99 Years of LK Advani: The Man This Generation Should Know About

Indian politics has seen many leaders, but very few have had an impact like LK Advani. As he turns 99, today’s generation should know about the man who played a major role in building the BJP and changing Indian politics. Many youngsters know Narendra Modi as the face of the BJP, but the party’s journey to power started much earlier. Advani was one of the main people behind that journey.

Born on November 8, 1927, in Karachi, Advani had to leave his birthplace after Partition in 1947. His family moved to India, like millions of others who were affected by the division of the country. He joined the RSS at a young age and slowly entered public life. Unlike many politicians who became popular through elections, Advani spent years building the party and working with its cadre.

From Two Seats to a National Party

Advani was one of the main leaders who built the BJP along with Atal Bihari Vajpayee. When the BJP was formed in 1980, it had a long way to go. In the 1984 Lok Sabha elections, the party won just two seats. It was a difficult beginning, but Advani did not give up.

He worked to expand the party across the country and strengthen its organisation. The BJP won 85 seats in 1989 and became the single largest party in the 1996 Lok Sabha elections with 161 seats. Advani played a major role in this growth. He helped turn a small political party into a strong national alternative to the Congress.

The Rath Yatra That Changed Politics

The biggest turning point in Advani’s career came in 1990 with his Ram Rath Yatra. He travelled from Somnath in Gujarat to Ayodhya in Uttar Pradesh, supporting the demand for a Ram Temple at the disputed site. The Yatra attracted huge attention and helped the BJP grow across the country.

At the same time, the movement also led to religious tensions and remains one of the most debated chapters in Indian politics. The Babri Masjid demolition in December 1992 further changed the country’s political and social atmosphere. Advani’s role in the Ram Temple movement continues to have both supporters and critics.

The Second Most Powerful Leader in the Vajpayee Government

Advani was also among the opposition leaders who were jailed during the Emergency imposed by Indira Gandhi in 1975. After the Emergency, he became Information and Broadcasting Minister in the Janata Party government.

Later, when Atal Bihari Vajpayee became Prime Minister, Advani became Home Minister. In 2002, he was made Deputy Prime Minister. He was one of the most powerful leaders in the NDA government and worked closely with Vajpayee in running the government.

His Connection With Narendra Modi

Advani also had an important connection with Narendra Modi’s political journey. Modi worked in the BJP organisation during Advani’s rise and was involved in organising his Rath Yatra. He also helped Advani during his election campaign in Gandhinagar.

However, the BJP eventually moved into a new generation of leadership. In 2013, Narendra Modi was chosen to lead the party’s national election campaign. Advani had reservations about this decision, but the 2014 elections changed everything. Modi became Prime Minister, while Advani slowly moved away from active politics.

Why Advani Never Became Prime Minister

Despite being one of the biggest BJP leaders, Advani never became Prime Minister. He was projected as the BJP’s prime ministerial candidate for the 2009 elections. However, the party lost to the Congress-led UPA.

His political journey also had controversies. During his 2005 visit to Pakistan, his comments about Muhammad Ali Jinnah created a major controversy within the BJP. Later, his differences over the party’s leadership change also attracted attention.

Bharat Ratna at 96

In 2024, the government honoured Advani with the Bharat Ratna, India’s highest civilian award. It recognised his long contribution to Indian politics and public life.

Advani’s journey is important for today’s generation because he witnessed some of the biggest events in Indian history. He experienced Partition, went through the Emergency, helped build the BJP and served as Deputy Prime Minister. His political career had achievements as well as controversies.

Today’s youngsters may know Narendra Modi as the leader who made the BJP dominant in Indian politics. But the story of how the party grew from just two Lok Sabha seats to a national force is incomplete without Advani. Whether one agrees with his politics or not, LK Advani is a name that every generation should know.