Vajpayee Refused Bharat Ratna

Former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee will be awarded the Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian award, on Friday. President Pranab Mukherjee and Prime Minister Narendra Modi are expected to be present at the function to be held at Mr. Vajpayee's residence.

The poet-politician, the man who made India a declared nuclear state and almost went to war with Pakistan before making a dramatic gesture for peace, the Nehru of the Right - these are the many shades that make Atal Bihari Vajpayee an enduring paradox of Indian politics.

Former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee will be awarded the Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian award, on Friday. President Pranab Mukherjee and Prime Minister Narendra Modi are expected to be present at the function to be held at Mr. Vajpayee's residence.

The poet-politician, the man who made India a declared nuclear state and almost went to war with Pakistan before making a dramatic gesture for peace, the Nehru of the Right - these are the many shades that make Atal Bihari Vajpayee an enduring paradox of Indian politics.