A BBC series is asking influential figures around the world about the defining moments in their life.
Advani spent 19 months in jail
|
LK Advani is India's deputy prime minister and a member of the ruling BJP.
On 25 June 1975, I had gone along with Mr Vajpayee for a parliamentary committee meeting to Bangalore.
That night, an emergency was imposed on India.
Democracy was kept under suspension.
On the morning of the 26th, me and Mr Vajpayee - along with hundreds and thousands of other political activists belonging to different parties - were put into jail.
I think it's that moment that made me realise how important democracy is for a country like India.
Of course, for 19 months I was behind bars.
When I emerged from prison, and went to the polls - because Mrs Gandhi had announced elections - I was sceptical whether the people of India would be able to react to press censorship and independence of the judiciary being subverted, and our being put behind bars.
But the elections that followed were an eye-opener for me.
Even a country like India, where so many people are unlettered, can react so strongly as to ensure that not one single seat out of the 85 in Uttar Pradesh goes to the Congress.
Not one out of seven in Delhi goes to the Congress. Not one out of 54 in Bihar goes to the Congress.
It's a clean sweep for the forces against the emergency.
It made me believe in the wisdom of the people.
It was the first time that I came to realise that on such significant changes, the people do react in a very mature manner.
Defining Moments will run until 23 July on BBC World Service's World Today programme. You can also read people's recollections on BBC News Online.
~RS~q~RS~~RS~z~RS~39~RS~)
One-Minute World News
News services
E-mail this to a friend
Printable version
