He will be remembered for declaring India a nuclear-armed state while struggling to maintain his image as the moderate face of Hindu nationalism. A three-time premier, a poet and spellbinding orator, Vajpayee's life in politics spanned five decades but he only attained real power towards the twilight of his career. His ambition to be recognised as a statesman of international stature led him to put his political neck on the line in seeking peace with rival Pakistan. But he also brought India out of the nuclear closet with successful weapons tests in 1998 that radically upped the ante following tests deemed peaceful in 1974. Vajpayee had been in retirement since his Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was defeated in 2004 elections by a resurgent Congress party. Long of ailing health, he was hospitalised in June and placed on life support in August. He died a few days later. A high-caste Brahmin, Vajpayee was born on Christmas Day in 1924 in the central state of Madhya … [Read more...] about Nukes and nationalism: Former Indian PM Vajpayee