Prime Minister Modi Honors Rajiv Gandhi on His Birth Anniversary

Tribute to Rajiv Gandhi

Delhi, Aug 20: On Thursday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid tribute to former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi in honor of his birth anniversary.

Modi expressed his respects via a post on social media platform 'X', stating, "On the occasion of his birth anniversary, paying homage to former Prime Minister of India, Shri Rajiv Gandhi."

Rajiv Gandhi, who became the youngest Prime Minister of India at just 41, was one of the youngest leaders globally. His mother, Indira Gandhi, took office at 49 in 1966, while his grandfather, Jawaharlal Nehru, was 58 when he began his historic 17-year term as the first Prime Minister of independent India.

He represented a significant generational change in Indian politics, leading the Congress party to one of the most substantial electoral victories in the nation's history. Following the assassination of his mother, Congress won a remarkable 401 out of 508 seats in the Lok Sabha elections.

Born on August 20, 1944, in Bombay (now Mumbai), Rajiv Gandhi was only three years old when India achieved independence, and his grandfather became the first Prime Minister. His family later relocated to New Delhi from Lucknow, where his father, Feroze Gandhi, was known as a dedicated and courageous parliamentarian.

Rajiv spent much of his early years at Teen Murti House with his grandfather. He attended Welham Preparatory School in Dehradun briefly before moving to the Doon School, where he formed lasting friendships, including with his younger brother, Sanjay Gandhi.

After finishing school, Rajiv Gandhi went to Trinity College, Cambridge, and later to Imperial College London to study mechanical engineering. Initially, he had no interest in politics, focusing instead on science, engineering, music, photography, and amateur radio.

His true passion lay in aviation. Upon returning to India, he passed the entrance exam for the Delhi Flying Club, earned a commercial pilot's license, and worked as a pilot for Indian Airlines.

While studying in Cambridge, Rajiv met Sonia Maino, an Italian student learning English. They married in a Hindu ceremony in New Delhi in 1968 and had two children, Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi, while largely keeping their family life private amidst political surroundings.

The tragic death of his younger brother, Sanjay Gandhi, in a plane crash in 1980 significantly altered Rajiv's life. Although he was initially hesitant to enter politics, he contested and won the by-election from Amethi, prompted by his brother's passing, with a substantial margin.

Rajiv Gandhi's ascent to the Prime Minister's office occurred under sorrowful circumstances following the assassination of Indira Gandhi on October 31, 1984, leading him to take on the roles of both Prime Minister and Congress President.

After the Congress party's defeat in the 1989 general elections, he became the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha. The National Front government fell in early 1991, leading to new elections.

Tragically, he lost his life in a bomb explosion on May 21, 1991, in Sriperumbudur, Tamil Nadu.