The biography of Rajiv Gandhi
Rajiv Gandhi was an Indian politician and the sixth Prime Minister of India. He was born on August 20, 1944, in Mumbai, India, to Indira Gandhi and Feroze Gandhi. His grandfather, Jawaharlal Nehru, the first Prime Minister of the Independent India.
Rajiv Gandhi attended the Doon School in Dehradun, and later went to the United Kingdom to study engineering at Trinity College, Cambridge. However, he did not complete his degree and instead returned to India to become a professional pilot. He worked as a pilot for Indian Airlines for a brief period before entering politics.
In 1981, Rajiv Gandhi's younger brother, Sanjay Gandhi, died in a plane crash, which led to his entry into politics. In 1984, his mother, Indira Gandhi, was assassinated by her bodyguards, and he was thrust into the position of Prime Minister. At the time of his appointment, he was 40 years old, making him the youngest person to hold the office of Prime Minister of India.
As Prime Minister, Rajiv Gandhi introduced several measures aimed at modernizing India's economy, such as introducing computers and reducing bureaucratic red tape. He also launched a campaign to promote family planning, which was criticized for its coercive tactics. In 1986, he signed the Mizoram Accord, which ended a long-running insurgency in the state of Mizoram.
Rajiv Gandhi's government was also embroiled in several controversies, including the Bofors scandal, which involved allegations of corruption in the purchase of artillery guns from Sweden. In 1987, he sent Indian peacekeeping forces to Sri Lanka to intervene in the civil war, but the intervention was widely criticized for its human rights abuses.
In 1989, Rajiv Gandhi's government was defeated in the general elections, and he resigned as Prime Minister. In 1991, he was assassinated by a suicide bomber during a political rally in Sriperumbudur, Tamil Nadu.
Rajiv Gandhi's legacy is a mixed one, with some regarding him as a modernizer and a visionary, while others criticize him for his controversial policies and actions. Despite his short tenure as Prime Minister, he remains a significant figure in Indian politics.
RAJIV GANDHI CHILDHOOD
Rajiv Gandhi, the sixth Prime Minister of India, was born on August 20, 1944, in Mumbai, India. He was the elder son of Indira Gandhi, who later served as the Prime Minister of India, and Feroze Gandhi, who was a prominent politician and journalist.
Rajiv Gandhi spent most of his childhood in Allahabad, where his family lived. He received his early education from the Welham Boys' School in Dehradun, and later attended the Doon School in the same city. He then went on to study at the University of Cambridge in the UK, where he earned a degree in mechanical engineering.
During his childhood, Rajiv Gandhi was known to be a shy and introverted child. He was interested in flying, and learned to fly planes at a young age. He also had a keen interest in photography and took several photographs that were published in newspapers and magazines.
Rajiv Gandhi was brought up in a political family, and was exposed to politics from a young age. His father, Feroze Gandhi, was a prominent politician and member of the Indian National Congress party. Rajiv Gandhi's mother, Indira Gandhi, also played a key role in Indian politics, and later served as the Prime Minister of India.
Rajiv Gandhi's childhood was shaped by his family's political legacy and his exposure to the political environment from a young age. This influenced his later life and career, as he went on to become a prominent politician and served as the Prime Minister of India from 1984 to 1989.
RAJIV GANDHI STUDY
Rajiv Gandhi, received his early education from the Welham Boys' School in Dehradun, and later attended the Doon School in the same city. After completing his schooling, he went on to study at the University of Cambridge in the UK, where he earned a degree in mechanical engineering.
At Cambridge, Rajiv Gandhi was known to be an excellent student and was actively involved in various extracurricular activities. He was a member of the Cambridge University Flying Club and learned to fly planes during his time at the university. He was also a member of the prestigious Trinity College, where he was known for his academic excellence and leadership skills.
After completing his studies at Cambridge, Rajiv Gandhi returned to India and worked for a brief period as a professional pilot. However, his life took a different turn after the untimely death of his younger brother Sanjay Gandhi in a plane crash in 1980. He was called upon to enter politics and support his mother, Indira Gandhi, in her political career.
Rajiv Gandhi's education played an important role in shaping his life and career. His academic excellence and leadership skills were evident from a young age and were further honed during his time at Cambridge. His exposure to the political environment from a young age, combined with his education, influenced his later life as a politician and Prime Minister of India.
RAJIV GANDHI AS A PILOT
Before entering politics, Rajiv Gandhi worked briefly as a professional pilot. He received his pilot's license in 1970, and went on to work for Indian Airlines as a pilot. He was known to be an excellent pilot, and was highly respected by his colleagues and peers in the aviation industry.
Rajiv Gandhi's interest in flying began during his childhood, and he learned to fly planes at a young age. He continued to pursue his passion for flying even after he completed his studies at the University of Cambridge, and worked as a pilot for several years.
Despite his success as a pilot, Rajiv Gandhi's life took a different turn after the untimely death of his younger brother Sanjay Gandhi in a plane crash in 1980. He was called upon to enter politics and support his mother, Indira Gandhi, in her political career. Rajiv Gandhi eventually became the Prime Minister of India, serving from 1984 to 1989.
