee, even while fiercely opposing policies, refrained from personal attacks and upheld the dignity of parliamentary debate.

Running parallel to the party exhibition is Atal Prashasti at the Pradhanmantri Sangrahalaya, a month-long showcase that adopts a more intimate and chronological approach. Curated through photographs, archival documents, personal belongings and audiovisual material, the exhibition traces Vajpayee’s life from his early years in Gwalior to his final days as a towering figure in Indian public life.

What sets this exhibition apart is its focus on moments of quiet significance rather than only headline-making milestones. Visitors are guided through Vajpayee’s formative years, his early struggles in electoral politics, his evolution as a poet and thinker, and his eventual emergence as a national leader who redefined the BJP’s image and broadened its appeal.

The exhibition culminates with an artefact that is both modest and profoundly symbolic: the Ambassador car Vajpayee last used in May 1996. The car marks a fleeting yet historic episode in Indian politics—one that captures the uncertainty, hope and transience of power.

On a May afternoon in 1996, Vajpayee travelled in that Ambassador car from his residence to Rashtrapati Bhavan. The BJP had emerged as the single largest party in the Lok Sabha, but it lacked a clear majority. Vajpayee was invited to form the government and seek a vote of confidence in Parliament. It was a moment of vindication for a leader who had spent decades in opposition, advocating an alternative political vision.

Yet the moment was also marked by uncertainty. Vajpayee returned home that day aware that his government’s survival was far from assured. Within hours, his security cover was upgraded and the familiar Ambassador—long associated with his understated public persona—was replaced by another vehicle befitting a prime minister. Vajpayee would never use that car again.

Thirteen days later, unable to secure the numbers needed to prove his majority, Vajpayee resigned as prime minister, delivering a widely remembered speech in Parliament that reaffirmed his faith in democratic processes. The Ambassador car, now displayed at the museum, stands as a silent witness to that brief but consequential chapter—symbolising both the fragility of political power and Vajpayee’s dignified acceptance of democratic verdicts.

Speaking to Hindustan Times, Prime Ministers’ Museum and Library director Ashwani Lohani said the exhibition was part of a broader institutional effort to deepen public engagement with India’s political history. “The museum has begun celebrating the birthdays of former Prime Ministers through talks and exhibitions on their lives and contributions,” he said, adding that such initiatives aim to move beyond dates and offices to explore the human stories behind leadership.

Together, the two exhibitions present a comprehensive portrait of Vajpayee as both a political institution and a deeply reflective individual. They revisit his tenure as prime minister from 1998 to 2004, a period marked by landmark decisions such as the Pokhran-II nuclear tests, the Lahore Bus Yatra, the launch of the Golden Quadrilateral highway project, and efforts to normalise relations with Pakistan despite setbacks.

Equally, they recall Vajpayee the parliamentarian and poet, whose verses often revealed a softer, introspective side. His poetry, displayed and recited at the exhibitions, reflects themes of nationalism, humanism, doubt and hope—offering insight into the inner world of a leader often seen as stoic and reserved.

The exhibitions also underline Vajpayee’s role in reshaping the BJP from a party on the fringes of national politics into a central force capable of leading coalition governments. His ability to work with regional parties and ideological allies in the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) laid the groundwork for the coalition era that followed.

As India marks over a century since Vajpayee’s birth, the twin exhibitions serve not merely as commemorations but as reflections on a political style increasingly seen as rare. In an age of polarisation, Vajpayee’s emphasis on dialogue, restraint and democratic norms continues to resonate.

By situating his legacy across party spaces and public institutions, the exhibitions invite citizens to engage with Vajpayee not just as a former prime minister or BJP icon, but as a national figure whose life offers enduring lessons on leadership, democracy and the exercise of power with humility.