The year 1977, known among many as the year of India’s second Independence because it brought an end to the Emergency, was also the year that gave to us the phenomenon called Lalu Prasad, a man raved about and reviled in equal measure, but a man you could never ignore.

That man, the one and only Lalu, turned 77 on Tuesday, and even though he is beset with multiple health issues, celebrated it with characteristic chutzpah — a 77-pound cake and a 77kg laddoo.

Folks would recall that 1977 was also the year the new Janata Party government threw out Coca Cola and the nation acquired its indigenous fizz. It was called Double Seven.

Lalu, elected to Parliament from the Janata Party in 1977, lacked no fizz in his political career in the decades that followed, either as the Bihar chief minister or the Union railway minister.

Lalu Prasad with his son Tejashwi Yadav and grandchild during his birthday celebrations in Patna PTI picture

The celebrations started at midnight at the 10, Circular Road residence with his wife and former Bihar chief minister Rabri Devi, their children and grandchildren.

Among Lalu’s immediate family were the leader of the Opposition in Bihar Assembly, Tejashwi Prasad Yadav, along with wife Rachel aka Rajshree Yadav, Patliputra Lok Sabha MP-elect Misa Bharti, Tej Pratap Yadav, Rohini Acharya and several grandchildren. Those residing outside Bihar joined via video calls.

Lalu and Rabri have seven daughters and two sons.

The pictures of the midnight birthday went viral on various social media platforms soon after members of the RJD supremo’s family posted them.

Sharing some of the pictures, Tej Pratap wrote on X: “To the person who is a perfect blend of affinity, humility and simplicity. The man who leads by example. A leader who nurtures leaders. Happiest birthday my papa, Love you infinity.”

Several political leaders, including Nitish Kumar, who left the Mahagathbandhan alliance in Bihar to join the NDA in a U-turn that shocked many, telephoned Lalu to wish him.

The JDU chief apart, those who called Lalu included Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge, chief ministers Mamata Banerjee (Bengal), Champai Soren (Jharkhand, M.K. Stalin (Tamil Nadu), N. Chandrababu Naidu (Andhra Pradesh) and Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav, among others.