LK Advani Conferred Bharat Ratna
The Politicians is Known for His Role in India’s Most Contentious Episode
Newsreel Asia Insight #178
April 1, 2024
CC, Al Jazeera English
L.K. Advani, a veteran leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), has been honoured with the Bharat Ratna, India’s highest civilian award, by President Droupadi Murmu. Advani is known for playing a significant role in one of the most contentious episodes of modern Indian history—the demolition of the Babri Masjid in 1992, which not only reshaped Indian politics but also left an indelible mark on the Indian society.
“Shri Advani, a doyen of Indian politics, has served the nation with unwavering dedication and distinction for over seven decades… With his vision of cultural nationalism, he toiled hard for decades, across the length and breadth of the country, and brought about a transformation in the socio-political landscape,” reads a post on X from the official account of President of India.
Advani, born in 1927, has been a pivotal figure in Indian politics, especially known for his role in promoting Hindu nationalism through the Ayodhya movement. His Rath Yatra in 1990, aimed at mobilising support for building a Ram temple at the Babri Masjid site, significantly heightened communal tensions and set the stage for the mosque’s eventual demolition.
On Dec. 6, 1992, the Babri Masjid in Ayodhya was demolished by a large group of kar sevaks, an event that Advani and the BJP allegedly supported, leading to widespread communal violence across India. Advani was acquitted of his role in the demolition, with the judge saying at the time that “the evidence presented by law enforcement authorities was insufficient for convictions.” However, the Ministry of Home Affairs said the immediate aftermath saw over 2,000 people killed, with the violence spreading to cities like Mumbai, Delhi and Hyderabad, marking one of the darkest chapters in India’s post-independence history.
The political landscape of India was dramatically altered by the demolition. The BJP, which was a marginal player in the national politics of the 1980s, rose to prominence and eventually came to power in 1996. The party’s growth was significantly fuelled by the Ram Janmabhoomi movement, with Advani often credited as the architect of its Hindutva strategy.
The communal violence following the Babri Masjid demolition had a lasting impact on Hindu-Muslim relations in India. According to a report by the Council on Foreign Relations, the incident deepened the religious divide and led to a rise in sectarian politics, influencing electoral trends and party politics in the subsequent decades.
The legal and social battles over the Ayodhya site continued for years, culminating in the Supreme Court’s 2019 verdict that allowed the construction of a Ram temple on the disputed land.
According to the Bureau of Police Research and Development, which is aimed at modernising police forces in India, the communal clashes in the early 1990s, following the demolition, were among the deadliest in India’s history, affecting tens of thousands of people over the years.
The Bharat Ratna was instituted in 1954 to recognise individuals for their exceptional service towards the advancement of art, literature, science and public service. Esteemed for its prestige, the award acknowledges the recipient’s unparalleled contribution to the nation, irrespective of race, occupation, position or sex.
Over the years, it has been conferred upon a diverse group of individuals, including scientists, politicians, artists and social reformers, highlighting their indelible impact on India’s progress and identity on the global stage.
Critics argue that the selection process has sometimes been influenced by political considerations rather than solely based on the individual's contribution to society. These criticisms are often rooted in the timing of the awards, the selection of recipients, and the perceived affiliations of the awardees with the ruling political parties at the time of their nomination.