
Lal Krishna Advani
Introduction
About
LAL KRISHNA ADVANI
Lal Krishna Advani, born on November 8, 1927, in Karachi, is a distinguished Indian politician who played a pivotal role in shaping modern Indian politics. He is a co-founder of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and a long-time member of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), a right-wing Hindu nationalist organization. Advani's political career is marked by his tenure as the 7th Deputy Prime Minister of India from 2002 to 2004 and his significant contributions as the longest-serving Minister of Home Affairs from 1998 to 2004. He also holds the record as the longest-serving Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha and was the BJP's prime ministerial candidate in the 2009 general elections.
Advani's early life was influenced by the Partition of India, which led to his family's migration from Karachi to Bombay, where he completed his education. He joined the RSS at the age of fourteen and later became a pracharak, working in Rajasthan. In 1951, he became a member of the Bharatiya Jana Sangh, founded by Syama Prasad Mookerjee, and quickly rose through the ranks, holding various positions, including the president of the Delhi unit. His political ascent continued with his election as the chairman of the First Delhi Metropolitan Council in 1967 and his subsequent tenure as a Rajya Sabha member starting in 1970.
In 1980, Advani, along with Atal Bihari Vajpayee, co-founded the BJP, marking a new chapter in his political journey. Under his leadership, the BJP adopted the Hindutva ideology, significantly impacting its growth and electoral success. Advani was a key figure in the Ayodhya movement, advocating for the construction of a temple at the disputed Ram Janmabhoomi site, which became a central issue in Indian politics during the late 1980s and early 1990s. Despite controversies, including allegations related to the Babri Masjid demolition, he continued to be a prominent leader in Indian politics.
As the Home Minister and later Deputy Prime Minister, Advani played a crucial role in the BJP-led government from 1998 to 2004, contributing to major policy decisions and national security matters. After the BJP's defeat in the 2004 general elections, he served as the Leader of the Opposition, continuing to influence the party's direction. His leadership faced challenges, particularly when he described Mohammad Ali Jinnah as a secular leader during a visit to Pakistan in 2005, which led to criticism from within the party and the RSS.
Advani retired from active politics in 2019, leaving behind a legacy marked by his unwavering commitment to his ideological beliefs and his significant role in the BJP's rise as a major political force in India. His contributions to Indian politics were recognized with the Padma Vibhushan in 2015 and the Bharat Ratna in 2024. Today, Advani resides in Delhi, reflecting on a career that has left an indelible mark on India's political landscape.
Date of Birth: November 8, 1927,
Place of Birth: Karachi, Pakistan