Book Biography of Rajiv Gandhi
Rajiv Gandhi, the eldest son of Feroze and Indira Gandhi, was born on August 20, 1944 and the youngest person to become the Prime Minister of India at the age of 40. He was India’s 9th Prime Minister and 3rd among the Gandhi family. He held his position after her mother’s death on October 31, 1984 until he resigned on December 2, 1989 after an election defeat. Though having no relationship to Mahatma Gandhi, his leadership brought substantial influence in India’s external political relationship. And even though his character was questioned in a controversial scandal which was actually served as his political downfall, he remained one of the respected Prime Minister of India.
Rajiv Gandhi belonged to one of the famous political family in India. His grandfather, Jawaharlal Nehru, was an Indian leader of independence and subsequently became the first Indian Prime Minister. Rajiv, together with his younger brother Sanjay, was raised in Delhi and Allahabad. He was educated at an exclusive school for boys at the Doon School and at the Welham Boy’s School then later sought education at a university in United Kingdom, University of London, University of Cambridge, and at the Imperial College London, but none of which had he received any degree. He met his wife, Sonia Maino at Cambridge, and though greatly opposed by Maino’s family they got married at India in 1969. He began his career as a professional pilot for an Indian Airline even though her mother was India’s Prime Minister in 1966. He has no interest in politics and never lived with her mother at the Prime Minister’s residence in Delhi. His first child, Rahul, was born in 1970 followed by her daughter, Priyanka in 1972. Although he never exhibit great interest in politics at that time, his brother remained a close advisor and companion to their mother. After his brother’s death in 1980, Rajiv was pressured to enter politics by Congress politician and his mother. He and his wife relentlessly opposed the idea
Rajiv Gandhi belonged to one of the famous political family in India. His grandfather, Jawaharlal Nehru, was an Indian leader of independence and subsequently became the first Indian Prime Minister. Rajiv, together with his younger brother Sanjay, was raised in Delhi and Allahabad. He was educated at an exclusive school for boys at the Doon School and at the Welham Boy’s School then later sought education at a university in United Kingdom, University of London, University of Cambridge, and at the Imperial College London, but none of which had he received any degree. He met his wife, Sonia Maino at Cambridge, and though greatly opposed by Maino’s family they got married at India in 1969. He began his career as a professional pilot for an Indian Airline even though her mother was India’s Prime Minister in 1966. He has no interest in politics and never lived with her mother at the Prime Minister’s residence in Delhi. His first child, Rahul, was born in 1970 followed by her daughter, Priyanka in 1972. Although he never exhibit great interest in politics at that time, his brother remained a close advisor and companion to their mother. After his brother’s death in 1980, Rajiv was pressured to enter politics by Congress politician and his mother. He and his wife relentlessly opposed the idea
References: BBC News. Tamil Tiger Regret over Gandhi. Retrieved April 4, 2007, from the BBC News Website: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/5122032.stm Sachi Sri Kantha; Pirabhakaran Phenomenon, Lively Comet Imprint,2005;641 pp (chapters 24 to 35, pp.207-352, cover in detail the life and assassination of Rajiv Gandhi)