On the occasion of the birth centenary of Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee, a commemorative programme was organised by Gandhi Smriti and Darshan Samiti under the aegis of the Ministry of Culture at Siri Fort Auditorium, New Delhi on 25th December 2025. The Hon’ble Vice President of India, Shri C. P. Radhakrishnan, graced the occasion as the Chief Guest. Union Minister of State Shri Harsh Malhotra and Delhi Assembly Speaker Shri Vijender Gupta were present as special guests.
The programme featured a musical drama titled ‘Satyavadi Raja Harishchandra’, which received an appreciative response from the audience. A booklet titled ‘Main Atal Hoon’, based on and former Prime Minister Shri Vajpayee’s life and thoughts, was distributed, and a special exhibition showcasing glimpses from his public and private life was also organised.
In his keynote address, the Hon’ble Vice President described Shri Vajpayee as a leader whose life represented an idea and an institution. He highlighted that Shri Vajpayee’s public life was guided by high moral values and a firm belief that governance must be rooted in truth and compassion. He noted that his birth anniversary is observed as ‘Good Governance Day’ in recognition of these ideals.
Hon’ble Vice President further emphasised Shri Vajpayee’s vision of inclusive development, including efforts towards rural connectivity, promotion of small-scale industries, strengthening of the national power grid, and reforms in public sector undertakings. He also underlined that good governance is a shared responsibility of both the government and society.
Vice Chairman of Gandhi Smriti and former Union Minister Shri Vijay Goel expressed his gratitude to the dignitaries and participants, noting his long association with Shri Vajpayee and his continued commitment to carrying forward his ideals. The programme witnessed wide participation from members of the public.
