“It is hard to look at India and the BJP the same after reading this book. More than an autobiography of an individual, for me it was an experience. I find myself more informed, more concerned with India’s current political atmosphere, and more eager to play a role in it. Many of my own misconceptions have been addressed, many of my opinions, changed.”

It can sometimes be easier for a teenager to pay attention to politics inside the classroom than those outside, and while I did my schooling, I often did. When I discovered later, that my passion for writing would most likely turn into a career, the thought of journalism popped into my head, and reading the newspaper became part of my routine. Sometimes the issues boggled my mind, at other times they appealed to me, and I took part in the occasional debate or discussion. Still, I was more or less your averagely informed teenager, and when others would tell me Indian politics were too complicated, I would often nod along in agreement, not sure if they knew what they were talking about, but too unsure of my own opinions to disagree. Most people I knew seemed to think that politicians were akin to crooks, and stories like that of the recent horse-trading scandal in Parliament only reinforced their opinion.

This summer my first duty as part of my mission to reconcile myself with 19 years of missed history was to read Mr. L.K. Advani’s autobiography My Country My Life.  I had certain expectations of the book, and my own share of pre-conceived notions, most of which have been blown out of the water.

The book has a lot to offer someone like me, someone who wants to catch up on history after Independence, and brush up on current issues. The book not only informs but does so from the perspective of a man who has viewed the events of history up close, and has seen his life change, evolve and be directly affected by a rocky post-partition India.

I have always been extremely proud of my country and where I am from. I have always felt that what is fascinating about India is that our people differ so much from one another in terms of appearance, religion and beliefs but yet we all consider ourselves Indian. I myself am a practising Roman Catholic yet that has never interfered with my identity of being Indian. It is only natural for the people of India to desire a truly secular state. What My Country My Life however made me wonder is- what is the true meaning of being secular? One particular passage ‘Perverse Influence of Pseudo-Secularism’ in the ‘Reminiscences and Reflections’ chapter really opened my mind.

After reading through this passage I wondered: does being secular mean denying India’s Hindu heritage in order to pacify the Muslims/Christians/Zoroastrians and other religions of India? I also wonder, if the Islamic or Christian community of India had made a request to rebuild an ancient mosque or church somewhere in India, would the furore raised even be comparable to the criticism Mr. Advani received for his Ayodhya yatra? Surely secularism has place for every person and community to express their religion in whatever manner they please, within the limits of law.

In this respect the idea of a Uniform Civil code greatly appeals to me personally. I feel a country such as ours can only be free of communal differences if the law treats every individual in exactly the same manner. As long as differences exist in law, they will be highlighted in every other aspect of life. I admire Mr.Advani and the BJP for continuing to fight for a Uniform Civil code and the equal treatment of all Indian citizens.

Another issue that greatly appeals to me as a woman is Mr. Advani’s stand on the uplifting of women in Indian society. The demand of the BJP for a 33% reservation for women in parliament and state legislatures is an admirable step to ensure that more women get into governance, which has typically not been seen as a women’s avenue thus far in India. The BJP have already, as Mr. Advani says ‘enshrined this principle in our party’s organisational structure at all levels.’ Women face many more obstacles than men in securing the career or following the path of their choice, and any step that makes this easier for them is one that I feel compelled to support.

One cannot help but respect and be fascinated by an individual who decided to dedicate himself to the country at the young age of fourteen.  One thing no one can accuse Mr. Advani of being is unpatriotic. His description of the Swarna Jayanthi Rath Yathra, a journey undertaken in celebration of the golden jubilee of India’s Independence evoked a great sense of pride in me, as it would in any Indian reader. An entire chapter is dedicated to description of this Yathra, and it highlights the roles of prominent freedom fighters from all over India. Mr. Advani’s ability to galvanise the Indian public in general is a massive feat in a country with as large and diverse a population as India’s.

What makes this autobiography highly readable is that although Mr. Advani points out the faults and the downfalls of the Congress, both ideologically and through their response in political situations, he also describes the reasons for the BJP’s defeats. For example, he discusses the party’s defeat in the 2004 Lok Sabha elections, attributing it to the lack of spirit with campaign workers and supporters within the BJP as well as the embarrassment caused by the India shining campaign. It could not have been easy for Mr. Advani to so openly discuss these matters in the book.  This slight glimpse of vulnerability and admission of faults is what makes a leader human, and what made me as a person, identify with Mr. Advani. In India political leaders are not usually seen as accessible, relatable characters, but rather as intimidating individuals. Mr. Advani’s descriptions of his family life, and his relationships with his wife and children, warm the heart.  His memoir not only covers political events but is dotted with interesting anecdotes, from Mr. Advani’s fear of getting tapeworm during his days as an RSS Pracharak to moments of humour shared with other politicians.
 
My grandfather R.V Pandit, a self-made man, has always had a keen interest and involvement in the politics and policies of our nation, and has cultivated close relationships with many of the BJP leaders, especially with Mr. Advani. He is regarded as a crusader against corruption in Indian politics and I have always admired him for his convictions. He is responsible for part of my interest in the world of journalism. Hence, while reading Mr. Advani’s autobiography I identified strongly with his sentiments on free speech.  He was instrumental in getting the draconian laws of the Emergency period repealed, and giving India its freedom of speech back. This is something that journalists today have come to take for granted, and it is easy to forget that there was a dark time in which we could not.

It is hard to look at India and the BJP the same after reading this book. More than an autobiography of an individual, for me it was an experience. I find myself more informed, more concerned with India’s current political atmosphere, and more eager to play a role in it. Many of my own misconceptions have been addressed, many of my opinions, changed. Most prominently I find that I am not the unconcerned person I thought I was, but that I too have a strong political principles and morality, I too want certain things for my country. What comes next for India is a question that remains unanswered but hope lies in the fact that a human being and a leader like Mr. L.K Advani could have a principal role in providing that answer.