Rajiv Gandhi was an Indian politician and the 7th Prime Minister of India. He is the son of Indira Gandhi and husband of Sonia Gandhi. He was also assassinated like his mother, when he was Prime Minister.
Wiki/Biography
Rajiv Gandhi was born on Sunday, 20 August 1944 (age 46 years; at death) in Bombay, Bombay Presidency. His zodiac sign is Leo. He received his primary education from Shiv Niketan School in New Delhi, Welham Boys School in Dehradun, and Doon School, Dehradun. He studied B.Tech from Trinity College, Cambridge in 1965, but did not obtain a degree. He entered Imperial College, London in 1966 to study Mechanical Engineering, but did not complete it. Rajiv Gandhi was not very studious; a fact he himself admits.
Rajiv Gandhi In College
In 1966, Rajiv returned to India. He went to Delhi and joined the Delhi Flying Club, where he trained as a pilot. He trained for 4 years and in 1970, he was hired as a pilot by Air India. He was not interested in joining politics, and therefore, he chose a career in aviation.
Rajiv Gandhi As Pilot
While he was at college in Cambridge, he met Sonia Gandhi. They had an affair for 3 years, and they married in 1968. Sonia’s real name is Edvige Antonia Albina Màino; which he changed to Sonia after marriage.
Physical appearance
Height (approx): 5′ 10″
Weight (approx): 70 kg
Eye Color: Black
Hair Color: Black
Rajiv Gandhi
Family, Wife & Caste
Rajiv Gandhi belongs to a Brahmin Family. His father, Feroze Gandhi, was an Indian politician. His mother, Indira Gandhi, was a former Prime Minister of India. His younger brother, Sanjay Gandhi, is a politician. Sanjay Gandhi is married to Maneka Gandhi, who is an Indian politician.
Rajiv Gandhi’s Parents Feroze Gandhi & Indira Gandhi
Rajiv Gandhi married Sonia Gandhi on 25 February 1968. They married following a Hindu ceremony; even though Sonia is Italian. They have two children, a son, Rahul Gandhi, and a daughter, Priyanka Gandhi. Rahul is single while Priyanka is married to Robert Vadra.
Rajiv Gandhi With His Family
Rajiv Gandhi’s son-in-law Robert Vadra
Political career
Rajiv Gandhi was not interested in joining politics but after his younger brother, Sanjay Gandhi, died unexpectedly in a plane crash, Rajiv started his political career on 16 February 1981. His mother, Indira Gandhi persuaded him to join politics. He contested his first election from the Amethi Lok Sabha constituency in Uttar Pradesh and won. On 17 August 1981, he was sworn in as a Member of Parliament.
Rajiv Gandhi In Parliament
In December 1981, he was appointed as the President of the Indian Youth Congress. When his mother, Indira Gandhi, died on October 31, 1984, he was asked to become Prime Minister. In November 1984, Rajiv assumed the post of Prime Minister, and he asked the President to dissolve Parliament and hold new elections; since the Lok Sabha has completed its five-year term. He was later elected as the National President of the Congress. The Congress won by a landslide and Rajiv was sworn in as Prime Minister on 31 December 1984; became the youngest PM at the age of 40. He was the Prime Minister until 2 December 1989 when the VP Singh Government came to power.
Rajiv Gandhi Takes Oath as Prime Minister
Controversy
- In November 1984, after his mother’s murder, Anti-Sikh Riots took place in Delhi. While speaking, he stated- “When a giant tree falls, the earth below shakes”. The statement was seen as justification for the Anti-Sikh Riots; orchestrated by Congress leaders. He was widely criticized for this statement.
Rajiv Gandhi Addresses Rally
- After he was sworn in, he appointed a fourteen-member cabinet. He stated that he will monitor everyone and remove anyone who is not performing well. During his tenure as PM, Rajiv reshuffled his cabinet several times; this led to criticism and confusion that whether Rajiv was capable of handling the post of PM or not. Media houses call this the Wheel of Confusion. Many political leaders stated-
The Cabinet reshuffle reflects the instability of the Congress Government at the Centre”
- In 1985, the Supreme Court of India ruled in Shah Bano’s favor and stated that her husband had to pay maintenance. Several Indian Muslim men protested, under the Muslim Personal Law, against the Supreme Court’s decision. Rajiv Gandhi accepted their demands and passed the “Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Divorce) Act 1986”; which reversed the decision of the Supreme Court. The new act states that alimony is only payable for 90 days after the divorce; according to Islamic Law. This angered many people in India. Newspapers & magazines called this act as- Appeasement of Minorities by Gandhi. Former Law Minister Ram Jethmalani stated the whole situation as-
Retrogressive Obscurantism for short-term minority populism”
- In April 1987, VP Singh revealed details about corruption in the Rajiv Gandhi Government. He revealed that millions of dollars were paid by the Swedish arms company Bofors. This payment was received by Italian businessman and Gandhi family ally, Ottavio Quattrocchi, in exchange for Indian military and arms contracts. An inquiry has been made into the Bofors Scam. Rajiv Gandhi lost the 1989 General Election; because his image as an honest politician has been tarnished.
