Rama : an inspiring symbol of Indian culture
By L.K. Advani | Wednesday, 23 January 2008
A contribution for the special 'Ramayana' issue of THE WEEK magazine
The mass movement for the reconstruction of a grand temple at the Janmasthan of Lord Ram in Ayodhya was a major watershed in the history of post-1947 India . Why did it acquire the kind of sweep and strength that it did? The answer lies in understanding the significance of Ram and the Ramayana in our national life. Along with the other great Indian epic, the Mahabharata, the Ramayana has influenced the cultural personality and ethical value-system of Indians, generation after generation, century after century. Ram was an ideal king. Hence the concept of 'Ram Rajya', the epitome of good governance, was extolled as the ideal for India by no less a person than Mahatma Gandhi. He was also an ideal human being. Hence the title 'Maryada Purushottam' (an exemplar among good human beings) by which he is known.
Remembering a Revolutionary War, a Revolutionary Book
By L.K. Advani | Wednesday, 09 May 2007
Homage to the martyrs and heroes of India’s First War of Independence, on the occasion of the commencement of the yearlong 150th anniversary commemoration of 1857
"I pay my respectful homage to all those brave sons and daughters of India who fought in that war to liberate India from the yoke of an alien people from a far-away island, who had come to India as traders but became its colonial rulers. We know some names of the leaders and martyrs of the war of 1857 – Mangal Pandey, Bahadur Shah Zafar, Rani Laxmibai of Jhansi, Nanasaheb Peshwa of Kanpur, his close confidantes Azimullah Khan and Tatia Tope, Raja Kunwar Sinh of Jagdishpur in Bihar, Maulvi Ahmed Shah of Oudh, and many others. But the names of countless others have either entered the oblivion of history or are still lying unexplored and unsung in local histories across the vast expanse of the then united India. All of them deserve to be gratefully remembered. "
A sharp strategist in mind, brilliant executive in action
By L.K. Advani | Wednesday, 02 May 2007
Tribute to Pramod Mahajan on his first death anniversary
It is difficult to believe that one year has passed. It is more difficult to believe, even after the passage of a full year, that Pramodji is no longer with us. Human beings have a weakness; we do not accept death as a part of life. But when death is untimely, comes unexpectedly and shockingly, and takes away someone who was always full of life, it becomes harder to submit to the finality of its deed. But submit we must. There is no escaping it.
The India of my Dreams
By L.K. Advani | Saturday, 15 August 1987
As a political activist, I identify myself completely with this sublime, yet eminently attainable, vision of future India. I longingly look forward to its realisation.