Meet Vajpayee's Kanha, from Lucknow, who lost his 'Baba'
Former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee valued relationships a lot and the bond he shared with Kanha, his young neighbor in Lucknow proves that. Speaking to HT, Kanha, now 28 and a BJP activist, said many would have lost their Prime Minister or poet, but he has lost his 'Baba', his grandfather. Kanha, alias Aradhya Krishna, wants to ensure Vajpayee's legacy stays alive.
Who is Kanha?
Kanha and his family lived next to Vajpayee's house in La Palace in Hazratganj, Lucknow. His father Alok Awasthi said the former PM was very attached to Kanha. "Many times, Kanha would see him and call out 'Baba' or say 'Baba aa gaye' and in return Atalji would hug him and offer some sweets and this became a routine," he said. This was 1994.
Once, Vajpayee signed handwritten pass for Kanha
On April 27, 1996, Vajpayee signed a handwritten pass for Kanha to allow his effortless entry at his Raisina Road residence in New Delhi. The note, now yellow in color, read, "Priy Kanha ko humne milne ke liye bulaya hai, koi inhe roke nahi, aane diya jaye. Ye hamare mehmaan hain." Over the years, Vajpayee attended Kanha's birthday celebrations, of which there are many photographs.
Vajpayee also gave Kanha best birthday surprise ever
Alok Awasthi said the bond wasn't affected even after Vajpayee became the PM. He said Kanha called Vajpayee from Public Call Office (PCO), and the latter always answered. In fact, on March 1999, when Vajpayee on his Lucknow visit learnt it was Kanha's birthday, he came to the Awasthi home with minister Kalyan Singh. After the cake-cutting ceremony, he stayed back and had dinner.
He was my baba: A crying Kanha remembers the leader
Kanha said he still had a big teddy bear which Vajpayee gifted him. He added the towering leader always came to Lucknow to celebrate his birthday or invited him to Delhi for the same, till 2014. "He was my Baba. I have lost him. He was my grandfather, which whom I shared some of the most cherished moments of my life," Kanha said.
The nation lost its marvelous statesman
Kanha visited Vajpayee in June after he was hospitalized as his health deteriorated. The former PM passed away on Thursday after battling prolonged illness. He was cremated at Delhi's Smriti Sthal by his daughter Namita Bhattacharya, whom he adopted. His ashes will be submerged in Haridwar. Needless to say, his loss has created a void in Indian politics which can't be filled ever.
