I distinctly remember attending first political rally when I was just 9 years old.. Rajiv Gandhi had come near my residence in Ghatkopar East in 1990.. We kids played in building compound and used to mindlessly chant the then most popular slogan “gali gali me shor hai, Rajiv Gandhi chor hai”.. Never knew what it meant politically, but kids used to chant and laugh a lot.. So when I came to know the same shor-chor Rajiv Gandhi was to come, I forced my dad to take me to the evening event.. Seeing every thing on stage in white, all political leaders in white, I thought I had come to a prayer meeting on someones’ death..
Then came the Ayodhya Movement.. The Ram Janmabhumi got librated after almost 400 years.. I got engrossed with DD News back then.. It was the only news channel.. And used to see photographs in Gujarati News Paper we used to get.. I got introduced to BJP as a political party through that event..
In my 5th standard class at DJ Doshi Gurukul School, my class teacher Mrs. Purohit gave us an exercise.. To write and read out in class 5 headlines from any english news paper.. In few days I realised most bought Times of India and read headlines from first page.. I started going through the inside pages.. Trying to be different.. I used to note down more than 20 headlines to avoid being not repeated in class.. I tried different news papers.. The bug of curiosity had already bitten me hard..
My curiosity knew no bounds when I heard that a BJP rally is going to happen in lane next to my home.. My family was scared to let me go.. Too many people.. Strangers.. But I escaped and attended..
It was Lal Krishna Advani.. Oh that moment.. I have no doubt till date and will never have one.. He was the Iron Man of India.. The Sardar after Sardar Patel.. Such clarity of thought.. Such straight forward approach.. Speech touching directly your heart and mind.. You just can’t forget his presence ever.. Those were my early teen days..
Then came Atal Bihari Vajpayee.. My teenage progressed I was liberated of my uniform.. College days those were.. And Atalji shaped my patriotism.. Nuclear tests, Kargil and his piercing influencing speeches at public rallies and in parliament..
My 80s Mumbai city generation never discussed politics in college campus.. And there I was.. Least interested in Cricket and Films.. No girlfriends.. No flirting.. Full of political details and trivia..
There was no looking back.. Lal Krishna Advani, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Murli Manohar Joshi, Khushabhau Thakre, Madan Lal Khurana, Pramod Mahajan, Venkhiya Naidu, Rajnath Singh, Rajju Bhaiyya, K S Sudarshan, Mohan Bhagwat, Uma Bharti, Sushma Swaraj, Bhairav Singh Sekhawat, Jashwant Singh, Arun Shouri, George Fernandes, Ram Naik, Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam, K Kasturirangan R Chidambaram… and so many more.. All strong nationalist highly patriotic India-supremacist leaders.. I had privilege to hear them live..
It is said you are sum total of your experiences.. I thank BJP today to have played a very important role in shaping my life and helping me in part to discover myself..
Best of all – Narendra Modi happened in my life.. BJP and Narendra Modi gave me friends in last 2 years.. Highly patriotic people who can go to any extent for nation.. India is always FIRST.. I feel obliged to thank and express my gratitude..
I have no idea why I am sharing this.. It was a very emotional day today for me.. Seeing Lal Krishna Advani and Narendra Modi today at Central Hall of Parliament.. Have never cried in my life.. But today I was emotional..
[The blog originally appeared on May 20, 2014 at my old blog site here: http://ajayrdave.blogspot.com/2014/05/my-journey.html]