RSS shaped my life: Advani

Bhopal, Jun 30 (UNI) BJP leader L K Advani today claimed that his family along with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) had helped shape his political career.

''The RSS contributed to my ideological thinking, while my family imbibed cultural traditions,'' Mr Advani said at the launch of his autobiography's Hindi version 'Mera Desh Mera Jeevan' at a grand function here tonight.

''Experience taught me a lot,'' he said recalling his days in jails during the Emergency.

Comparing the Emergency declared by the then prime minister Indira Gandhi with that imposed by Nazi dictator Adolf Hitler, Mr Advani underlined the importance of ''Two'' in his life.

During the Emergency, Mr Advani said that he had penned a pamphlet titled 'A Tale of Two Emergencies' on the basis of the thoughts that inspired him while he was studying -- in college -- 'A Tale of Two Cities' by Charles Dickens.

'A Tale of Two Temples' signifies the similarity of the Somnath temple and the Ayodhya temple, while 'A Tale of Two Families' relates to the influence on him from two families -- RSS and his own family.

Referring to the presence of Art of Living founder Sri Sri Ravishankar and Yoga guru Baba Ramdev at the book release function, he said that it is also 'A Tale of Two Saints'.

Admitting that there were very few minor mistakes in the English version of the biography, Mr Advani said that he owned its responsibility.

Though there were no major mistakes, those should not have been there, he added.

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