- In November 1991, a Swiss magazine, Schweizer Illustrierte, claimed that Rajiv held 2.5 billion Swiss Francs in various secret accounts in Switzerland. The opposition raised this issue and demanded an investigation into the matter. Many people find it shameful and disgraceful that a former PM is accused of such an issue by a Swiss magazine.
Rajiv Gandhi Named In Swiss Magazine Schweizer Illustrierte
- The Bhopal Gas Tragedy of 1984 left thousands dead and caused millions of illnesses. The owner of Union Carbide Corporation (UCC), Warren Anderson, came to India 4 days after the tragedy and was immediately placed under house arrest by the government. Although, Anderson was released within 24 hours of his arrest. Reportedly, Anderson contacted many US officials and the American Embassy to put pressure on the Rajiv Gandhi Government to release him. Anderson fled the country and never returned to India to face trial; because the incident is categorized as Corporate Negligence. Many police officers claimed that the order to arrest Anderson came in writing, but, a verbal order was issued to release him by someone in a higher rank.
Murder
On 21 May 1991, Rajiv addressed his last public meeting in Sriperumbudur, Tamil Nadu. He was there to campaign for the Sriperumbudur Lok Sabha candidate. While Rajiv was meeting and greeting people, a woman named Thenmozhi Rajaratnam, approached Rajiv and greeted him. While bending down to touch Rajiv’s feet, he detonated a belt bomb loaded with 700 gm of RDX under his clothes. The blast killed Rajiv Gandhi and 25 others.
Rajiv Gandhi Minutes Before His Assassination
Rajiv Gandhi’s mutilated body was transported and taken to New Delhi. His body was taken to the All Indian Institute of Medical Sciences for post-mortem, reconstruction and embalming. A state funeral was held for Rajiv Gandhi on 24 May 1991. It was broadcast live and attended by dignitaries from over 60 countries. Rajiv Gandhi was cremated at Veer Bhumi; on the banks of the Yamuna River and near the tombs (Samadhis) of her mother, Indira Gandhi, her brother Sanjay Gandhi, and her grandfather, Jawaharlal Nehru.
Rajiv Gandhi’s body cremated by his son Rahul Gandhi
Facts
- The meaning of his name is Kamal (Lotus flower). He was named after his grandmother Kamala (Jawaharlal Nehru’s wife).
Rajiv Gandhi With His Grandfather Jawaharlal Nehru
- Rajiv Gandhi was a very shy child and had an interest in drawing and painting.
- In 1987, he visited Sri Lanka to sign the Indo-Sri Lanka agreement. As he headed towards the meeting, an honor guard tried to hit him on the head with his rifle; to kill him. Rajiv noticed the guard swinging his rifle and quickly looked down; which caused the rifle to hit his shoulder.
Attempted Assassination of Rajiv Gandhi
- Rajiv Gandhi pushed for the formation of BSNL and MTNL; to help people communicate easily. He started the concept of Public Call Offices (PCO’s); which provides easy access to communication in rural areas where everyone cannot afford BSNL services.
- He introduced the computerized railway ticketing system, which started the modernization of Indian Railways.
- Rajiv Gandhi helped change the face of communication in India. He wanted people to use computers, and he reduced tariffs and import duties on computers. He encouraged companies to manufacture computers in India. His efforts to bring modern technology to the communication sector led him to be called the “Father of Information Technology and Telecom Revolution in India”
Rajiv Gandhi Addresses Conference On Telecom
- Rajiv Gandhi reduced the voting age from 21 years to 18 years. He believes that the youth of the country should also have a say in electing their legislators. In 1989, the 61st Amendment to the Constitution was passed, allowing those 18 and older to vote.
- Rajiv Gandhi is credited with the creation of Panchayati Raj. He believed that Panchayati Raj was the only way to bring democracy to the grass root level. Panchayati Raj was created by the 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendments in 1992; a year after Rajiv’s assassination.
Rajiv Gandhi Explains The Virtues Of Panchayati Raj In A Village
- In May 1988, he launched Operation Black Thunder. The objective of the operation was to purge the extremists inside the Golden Temple. Two teams are sent to eliminate the terrorists. The operation lasted for 10 days, after which the operation was declared a success. Terrorists have been eliminated and weapons and ammunition have been recovered.
- In 1991, he was posthumously honored with the Bharat Ratna.
Sonia Gandhi Receives Rajiv Gandhi’s Bharat Ratna
- Since the death of Rajiv Gandhi, May 21 has been declared as Anti-Terrorism Day in India.
- The Central Government built the Rajiv Gandhi Memorial in Sriperumbudur, Tamil Nadu where he was assassinated. It was opened in 2003 by Rajiv Gandhi’s wife Sonia Gandhi and former Indian President APJ Abdul Kalam. The blast site at the memorial is surrounded by seven pillars.
Rajiv Gandhi Memorial
- His blood type is O-negative.
Categories: Biography
Source: SCHOOL TRANG DAI
