Shri LK Advani served as the President of the Bharatiya Janata Party for the longest time since its inception in 1980. Capping a parliamentary career of nearly three decades, Shri LK Advani was first Home Minister and later, Deputy Prime Minister (1999-2004) in Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s cabinet.
Shri LK Advani is widely regarded as a man of great intellectual ability, strong principles and unwavering support for the idea of a strong and prosperous India. As Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee affirmed, Shri LK Advani ‘never compromised his core belief in nationalism, and yet displayed flexibility in political responses whenever the situation demanded’.
Shri LK Advani was born on November 8, 1927 and grew up in pre-Partition Sindh. As a student at St Patrick’s School in Karachi, his patriotic ideals led him to join the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) at the age of only fourteen. He has dedicated his life to the service of the nation since then.
Shri LK Advani’s celebration of India’s independence from the British in 1947 was tragically short-lived as he became one of the millions torn from his homeland amidst the horror and bloodshed of the tragedy of the Partition of India. However, these events did not make him bitter or cynical, but inspired him to desire a more secular India. With this goal in mind, he traveled to Rajasthan to continue his work as an RSS pracharak.
During the late 1980s and 1990s, Shri LK Advani focused on the sole task of making the BJP a national political force. The results of his efforts were underscored by the 1989 general election. The party returned from its 1984 tally of 2 to gain an impressive 86 of 86 seats. The party’s position reached 121 seats in 1992 and 161 seats in 1996; Making 1996 elections a watershed in Indian democracy. For the first time after independence, the Congress was removed from its chief post and the BJP became the single largest party in the Lok Sabha.
A passionate man with strong family ties, Shri LK Advani has said that ‘Nature jeopardizes happiness and meaning before all of us, insisting only that we choose one of them, but I experience both. I have had the privilege of doing it, and in abundance’.
Today, Shri LK Advani calls upon the people of India to make the right choices to elect a leader who has gone through the mistakes of India’s past, and looks forward to ensuring that India is more united, stronger and more united in its own right. Be brighter than yesterday.
About life of L.K. Advani
November 8, 1927 – Shri L.K Advani was born in Karachi, in present day Pakistan, to parents Kishenchand and Gyanidevi Advani.
1936 -1942 – Studied at St.Patricks school, Karachi, standing first in every class until matriculation.
1942 – Joined the RSS as a Swayamsevak.
1942 – Joined Dayaram Gidumal National College, Hyderabad, during the Quit India movement.
1944 – Held a job as a teacher in Model High School, Karachi.
12 September, 1947 – Left from Sindh to Delhi by propeller aircraft during Paritition.
1947-1951 – Organised RSS work in Alwar, Bharatpur, Kota, Bundi and Jhalawar as RSS Secretary in the Karachi branch.
Early 1957 – Shifted to Delhi to assist Shri. Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
1958-63 – Held the position of Secretary of the Delhi State Jana Sangh.
1960-1967 – Joined the Organiser, a political journal of the Jana Sangh as assistant editor.
Feb 25, 1965 – Married Smt. Kamla Advani, with whom he has two children, Pratibha and Jayant.
April 1970 – Entered the Rajya Sabha.
Dec 1972 – Was elected President of Bharatiya Jana Sangh.
26 June 1975 – Was Arrested in Bangalore during Emergency period and taken to Bangalore Central Jail along with other BJS members.
March 1977 to July 1979 – Held the position of Union minister for Information and Broadcasting. May 1986- Became Party President of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
1980-86 – Held the position of General Secretary of the BJP.
May 1986 – Was announced as party President of the BJP.
3 March 1988 – Was re-elected party President of the BJP.
1988 – Held the position of Home Minister in the BJP Government.
1990 – Began the Ram Rath Yatra from Somnath to Ayodhya.
1997 – Began the Swarna Jayanti Rath Yatra to celebrate the Golden Jubilee of India’s Independence.
Oct 1999 – May 2004 – Union Cabinet Minister, Home Affairs
Jun 2002 – May 2004 – Deputy Prime Minister
