It was as if the public was waiting to see L.K. Advani pay his last respect to his “closest” friend. He was the only one who had such a long and close association with Atal Bihari Vajpayee, that too, for over 65 years. Together they had built the party and ruled the country for six years. BJP patriarch was glum but stoic as he, for the last time, placed a wreath over the body of his friend at Smriti Sthal. Vajpayee was consigned to flames 24 hours after he was officially declared dead by the AIIMS. The former PM's adopted daughter Namita Bhattacharya lighted the pyre.
Vajpayee's death was mourned by one and all. Thousands gathered outside the BJP headquarters at Deen Dyal Upadhaya Marg to pay their last homage, and they then walked with the funeral procession. What awakened poignancy to Vajpayee's last journey was Prime Minister Narendra Modi walking the entire distance – nearly five kilometers – with the funeral cortège from the BJP office to Smriti Sthal near Rajghat.
It was a nightmare for PM's security detail as Modi covered the entire distance on foot followed by thousands, and many lined up along the route. BJP chief Amit Shah, several BJP chief ministers like Shivraj Singh Chouhan were with PM Modi through the 93-year-old veteran's last journey.
By walking the entire distance, Modi and other BJP leaders also showed the kind of place Vajpayee held in BJP's history as he gave the party its first government in the country, and more importantly, the confidence to take on the Congress which came with the legacy of the freedom struggle.
The cortège saw people showering petals and shouting 'long live Atal' slogans. Despite the muggy weather, people patiently waited outside the BJP office to pay homage. As crowds surged not everyone was allowed inside. Later, most of the public joined the procession.
Several foreign dignitaries including Bhutan King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, former Afghanistan president Hamid Karzai, Pakistan acting law minister Syed Ali Zafar and Nepal Foreign Minister Pradip Kumar Gyawali arrived at the Smriti Sthal to pay their last tribute to the leader their countries had fond memories off. Former prime minister Manmohan Singh and Congress chief Rahul Gandhi were also present, seated in the front row at the funeral.
For the BJP cadre, it was a rare sight and even that of solemn pride that persons holding all constitutional posts starting with president, vice president and speaker were from the party. This was due to the strong foundation laid by Vajpayee. RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat was also present at the funeral.
Upon Vajpayee's departure, Advani had paid a moving tribute, "His captivating leadership qualities, mesmerising oratory, soaring patriotism and above all, his sterling humane qualities like compassion, humility and his remarkable ability to win over adversaries despite, ideological differences have all had a profound effect on me in all my years in public life. I will miss Atalji immensely…"
The government had accorded a state funeral to the tallest leader of the recent times. With his foster daughter, Namita lighting the pyre – a ritual usually reserved for a male member of the family - Vajpayee in his death also sent a message. His granddaughter Niharika received the tricolour in which his body was wrapped. Mother and daughter – Namita and Niharika – could not control their tears as the last rites were completed. Many in attendance, too, had a teary eye. Suddenly, it began to drizzle too.
The entire ceremony was telecast live by the state-run public broadcaster and almost all the TV channels.
Earlier, Vajpayee's body was kept at BJP's new office. One can only wonder how the poet-politician would have summed up his party's ascendency, operating from a government bungalow at 11 Ashoka Road to an opulent, state of the art building at 6A Deen Dyal Upadhaya Marg, named after RSS ideologue and one of the founding fathers of Jana Sangh.
Ironically, he could visit it only in his death.