Former prime minister and Bharat Ratna Atal Bihari Vajpayee had no familial connection with Jaipur, but his constant companion and Man Friday, Shiv Kumar Pareek, was from the city. Apart from the BJP stalwart and former vice-president Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, Pareek was the person from Rajasthan who shared a close bond with Vajpayee.
In was in 1969 that Pareek left his career as a professional and started working full time for the former PM. During his days of serving as Vajpayee’s personal assistant, Shivkumar saw his life from very close quarters, be it in political arena or in the confines of home.
It was after the death of Jan Sangh founder Shyama Prasad Mookerjee in mysterious circumstances that security concerns arose of Vajpayee and the search of a person who could look after the ex-PM started. And then entered into the life of Vajpayee. Since then there had not been a day when the political giant was seen without Pareek.
The Jaipur man with robust frame and dense moustache could be spotted in every frame that had Vajpayee in it. Such was the relation between the two that even when Vajpayee retired from public life, Pareek remained with him like a family member till he breathed his last.
