Advani’s political consciousness was awakened at a young age. Inspired by the ideals of Mahatma Gandhi, he joined the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), a Hindu nationalist organization, at the age of 14. The RSS instilled in him a strong sense of national identity and a commitment to Hindutva, a concept advocating for the cultural and political primacy of Hindus in India.
Advani’s political career took off in the 1950s when he joined the Bharatiya Jana Sangh (BJS), a precursor to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). His organizational skills and oratory prowess quickly propelled him to the forefront of the BJS, earning him the moniker “Hindu Hriday Samrat” (Emperor of Hindu Hearts
Advani played a pivotal role in the Ram Janmabhoomi movement of the 1980s, which aimed to reclaim the disputed Babri Masjid site in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh, for the construction of a Ram temple. The movement, marked by religious fervor and political mobilization, catapulted the BJP to national prominence.
Advani became the BJP’s de facto leader in the 1990s, leading the party through its period of rapid growth and political success. He served as the BJP’s president multiple times and was instrumental in its victory in the 1998 general elections, becoming Deputy Prime Minister in the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government led by Atal Bihari Vajpayee.