Lal Krishna Advani also popularly known as LK Advani began his political career when he joined the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) in 1942. Advani began his political career as a secretary and went on to be one of the founders of the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP). Later, he went on to serve as the Minister of Home Affairs in the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government from 1998 to 2004. In 2002, Advani was appointed as the Deputy Prime Minister of India under the able leadership of late Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

LK Advani was born on November 8, 1972, in Karachi (Present-day Pakistan) under British India. Did you know? LK Advani and former Pakistan Army chief Pervez Musharraf both studied at St. Patricks High School, Karachi, Pakistan
In picture: LK Advani and Nitin Gadkari snapped at Matoshree, residence of late Shiv Sena supremo Bal Thackeray and his son Uddhav Thackeray.

LK Advani's paternal grandfather Dharamdas Khubchand Advani was a Sanskrit scholar and principal of a government high school. A young Advani grew up in a joint family. His younger sister lives in Mumbai. Fun fact: LK Advani has over 34 first cousins! He also stood first in every class during his schooling days at St. Patricks High School until matriculation.

LK Advani, who was born under British rule saw India being divided into two countries - India and Pakistan. The partition of India led to forced migration, which left Advani leaving his home in Karachi where he spent 20 precious, yet the most important years of his life. Post-migration, Advani moved to India with his family and settled in Bombay (now Mumbai)

In the file photo, Nitin Gadkari and Lal Krishna Advani strike a candid conversation with the late Shiv Sena supremo Bal Thackeray.

In picture: BJP leader Suresh Prabhu shares a candid conversation with Senior leader and party veteran LK Advani during the latter's 91st birthday at his residence in New Delhi in 2018. Picture/Instagram Suresh Prabhu

In 1947, five years after he joined the RSS, LK Advani was appointed the Secretary of Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh. He was first elected to the Rajya Sabha in 1970. It was under the able leadership of LK Advani that BJP had become the political face of the Ram Janmabhoomi campaign.

In pic: Late Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, LK Advani, former Defence Minister George Fernandes, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh during the NDA meeting in New Delhi

Besides being a politician, LK Advani also held a job as a teacher at Model High School, Karachi in the year 1944. Advani's residence 'Lal Cottage' which is a single-storeyed bungalow was built soon after his birth and was named after him. During those days, LK Advani's family also owned a horse-driven Victoria which was considered as a status symbol back then.

In picture: Former Deputy Prime Minister of India Lal Krishna Advani blesses ten-month-old Prachiti Sawant, daughter of Parag Sawant who was injured in the 7/11 bomb blast attacks and went into a coma. The senior BJP leader is seen consoling the victims of the 7/11 bomb blast attacks at Ganshyamdas Saraf Vidyalaya in Malad (West) as party colleague, late Gopinath Munde looks on.

The veteran leader loves reading books and watching cricket. The BJP stalwart is also a writer and author and has penned a book titled 'My Country, My Life.' It has claimed to sell over 1,000,000 copies. What's more? Advani, who is an avid reader, has read all books written by KM Munshi.

LK Advani, who served as deputy Prime Minister of India from 2002 to 2004 was arrested from Bengaluru during the emergency. He was taken to Bangalore Central Jail along with other members of Bharatiya Jana Sangh (BJS).

In picture: Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla greets senior leader LK Advani after paying tributes to freedom fighter Bal Gangadhar Tilak on his birth anniversary at Parliament House in New Delhi. Pic/PTI

Besides being a politician, writer, and author, LK Advani was also a former movie critic and a lover of films. The veteran politician has closely seen the evolution of the Hindi Cinema since its inception. Did you know? Lata Mangeshkar, the Nightingale of Bollywood, is Advani's all-time favourite singer

Besides being a politician, writer, and author, LK Advani was also a former movie critic and a lover of films. The veteran politician has closely seen the evolution of the Hindi Cinema since its inception. Did you know? Lata Mangeshkar, the Nightingale of Bollywood, is Advani's all-time favourite singer

LK Advani married Kamla Advani in February 1965. His wife passed away in 2016 due to age-old illness. The senior BJP leader has a son named Jayant and a daughter named Pratibha. In 2015, LK Advani was awarded Padma Vibhushan, India's second-highest civilian honour by former President Pranab Mukherjee.
In picture: LK Advani in a conversation with PM Narendra Modi during the swearing-in ceremony of Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis held at Wankhede stadium in November 2014. Picture/Sameer Abedi

In picture: LK Advani attends Dharmendra and Hema Malini's daughter Ahana Deol's wedding reception held in New Delhi

LK Advani was last seen attending the grand ceremony of Bharat Ratna awardees held at the Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi in August 2019. Seen alongside him are Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Home Minister Amit Shah, and other cabinet leaders. Picture/Pallav Paliwal

In picture: BJP party mentor and senior leader Lal Krishna Advani pays homage to the late BJP leader and former Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley during the condolence meeting organised in his remembrance by BJP in New Delhi in September 2019. Picture/Pallav Paliwal