Prashanth G S

As Advaniji enters his 100th year, I recall my long and intense association with him when I learnt the basics of political ethics and honesty from him of which he was a living symbol. American poet Holland asked God give us "Men whom the spoils of office can not buy; Men who possess opinions and a will; Men who have honor; men who will not lie; Men who can stand before a demagogue And damn his treacherous flatteries without winking! Tall men, sun-crowned, who live above the fog In public duty, and in private thinking" Advani ji was one such man I saw in living form in my life who in the most difficult times led the BJP with purpose and dignity and gave the nation a narrative to expose pseudo secularism (at the cost being abused as a Hindu extremist) that reinstated the pre Independence values of Vamde mataram Bharatmata Ki Jai and Ramarajya and Hindu nationalism discarded by the Congress. When he was at the peak of his political life and fame he declared in Shivaji Park Mumbai in a pubic rally Vajpayee as the Prime ministerial candidate which shocked the BJP and the Parivar and as much as all parties. When Balbir Punj and me asked him why he made that declaration he said I may have acceptablility within the party but Atalji has more acceptablility outside the party which is necessary for governance. That is enabled the BJP to run the first model and most successful coalition and also transformative government In the 1999 elections when Sikandar Bakht who was the chairman of the drafting committee of the manifesto suggested that Atal Ji's picture should be in the front page and Advaniji's should be in the back page of the manifesto Advaniji said that should be only one leader projected as though we are we are a parliamentary democracy, our elections are leaders centric and is almost Presidential elections. He was such a tall man. It is my fortune that I came to associate with him in the most formative stage of my public life ofcourse outside politics

Some illiterates talk wrong about Ambedkar and keep quoting him saying born as Hindu he will not die as one to attack Hindutva. Supreme Court rules Hindutva is the ethos culture and way of life of Bharat. This aligns with Ambedkar's view. Ambedkar was a cultural nationalist and not a Hindu faithful. He regarded Islam and Christianity as denationalising. He chose Buddhism because it was indigenous to Bharatiya Culture See the AI reference... Dr. B.R. Ambedkar explicitly used the term "denationalise" while evaluating the political, social, and cultural impacts of Dalit conversion to Abrahamic religions. [1, 2] Before his ultimate decision to embrace Buddhism on October 14, 1956, Ambedkar spent decades analyzing how mass religious conversions would tilt the geopolitical and social scales of pre-independence India. [2, 3] 1. The Core "Denationalisation" Quote During the intense debates surrounding Dalit emancipation and conversion in the 1930s and 1940s, Ambedkar warned against converting to non-Indic faiths like Islam or Christianity: Ambedkar famously cautioned that conversion to Islam or Christianity would denationalise the Depressed Classes, arguing that Islam would increase the risk of Muslim domination while Christianity would bolster British influence and numerical strength. In contrast, he viewed Sikhism as a choice that would not harm the country's destiny or lead to denationalisation. 2. Contextual Quotes on Islam and National Allegiance In his 1940 treatise, [Pakistan or the Partition of India](mea.gov.in/images/CPV/Volume…), Ambedkar argued that a Muslim's primary allegiance rests on faith rather than domicile, making Islamic social self-government incompatible with local self-government. He also criticized the brotherhood of Islam as being restricted exclusively to Muslims, which breeds contempt and enmity for outsiders. [5, 6, 7] 3. Contextual Quotes on Christianity and Foreign Dependency Ambedkar expressed concern that Indian Christians were a weak, disjointed body reliant on foreign missionaries and funds rather than possessing independent economic or administrative power. He further noted that Christianity failed to eradicate the caste system, as high-caste and untouchable converts retained their former social stratifications. [8] Why He Ultimately Chose Buddhism To ensure his conversion integrated with Indian heritage and culture without harming the nation's traditions, Ambedkar ultimately chose Buddhism, viewing it as an indigenous part of Bharatiya culture. [2, 4] [1] [journals.sagepub.com](journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.…) [2] [facebook.com](facebook.com/IOpposeConversi…) [3] [sabrangindia.in](sabrangindia.in/ambedkar-and…) [4] [facebook.com](facebook.com/dhammabharat/po…) [5] [mea.gov.in](mea.gov.in/images/CPV/Volume…) [6] [facebook.com](facebook.com/dilip.nirala.5/…) [7] [saltpepper.medium.com](saltpepper.medium.com/ambedk…) [8] [instagram.com](instagram.com/reel/DPxz63jFV…)