How a lifelong nationalist organizer became the architect of India's modern political landscape

Countries & Cities · Published 3 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Lal Krishna Advani, a key founder of the Bharatiya Janata Party, transformed Indian politics through his strategic use of mass processions and his role in the rise of Hindutva. From his early days as a nationalist organizer to serving as deputy prime minister, his career reshaped the nation's ideological trajectory.

Born in Karachi in 1927, Lal Krishna Advani joined the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh at age fourteen. Following the partition of India, he migrated to Bombay and later moved to Delhi, where he climbed the ranks of the Bharatiya Jana Sangh. His parliamentary career began in 1970 with his election to the Rajya Sabha, eventually leading to his tenure as the Minister of Information and Broadcasting in the late 1970s.

In 1980, Advani co-founded the Bharatiya Janata Party alongside Atal Bihari Vajpayee. His leadership was defined by the promotion of Hindutva and the movement to build a temple at the Ram Janmabhoomi site in Ayodhya. He famously organized six rath yatras—mass processions—to mobilize public support, including the 1990 Ram Rath Yatra that significantly boosted the party's national profile. Though he faced legal challenges regarding the 1992 demolition of the Babri Masjid, he was acquitted in 2020.

Advani served as India's Minister of Home Affairs from 1998 to 2004 and as deputy prime minister from 2002 to 2004. During his time in office, he was a central figure in the National Democratic Alliance government. His influence remained significant even after the BJP's defeat in the 2004 elections, as he continued to lead the party and served as its prime ministerial candidate in 2009. Recognized for his long-standing service, he received the Padma Vibhushan in 2015 and the Bharat Ratna in 2024.

Throughout his decades in politics, Advani's career was marked by both internal party dynamics and national ideological shifts. Whether navigating factional politics or managing the party's stance on governance and security, he remained a central, often polarizing, figure. His legacy is cemented by his role in building the BJP into a major political force, leaving an indelible mark on the history of Indian democracy.

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