Although Rajiv Gandhi's career as a pilot was short-lived, his passion for flying stayed with him throughout his life. He continued to take an active interest in aviation and was instrumental in modernizing India's aviation industry during his time as the Prime Minister of India.
Love with Sonia
Rajiv Gandhi's relationship with Sonia Gandhi, his wife, was one of love and respect. The two met in Cambridge in the 1960s and fell in love. They got married in 1968 and had two children, Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi.
Sonia Gandhi was initially hesitant about Rajiv Gandhi entering politics but later supported him. She was by his side throughout his political career and was a strong source of support during his tenure as Prime Minister.
After Rajiv Gandhi's assassination in 1991, Sonia Gandhi was approached by the Congress party to enter politics, but she initially declined. However, she later became the president of the Congress party and played a significant role in shaping Indian politics.
Political life
Rajiv Gandhi's political life began after the death of his younger brother Sanjay Gandhi in 1981. The Congress party, led by his mother Indira Gandhi, urged him to enter politics and he contested and won the Lok Sabha by-election from Amethi in Uttar Pradesh.
Rajiv Gandhi quickly rose through the ranks of the Congress party and became the General Secretary of the party in 1983. He played a key role in the 1984 elections, which the Congress party won by a landslide, and was appointed as the Prime Minister of India following the assassination of his mother, Indira Gandhi, later that year.
As Prime Minister, Rajiv Gandhi introduced several reforms aimed at modernizing India's economy and reducing bureaucratic red tape. He also launched a campaign to promote family planning and initiated several schemes to improve the lives of rural Indians. However, his government was also embroiled in several controversies, including the Bofors scandal and the intervention of Indian peacekeeping forces in Sri Lanka.
In the 1989 elections, Rajiv Gandhi's Congress party was defeated by a coalition of opposition parties. He resigned as Prime Minister and became the leader of the opposition in the Lok Sabha. However, his political career was cut short by his assassination in 1991.
Rajiv Gandhi's political life was marked by his efforts to modernize India and promote economic growth, but it was also marred by controversies and challenges. Despite his relatively short tenure as Prime Minister, he remains a significant figure in Indian politics and his legacy continues to influence the country's political discourse.
Rajiv Gandhi assassinated
Rajiv Gandhi was assassinated on May 21, 1991, by a suicide bomber during a political rally in Sriperumbudur, Tamil Nadu. The assassination was carried out by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), a separatist militant organization from Sri Lanka.
The assassination of Rajiv Gandhi was a shocking event that shook the nation. The investigation into the assassination revealed that the plot had been hatched by the LTTE, which had a history of violence against Sri Lankan and Indian leaders who were seen as obstructing their goal of establishing an independent Tamil state in Sri Lanka.
Several people, including members of the LTTE and some Indian politicians, were implicated in the assassination plot. Many were arrested and tried, and some were sentenced to death, while others were given life imprisonment.
The assassination of Rajiv Gandhi had a significant impact on Indian politics and the country as a whole. It was a tragic event that led to a period of political uncertainty and turmoil. It also highlighted the threat of terrorism and the need for greater security measures to be taken to protect political leaders and the public.
CONTRIBUTIONS OF RAJIV GANDHI TO THE NATION
Rajiv Gandhi was the sixth Prime Minister of India, serving from 1984 to 1989. He made significant contributions to the nation during his tenure as the Prime Minister. Here are some of his notable contributions:
1. Technology and Communication: Rajiv Gandhi was a strong advocate of technology and communication. He initiated several programs to promote computer education and modernize the communication infrastructure in India. The launch of the computerization program in the 1980s, which was aimed at bringing computers to the masses, is one of his notable contributions.
2. Foreign Policy: Rajiv Gandhi played a key role in shaping India's foreign policy during his tenure. He emphasized on improving relations with neighboring countries and worked towards strengthening ties with the United States, China, and other countries.
3. Rural Development: Rajiv Gandhi launched several programs to promote rural development and improve the standard of living of rural communities. The Integrated Rural Development Program (IRDP), which was aimed at providing basic amenities such as housing, water supply, and sanitation to rural communities, was one of his major initiatives.
4. Science and Technology: Rajiv Gandhi promoted science and technology in India and established several institutions for research and development. He initiated the establishment of the Center for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC) and the National Center for Software Technology (NCST), which played a key role in the growth of the IT sector in India.
5. Education: Rajiv Gandhi focused on improving the education system in India and initiated several programs to promote education. He launched the Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya scheme, which aimed at providing quality education to children in rural areas.
6. National Integration: Rajiv Gandhi emphasized on promoting national integration and communal harmony. He launched the National Integration Council (NIC) to promote communal harmony and resolve conflicts among different communities.
Rajiv Gandhi's contributions to the nation have been widely recognized and appreciated. His vision for India's development and modernization has left a lasting impact on the country.
