Atal Bihari Vajpayee: Poet, PM, 'Prawn Lover' Brahmin & Untold Love Story

• Born Dec 25, 1924, served as India's 10th PM (1996, 1998-2004), BJP founding member.
• Broke Brahmin norms: enjoyed non-vegetarian food (prawns at Karim's), drank whisky; had an untold love story with Rajkumari Kaul.
• Prolific poet; collaborated with Jagjit Singh on *Samvedna* (2002), featuring Yash Chopra, Shah Rukh Khan, Amitabh Bachchan.
• Demonstrated courage (confronted anti-Sikh mob), rose above party politics (restored Nehru's portrait), first to address UNGA in Hindi.
• Led 1998 Pokhran nuclear tests, first non-Congress PM to complete full term; biopic *Main Atal Hoon* (6.9 IMDb) released in 2024.

Why It Matters: Vajpayee was a multifaceted leader, poet, and statesman who transcended norms and left a lasting legacy.