M Venkaiah Naidu writes: L K Advani, a leader who never craved power

Advaniji is more a man of deeds and less of words. He is not flamboyant. He is a quiet performer on the ground, a result-oriented system builder, aware of the tasks ahead and the need for an effective machinery to deliver on the goals. His life and work bear the mark of self-effacement, a hallmark of rishis. In pursuance of this mission, he played a pivotal role along with Atal Bihari Vajpayeeji in founding the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and contributing to its phenomenal rise. He was instrumental in taking the BJP to new heights as a national political force from the depressing parliamentary performance of 1984. His quiet and effective pairing with Vajpayeeji is a rare example in walking together on the path of selfless commitment to a larger cause. The results are now visible to all.

Naidu (to the left of LK Advani) coordinating the Janadesh Rath Yatra (Photo credit: Venkaiah Naidu)

Advaniji never craved power. His mission was a new India, drawing strength from its past and rising to its potential. Amid efforts to distort Indian history, he was determined to steer Indian thought and public life clear of this confusion. Being a victim of the turmoil of Partition, he was keen to present secularism in its right spirit. He was concerned by the devious efforts to construct false narratives in this regard. He spared no efforts to expose pseudo-secularist discourse, and also succeeded in placing the debate about nationalism on the right pedestal. For him, nationalism has been an essential and positive force to take our nation to its rightful place. Unity of all Indians is an underlying force of this nationalism, and Lord Ram, an ideal symbol of this much desired unity of Indians. He stirred this new conscience to great effect and to positive results.

A firm believer in the equality of all Indians, he considered appeasement as a distortion of this spirit of unity. In 1990, Advaniji launched a new national movement in the form of a rath yatra from Somnath.

The bhavya Ram mandir recently consecrated by the Prime Minister was not built just by brick and mortar but by the forces of patriotic fervour and nationalist zeal. The role and contribution of Advaniji in unleashing this power of nationalism will be firmly etched in the history of modern India.

Advaniji symbolises clarity of thought and convictions, matched by a steely resolve. In this regard, he is in the mould of Sardar Patel and is hence rightly called the “Loh Purush”. However, his tough interior is more than matched by a graceful and courteous exterior. In his long public life, there has never been an occasion when he has used harsh words for his political adversaries or colleagues. His parliamentary career has been an example in etiquette, demanding respect from all sides. His experiences during the dark days of the Emergency increased manifold his commitment and love for parliamentary democracy. The way he undid the Emergency excesses against the press remains exemplary. He is a democrat to the core. As home minister, he strove hard to fortify our internal security apparatus.

His great contribution as a system builder lies in training lakhs of workers and mentoring generations of leaders for the party. This large army of principled soldiers and generals will ensure the safety and security of the idea of India for a long time to come. Interactions with him have always helped clear dilemmas and presented new perspectives on the way forward. Commitment to principles and morals is his constant refrain. He has been a great guru and mentor for many of us. I have had the privilege of being closely associated with him and have benefitted significantly from his mentorship.

Inspired by the core ideals of Indian civilisation and values, Lal Krishna Advaniji burned himself like a candle to drive the muddled contemporary Indian thought out of darkness. He has always spoken for and lived for India. He is a true Bharat Ratna.

The writer is former Vice President of India