When Atal Bihari Vajpayee Fell in Love with Bhutan

In the crisp late-November air of 1977, then Indian Foreign Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee visited Bhutan.
He was unaware that his visit would leave an enduring literary and emotional imprint on the kingdom. What began as a diplomatic journey soon became a personal encounter with a nation’s soul, its people, its culture, and of all the benevolent presence of its King.
Vajpayee’s arrival was met with warmth that transcended protocol. Officials, villagers, and children greeted him with smiles, bows, and handshakes, while the breathtaking Himalayan landscapes unfolded in every direction.
When a Bhutanese minister gently remarked on the chilly weather, Vajpayee replied with characteristic wit: “Yet it is cold, but the warmth of friendship and hospitality makes the cold bearable.” That simple observation would later echo in the verses he penned.
Known for his eloquence and poetic sensibilities, Vajpayee was deeply inspired by Bhutan’s natural beauty and the quiet dignity of its people.
He observed archers practicing their craft with precision, women moving gracefully through villages, and children exuding a palpable sense of pride. The experience stirred a poem in him; a song that celebrated Bhutan as a “land of the gods”, its people as industrious and free-spirited, and its monarchy as compassionate and wise. The King, he wrote, was young yet full of courage, with a fire burning in his heart, a reflection of the nation itself.
On November 20, 1977, the poem was recited at a dinner hosted by Vajpayee at the residence of the Indian Representative in Thimphu. The gathering included His Majesty the King, Her Majesty the Queen Mother, ministers, and senior officials. The moment was not just ceremonial; it was intimate. Vajpayee’s words resonated as an acknowledgment of Bhutan Leadership, identity, its enduring values, and the extraordinary bond between the two nations.
Decades later, Vajpayee’s poem remains a testament not just to the power of diplomacy, but of a young leader, ready to take his nation ahead. It captures not only the scenic grandeur of Bhutan but also the pride, resilience, and joy of its people.