'Atalji Amar Rahen' : See rare pics of Former PM and BJP stalwart

New Delhi, Aug 16: One of India's tallest leaders, Bharat Ratna Atal Bihari Vajpayee who passed away on Thursday, August 16 at 5.05 pm was cremated on Friday with full state honours at Smriti Sthal in New Delhi. As the entire nation plunged into sorrow over the passing away of the former prime minister, the government announced a 7 day mourning from August 16 to 22.

The man who turned India into nuclear-armed nation

Atal Bihari Vajpayee, the former prime minister who transformed India into a nuclear-armed nation and ignited a weapons race in South Asia, died on Thursday.

This is the File photo of Former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee at the nuclear test site in Pokhran on May 20, 1998. (Pic courtesy: PTI)

When IK Gujral greeted Atal Bihari Vajpayee

In this File Photo, IK Gujral, the then Prime Minister, is seen greeting Atal Bihari Vajpayee on his birthday in New Delhi on Dec 25, 1997. Gujral, 92, died at a Gurgaon hospital on Friday after a brief illness.

With the sitar maestro Pandit Ravi Shankar

File photo of sitar maestro Pandit Ravi Shankar with the Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee at the release of music album 'Samvedna' in New Delhi on Feb 10, 2002. Pandit Ravi Shankar, 92, passed away at a hospital in San Diego, US. ‘Samvedna', a music album released by Saregama, is a collection of poems written by Vajpayee, which is composed and sung by ghazal exponent Jagjit Singh. There is a preface to the album by Amitabh Bachchan, which is written by Javed Akhtar.

With Vidya Charan Shukla

This is the File photo of former Union minister and veteran Congress leader V.C. Shukla with the then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee in New Delhi in March 2004. Shukla, who was injured in a Maoist attack in Chhattisgarh last month, died at a hospital in Gurgaon on Tuesday.

Bharat Ratna awardee

Vajpayee has been credited with taking bold initiatives, notable being the attempt to bridge India-Pakistan differences.

This is the File photo of Former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee who was chosen for the country's highest civilian award Bharat Ratna.The Bharat Ratna is the highest civilian award of the Republic of India.

Atal Bihari Vajpayee seen with L.K. Advani and Murli Manohar Joshi at party meeting

A twitter user posted this after the demise of BJP stalwart on Thursday. In this photos, Atal Bihari Vajpayee can be seen withL.K. Advani, and Murli Manohar Joshi at a party meeting which was held in 1991.

Atal Bihari Vajpayee with late DMK chief M Karunanidhi

In this file image dated 13 September, 2003, former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee is received by late DMK president M Karunanidhi at the Apollo Hospital, where he had gone to meet Murasoli Maran, in Chennai.

Karunanidhi passed away in Chennai last week at the age of 94

Nelson Mandela with the Atal Bihari Vajpayee

File photo of former South African President Nelson Mandela with the then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee at the Non Aligned Movement (NAM) summit in Durban in Sept 1998. Mandela, 95, died on Thursday in Johannesburg.

When Atal Bihari Vajpayee celebrated 'Holi'

In this file photo dated March 07, 2004, former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee celebrates 'Holi' at his residence in New Delhi. Vajpayee, 93, passed away on Thursday, Aug 16, 2018, at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi after a prolonged illness.

Atal Bihari Vajpayee during an Iftaar party in Bengaluru

In this file photo former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee attended an Iftaar party in Bengaluru.

Atal Bihari Vajpayee inspects the guard of honour during the Independence Day function in 1999

Vajpayee, a Bharatiya Janata Party veteran was a respected personality across all political parties and a true statesman.
Here's taking a look at the memorable moments of his life and times:
In this Aug 15, 1999, file photo former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee inspects the guard of honour during the Independence Day function at the Red Fort in New Delhi.

Atal Bihari Vajpayee while visiting Mysuru Palace

A file photo of former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee while visiting the Mysuru Palace as a parliamentarian.

When Atal Bihari Vajpayee announced India's nuclear test

In this May 11, 1998, file photo former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee announced India's nuclear test, in New Delhi. His govt had carried out a series of successful nuclear tests at Pokhran and India declares itself a nuclear weapons state.

Atal Bihari Vajpayee is seen at Angkor Wat temple

In this April 11, 2002, file photo former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee is seen at Angkor Wat temple at Siem Reap, northwest of Phnom Penh in Cambodia. (Pic courtesy: PTI)