Amit Shah, a name unknown to none, a personality that only happens to be one, really did come a long, long way on his journey into Indian politics.
It would not be a hyperbole if Amit Shah was to be lauded as the ‘Front-face of the right-wing’ or the Bharatiya Janata Party to be more specific. A proficient orator, a profound nationalist, and a fierce politician, are these the only profiles that Amit Shah carries? Do we know much about him as an individual? Certainly not! So let’s understand the true ‘chronology’ of his life events, for the one he holds isn’t ordinary.
Amitbhai Anilchandra Shah was born on 22 October 1964 in Mumbai. He was born to a business-class wealthy Jain family that ran a business dealing in PVC pipes. Alongside being an active member of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) since the age of fourteen, Shah completed his schooling from Mehsana and went to attain his graduation in biochemistry from CU Shah Science College in Ahmedabad.
Following his graduation, Amit Shah assisted his father in running his business and additionally worked as a stockbroker for some time. He also worked with a couple of co-operative banks in Ahmedabad, but a major impetus to his co-operate career was given when he was made the President of the Ahmedabad District Co-operative Bank in the year 2000 when the bank was even struggling to exist because it had incurred a loss of about Rs. 36 Crore.
After Shah took the bank’s ribbon in his hands, the bank shed its misfortune. Within a year, under Shah’s directorship, the ADCB made a profit of Rs. 27 Crore. With regards to his sincerity towards the RSS, he made sure that the bank’s employees maintained their loyalty towards the RSS and BJP. He soon married Sonal Shah and had his first child, Jay Shah.
Alongside his co-operate career, his political development was also on a steady rise. He was a regular attendee of the RSS local Shakhas from where he met Narendra Modi was working as the in-charge of the youth activities in Ahmedabad, during their college days. Shah joined the BJP in 1986 after becoming the secretary of the RSS student wing. Following his association with the BJP, his ranks in the party improved consistently, he was made the state secretary, general secretary, and vice-president to name a few.
Narendra Modi, in the year 2001 was made the Chief Minister of Gujarat, following the dismissal of Keshubhai Patel on the grounds of poor administrative performance. With Modi coming to power, Shah subsequently acquired some more administrative powers and the powerful charismatic duo worked together to swipe their rivals off the political scene.
The Gujarat Control of Organised Crime (GCOC) Bill passed in the state assembly, under the aegis of Amit Shah. He also played an instrumental role in the passing of the Gujarat Freedom of Religion Act that made religious conversions much more difficult. Initially, the bill faced a lot of criticism, but Shah did manage to secure a majority.
A major push to Amit Shah’s national political career was given after the BJP recorded a smashing majority in the Lok Sabha elections of 2014. With Narendra Modi appropriating the PM’s seat, Amit Shah’s influence in the party increased tremendously. He was initially appointed as in charge of Uttar Pradesh and was later made the General Secretary of the party. In 2014, owing to his great seat occupation strategy in UP, he was made the party president in the year 2014 and 2016 respectively.
Nonetheless, Amit Shah has repeatedly been a front face of various controversies. From getting accused of having close affiliations with the 2002 Godra riots and tampering with the evidence of the same to getting the charges of assisting in the killing of Sohrabuddin Sheikh, his wife Kauser Bi, and his accomplice Tulsiram Prajapati, Shah has always been around in the news.
He is often criticized by the opposition and left-wing politicians for stirring the element of communalism through his speeches and deeds. He is often held guilty of instigating ill feelings among the members of a religious group. In fact, in 2013 over thirty people were killed in a riot that took place in Muzaffarnagar, UP, stemming from his provoking speech. In the Sohrabuddin Fake Encounter case, Amit Shah was arrested on 25 July 2010 and after he was released on bail, he was subsequently barred from entering Gujarat. It was only two years later that the Supreme Court permitted him to enter Gujarat freely. Since then, he has been on a rise, and what a terrific one!
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