‘Nurtured generations, built BJP’s foundation’: PM Modi pens tribute to LK Advani on his 100th birthday

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday paid tribute to veteran BJP leader LK Advani on his 100th birthday, recalling his contribution to Indian politics, his role in building the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and his participation in key moments such as the Emergency and the Ram Rath Yatra.

In an article published in several national newspapers and shared on X, Modi described Advani’s contribution to the country as “everlasting”. He recalled how Advani, as a young man in 1947, had to leave behind his home in Sindh following Partition but rebuilt his life “without bitterness”. The Prime Minister said this quality shaped his efforts to strengthen the Jana Sangh and later build the BJP.

“Advani Ji nurtured generations of Karyakartas and gave the Party a clear foundation rooted in the principle of Nation First,” Modi wrote, highlighting the party’s growth during Advani’s tenure as its president. He noted that the Congress’ strength fell from 400 seats to below 200 in 1989, while the BJP emerged as the single largest party for the first time in 1996.

Modi identified ideological clarity and intellectual sharpness as two qualities that distinguished Advani. He also praised the veteran leader for challenging what he described as the “pseudo-secularism” promoted by a large section of Indian politics.

Recalling Advani’s early years as an RSS Pracharak in Rajasthan, Modi said he later moved to Delhi and began working closely with former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. He described the partnership between the two leaders as rare, saying they worked together for decades without becoming competitors.

“Advani Ji and Atal Ji set a remarkable example. Together, they changed the course of Indian politics,” he wrote.

Advani became Chairman of the Delhi Metropolitan Council in 1967 and entered Parliament in 1970. Modi recalled his contributions as a parliamentarian, Leader of Opposition in both Houses and later as a member of the government. He said Advani’s interventions earned appreciation across party lines and that he continued travelling across the country to meet people despite his parliamentary commitments.

The Prime Minister also recalled the 1991 Lok Sabha elections, when Advani contested from two constituencies, including Gandhinagar in Gujarat. Modi described the contest as “a homecoming of sorts”, given Advani’s family links with the state after Partition and his earlier Rajya Sabha tenure from Gujarat.

Modi said he had helped prepare Advani’s nomination papers and assisted in the election campaign. As a voter from Gandhinagar, he added, he had voted for the veteran leader on several occasions.

Modi recalls Advani’s role during Emergency and Ram Rath Yatra

Describing the Emergency as a “watershed” in Advani’s life, Modi said the BJP veteran was at the forefront of the fight to save democracy. He also referred to Advani’s book, A Prisoner’s Scrap-Book, which documented his experiences during the period.

“One part of that book, titled ‘A Tale of Two Emergencies’, beautifully explained the striking similarities between the events in India starting June 1975 and those in Nazi Germany in 1933,” Modi wrote.

The Prime Minister described Advani as a “fiery Opposition leader but an equally excellent administrator”. He credited him with strengthening India’s security apparatus during his tenure as Deputy Prime Minister and one of the country’s longest-serving Home Ministers. Modi also praised his work to improve the lives of security personnel and his firm stand against terrorism, which he said helped ensure India got a tough anti-terror law.

Modi also recalled the Somnath-to-Ayodhya Rath Yatra, calling it an “iconic moment” that “changed the course of Indian society for the better”.

“I consider it a privilege that I got the opportunity to be involved in this Yatra from the ideation stage to execution,” he wrote, recalling his presence in Somnath when the journey began. He praised Advani’s endurance during the demanding campaign, which involved long hours of travel and public engagements.

The Prime Minister further referred to Advani’s arrest in Bihar and the BJP’s withdrawal of support from the Chimanbhai Patel government in Gujarat. He said these decisions sent a message that the party would not compromise on its ideology or its stand on the Ram Temple.

“Many of our senior leaders and Karyakartas took an oath that, come what may, a Ram Temple will be built. And, years later, with the blessings of the people of India, a grand Mandir for Prabhu Shri Ram became a reality in Ayodhya,” he wrote.

PM highlights Advani’s simplicity, love for books and cinema

Beyond his political career, Modi spoke about Advani’s personal interests and simple way of life. He recalled that after the Navnirman Movement, Advani spent a month in Junagadh as an ordinary party worker, preparing for the Assembly elections.

Describing him as a “voracious reader”, Modi said Advani carefully followed newspapers and was also an enthusiastic film critic with a keen interest in cinema and theatre. His understanding of history, he added, was reflected in his book My Country My Life.

Modi also highlighted Advani’s continued connection with Sindhi culture and his efforts to popularise the Sindhu Darshan Puja near Leh. He recalled attending one such event with Advani and former Defence Minister George Fernandes.

The Prime Minister also paid tribute to Advani’s wife, Kamla Advani, describing her as “a constant source of strength and support throughout his public life”.

Advani’s political journey and Bharat Ratna

Born on November 8, 1927, in Karachi, in present-day Pakistan, Advani joined the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) as a Swayamsevak in 1942. He went on to become one of the BJP’s most influential leaders and served as its national president for three terms: 1986-1990, 1993-1998 and 2004-2005. He remains the longest-serving president in the party’s history since its formation in 1980.

Advani served as Union Home Minister from 1999 to 2004 and as Deputy Prime Minister in the NDA government led by Vajpayee from 2002 to 2004.

In recognition of his contribution to the country, he was conferred with the Bharat Ratna, India’s highest civilian award, by President Droupadi Murmu in March 2024.

With a parliamentary career spanning nearly three decades, Advani has played a significant role in shaping the BJP and influencing the course of Indian politics.

(With ANI inputs)