Amit Shah hails LK Advani as 'living example of putting nation first' on 100th birthday
Synopsis
As LK Advani stepped into his 100th year on 8 November, both Home Minister Amit Shah and Prime Minister Modi paid elaborate tributes — Shah calling him a 'living example of putting the nation first,' Modi penning a detailed article spanning Partition, the Emergency, and the Rath Yatra. For a party that rarely looks back, the scale of these tributes underscores just how foundational Advani remains to the BJP's self-image.
Key Takeaways
LK Advani entered his 100th year of life on 8 November 2026 .
Home Minister Amit Shah posted birthday greetings on X , calling Advani a 'living example of public service and putting the nation first.' Prime Minister Narendra Modi published a detailed article on X tracing Advani's journey from Partition to the Rath Yatra to the Deputy Premiership .
Advani served as Deputy Prime Minister under Atal Bihari Vajpayee from 2002 to 2004 and was awarded the Bharat Ratna in 2024 .
He is widely credited as the principal architect of the BJP's rise from a fringe force to India's dominant national party.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday, 8 November 2026, extended warm birthday greetings to veteran Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and former Deputy Prime Minister Lal Krishna Advani as the senior statesman entered his 100th year of life, calling him a 'living example of public service and putting the nation first.'
Shah's tribute on X
Taking to social media platform X, Shah wrote: 'Respected Shri Lal Krishna Advani Ji, a symbol of service to the nation, an architect of the BJP, and a principled statesman, completes 99 years today and steps into the 100th year of his life. On behalf of crores of BJP workers, I extend my heartfelt birthday wishes to him.'
Shah further noted that Advani's journey — 'from a humble family background to becoming a founding member of the BJP, its National President, and the Deputy Prime Minister of the country' — had been a consistent demonstration of dedication to public life. 'Advani Ji's life in every role has been a living example of public service and putting the nation first,' Shah added.
The Home Minister also said that through 'a life marked by struggle, sacrifice, and dedication,' Advani had shown that 'commitment to the motherland and ideology is the true identity of BJP workers.' Shah concluded by offering prayers for the veteran leader's good health and well-being.
PM Modi's detailed tribute
Earlier on Sunday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi penned a detailed article chronicling Advani's life, political journey, and enduring contributions to modern India. Modi shared the article on X alongside birthday greetings, writing: 'Today, 8th November, is a landmark day. Respected L.K. Advani Ji enters his hundredth year. On this special occasion, my greetings to him.'
In his article, Modi recalled Advani's formative experiences during Partition, his foundational role in building the Bharatiya Jana Sangh and subsequently the BJP, his principled resistance during the Emergency, and the historic Somnath-to-Ayodhya Rath Yatra that redefined electoral politics in India. Modi also highlighted Advani's contributions in various government roles, including as Deputy Prime Minister.
Notably, Modi's tribute went beyond the political, touching on Advani's love for reading, culture and cinema, and his achievements as a writer — dimensions of the leader's personality rarely foregrounded in public discourse.
Advani's place in Indian political history
Advani, born on 8 November 1927 in Karachi (now in Pakistan), is widely regarded as the principal architect of the BJP's transformation from a marginal parliamentary force into the dominant party of Indian politics. His 1990 Rath Yatra from Somnath to Ayodhya is considered a watershed moment in post-Independence Indian politics, reshaping the country's electoral landscape for decades.
He served as Deputy Prime Minister of India under Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee from 2002 to 2004 and was awarded the Bharat Ratna — India's highest civilian honour — in 2024. This comes amid a broader national reckoning with the contributions of leaders from the founding generation of the BJP, as the party approaches its own political milestones.
What comes next
Advani, who has largely withdrawn from active public life in recent years, continues to be revered as the ideological and organisational bedrock on which the modern BJP was built. The tributes from both Shah and Modi signal the continued importance the party places on honouring its foundational figures as it consolidates its position in Indian politics.
Point of View
A fulsome Shah post — are not routine birthday wishes. They are a deliberate act of institutional memory by a party that has, in recent years, been accused of sidelining its own founding generation. Advani's complicated final years in active politics, including his exclusion from the 2019 candidate list, make the warmth of today's messaging all the more pointed. For the BJP, reclaiming Advani as a founding hero serves a dual purpose: it burnishes the party's historical legitimacy while quietly drawing a line between his era and the current leadership's consolidation of power.
NationPress
8 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is LK Advani's birthday significant in 2026?
LK Advani turned 99 and entered his 100th year of life on 8 November 2026, marking a landmark personal milestone for one of India's most consequential post-Independence political figures and the principal architect of the BJP.
What did Amit Shah say about LK Advani on his birthday?
Home Minister Amit Shah posted on X calling Advani 'a symbol of service to the nation, an architect of the BJP, and a principled statesman,' and described his life as 'a living example of public service and putting the nation first.' Shah also offered prayers for Advani's good health.
What did PM Modi write in his tribute to LK Advani?
Prime Minister Narendra Modi penned a detailed article recalling Advani's experiences during Partition, his role in founding the Bharatiya Jana Sangh and BJP, his resistance during the Emergency, the Somnath-to-Ayodhya Rath Yatra, and his service as Deputy Prime Minister. Modi also highlighted Advani's personal interests in reading, culture, cinema, and writing.
What are LK Advani's major contributions to Indian politics?
Advani is widely regarded as the architect of the BJP's rise from a fringe party to India's dominant political force. His 1990 Rath Yatra from Somnath to Ayodhya reshaped India's electoral landscape. He also served as Deputy Prime Minister under Atal Bihari Vajpayee from 2002 to 2004 and was awarded the Bharat Ratna in 2024.
Has LK Advani received India's highest civilian honour?
Yes. LK Advani was awarded the Bharat Ratna — India's highest civilian honour — in 2024, in recognition of his decades of public service and his foundational role in building the BJP.
