L. K. Advani Enters His 100th Year
Why in News?
- L. K. Advani was born on 8 November 1927, so on 8 November 2026 he turned 99 and entered the 100th year of his life, The Tribune reported, carrying an article by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
- The BJP marked the day with a puja and havan at its headquarters. Modi wrote that Advani's career shaped the Jana Sangh and the BJP, and recalled his role during the Emergency and as Home Minister and Deputy Prime Minister.
- The nation conferred the Bharat Ratna on Advani in 2024.
Key Terminologies
- L. K. Advani
- A veteran leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party. He left Sindh in 1947, worked as a pracharak of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh in Rajasthan and then in Delhi, and rose in the Jana Sangh and later the BJP.
- Bharat Ratna
- India's highest civilian award. The nation conferred it on Advani in 2024, according to the article.
- Jana Sangh and BJP
- The Bharatiya Jana Sangh was founded in 1951. Its leaders formed the Bharatiya Janata Party in 1980 after the Janata Party experiment.
- Deputy Prime Minister
- A post held by Advani in the government led by Atal Bihari Vajpayee. It is not a constitutional office and carries no separate powers.
- Emergency
- The period of 1975 to 1977 when civil liberties were suspended. Advani wrote about his time in prison in A Prisoner's Scrap-Book, the article says.
Key Issues
- Age and Milestone: Born on 8 November 1927, Advani turned 99 on 8 November 2026, and Modi wrote that he enters the 100th year of his life. The Tribune headline refers to "100", but the dates give 99 completed years.
- Early Career: After leaving Sindh in 1947 he worked as an RSS pracharak in Rajasthan and then in Delhi, close to Atal Bihari Vajpayee. In 1967 he became Chairman of the Delhi Metropolitan Council, and his parliamentary career began in 1970.
- Party Building: Modi wrote that during Advani's terms as BJP president the Congress fell from 400 seats to below 200 in 1989 and the BJP became the single largest party in 1996. These are the Prime Minister's claims in his article.
- In Government: Advani was Information and Broadcasting Minister in the Janata government of 1977, later Deputy Prime Minister and one of the longest-serving Home Ministers. He contested from Gandhinagar from 1991 and was repeatedly re-elected.
- Rath Yatra and Emergency: The article calls the Somnath to Ayodhya Rath Yatra a defining moment, and notes his role in defending democracy during the Emergency.
Key Implications
Positive/Pros/Merits
- Public Life: A leader active for decades in the Jana Sangh and BJP offers a case study in party building.
- Parliamentary Record: His long service in Parliament includes time as Leader of the Opposition in both Houses.
- Recognition: The Bharat Ratna in 2024 marked the nation's highest honour for his service.
- Civic Writing: His book on the Emergency adds to the record of that period.
Negative/Cons/Demerits
- Contested Legacy: The Rath Yatra and the events around it are debated, and opinions differ on its effects on society.
- Partisan Framing: The profile comes from the Prime Minister's own article, so claims such as the seat numbers are a party leader's view.
- Age Fact: The headline refers to "100", but he entered his 100th year and turned 99, a point worth stating plainly.
- Limited Detail: The article does not give the year of the Rath Yatra and does not discuss criticisms.
Key Initiatives
- Bharatiya Janata Party: It celebrated Advani's birthday with a puja and havan at its headquarters in Delhi, 8 November 2026.
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi: He wrote an article on Advani's life and wished him good health.
- Government of India: It conferred the Bharat Ratna on Advani in 2024, as noted in the article.
- Parliament: Advani served as Leader of the Opposition in both Houses and later from the treasury benches.
The details of Advani's career are as stated in the Prime Minister's article and are a political leader's account. The year of the Rath Yatra was not given there, and political assessments of his legacy differ.
Director's Perspective
Way Forward
- Know that Advani was born on 8 November 1927 and that the Bharat Ratna was conferred in 2024.
- Remember the offices he held: Information and Broadcasting Minister, Home Minister, Deputy Prime Minister.
- Understand the link between the Jana Sangh, the Janata Party and the BJP.
- Note that the Deputy Prime Minister is not a constitutional post with separate powers.
- In answers, separate facts about a leader's career from political assessments.
L. K. Advani's entry into his 100th year is an occasion to recall a long career that ran from the Jana Sangh to the BJP and from the Emergency to the Home Ministry, with the Bharat Ratna conferred in 2024. The profile reviewed here is the Prime Minister's own article, so assessments of events such as the Rath Yatra remain contested. In a Mains answer, describe the key offices and contributions, state that the Deputy Prime Minister has no separate constitutional powers, and keep a balanced view of the leader's legacy.
GS Relevance
Frequently Asked Questions
When was L. K. Advani born?
L. K. Advani was born on 8 November 1927, so he turned 99 on 8 November 2026 and entered the 100th year of his life, as Prime Minister Narendra Modi wrote in an article carried by The Tribune.
When did L. K. Advani receive the Bharat Ratna?
The nation conferred the Bharat Ratna on L. K. Advani in 2024, according to the article by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The Bharat Ratna is India's highest civilian award.
What offices did L. K. Advani hold?
According to the article, Advani was Minister for Information and Broadcasting in the Janata government in 1977, later Deputy Prime Minister and one of India's longest-serving Home Ministers, and represented Gandhinagar in the Lok Sabha from 1991.
PYQ Practice — Statement Analysis
1 L. K. Advani was born on 8 November 1927.
He turned 99 on 8 November 2026 and entered his 100th year.
2 The Deputy Prime Minister has separate powers under the Constitution.
The post is not a constitutional office with separate powers.
3 The Bharat Ratna was conferred on L. K. Advani in 2024.
It is India's highest civilian honour.