L.K. ADVANI

L.K. Advani was born on November 08, 1929 in Karachi (now Pakistan). His earlier 
schooling was at St.Patrick's in Karachi. He later on graduated in Law from Bombay 
University. Known for his sophistication and culture, L.K.Advani is given to a modest life 
style. 

From 1970 to 1989 he was a Member of the Rajya Sabha. In 1989 and again in 1991 he was 
elected to Lok Sabha. In 1991, he was also appointed the Leader of Opposition.
He was elected President of Jana Sangh in 1973 and continued until 1977, before he was 
appointed Information & Broacasting Minister in the Janata government. During his tenure 
he freed the media from legislative and executive shackles, instituionalised reforms and 
inbuilt safeguards to guard freedom. He abolished Press Censorship and repealed anti-press 
legislation. 

The BJP was launched in 1980 and for the next six years he held the post of General 
Secretary. In 1986, he became the All India President, which post he held until January 
1991. Mr Advani's influence on recent Indian politics has been phenomenal.

The Press on Shri. Advani:

Shri. Swapan Dasgupta of Times of India commented "Not only did Advani release a flood 
of sublimated nationalist energy, his clarity of vision, precise statements and astute 
sense of timing played a major role in the BJP's success. India Today notes "He is so 
un-confused that the clarity of his thought and its translation into action have served 
to un-confuse the BJP and propelled it into a dimension that has run traditional secularists 
and patriots like the old line socialists and communists running back to defensive positions"