Malgariya, political activism is an evolving concept. Almost every one travels form a starting ideological attraction and intellectual sparks to a more mature, thought-out and experienced position and stance, which in turn leads to association with a certain ideology. Your case is nothing peculiar. My first foray into anything like politics was --can you believe it?-- Pan-Islam. My earliest political inclinations were Islamic tinged.
About politics being a tool for ulterior motives: Malgariya, I am astounded that you would present such a weak argument. Everything about 'life' is unfair. 'Life', when seen in a grand scheme of things, has no meaning or value. Most of the forces/currents/individuals/thoughts/happenings are negative. Would that mean that we isolate ourselves from all external impulse?