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This is my second article about tragedy families and I have selected one of the best known political families of India the Nehru Gandhis. This family has been dominant in Indian politics since her independence in 1947 and has been the major power players in Indian National Congress. This family has given three Prime Ministers to India and still continues to be a major player in the countrys politics. However like some other families this family has also seen some very tragic moments and has been hard hit by tragedies.
Sanjay Gandhi:
Sanjay Gandhi was the younger son of Indira Gandhi and Feroze Gandhi. He was born on December 14, 1946. His education was done in Welham Boys School, Don School in Dera Don and at St. Columbas School, Delhi. He never attended college however did an apprenticeship at Rolls Royce in Crew England. His personal interests included sports cars and also obtained a pilots license.
It is believed that Sanjay had an immense influence over his mother and at that time the Prime Minister of India. He is believed to have used this influence to gain personal benefits while she was in power. It is believed that Sanjay Gandhi had a role in the controversies affecting the Indira Gandhi government of the time such as The Maruti Udyog, the Emergency of 1975-77, Jamia Masjid Slum and Family Planning. He was widely tipped as the successor to the Indira Gandhi and was been polished for that role by the mother.
Unfortunately Sanjay Gandhi died in a plane crash on June 23, 1980 near Safdarjung Airport near Delhi when he lost control of the plane he was flying. He left behind a widow Maneka Gandhi and a son Varun Gandhi.
Indira Gandhi:
Indira Priyadarshini Gandhi was born on November 19, 1917. Her father was the Jawaharlal Nehru the first Prime Minister of Independent India. After finishing school in 1934-35 she joined the Shantiniketan a school set up by Rabindranath Tagore. Then she went to England and studied at the Somerville College, Oxford. There she frequently met with Feroze Gandhi and ultimately married him in 1942.
She returned to India in 1941 and became involved in the Indian freedom movement. During her fathers government in 1950s she unofficially served him as personal assistant. After her fathers death she was appointed member of Rajya Sabha the upper house of parliament. She became a member of Lal Bahadur Shastris government as Minister of Information and Broadcasting. After the death of Shastri she became the Prime Minister of India. She was the prime minister of the India for three consecutive terms from 1966 to 1977 and for a fourth term from 1980 until her assassination in 1984 a total of fifteen years. She was India's first and to date only female prime minister.
His tenure has many highs and lows however Indias victory over Pakistan in 1971 perhaps was the best moment of her political career. In June 1984 Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale's Sikh group occupied the Golden Temple in Punjab. In response to that Indian Army launched operation Blue Star. The State of Punjab was closed to International Media, the Human Rights groups and other groups during the operation. Sikh Devotees were also not allowed to enter the temple. After this operation there was great anger expressed by the Sikhs against the government of Indira Gandhi. On October 31, 1984 two Sikh guards on duty to protect the Prime Minister opened fire on her killing her. She left behind a son Rajiv Gandhi.
Rajiv Gandhi:
Rajiv Gandhi was born on August 20, 1944. He was the elder son of Indira Gandhi and Feroze Gandhi. Rajivs early education was at Welham Boys' School and later The Don School. Then he was sent to London in 1961 to study A-levels. He was then offered a place at the Trinity College, Cambridge to study engineering. Though he attended the college until 1965 he left without obtaining the degree. In 1966 he was offered a place at the Imperial College London. He again left Imperial College after a year without a degree. During his stay in London he met Antonia (Sonia) Maino hailing from Italy. Later they married in 1968 in India.
Initially Rajiv stayed away from politics however after the death of his younger brother he was persuaded to enter politics. In 1981 he contested to elections and became a member of the Lok Sabha. After the assassination of his mother he was nominated for the post of Prime Minister by Indian National Congress. He became the youngest Prime Minister of India when he took oath in 1984.
Like all politicians his tenure had a number of ups and downs however it was the involvement of India in the Sri Lankan conflict that would result in his assassination. On May 21, 1991 he was at a public meeting in support of Congress candidate at Sriperumbudur a village approximately 30 miles from Madras, Tamil Nadu when a Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) suicide bomber blew her-self very close to him. He left behind a widow Sonia Gandhi, a son Rahul Gandhi and a daughter Priyanka Gandhi.
One important point to note is that although all the members of the family carry the name Gandhi they are not in any way associated with the Mahatma Gandhi. They carry this surname because of Feroze Gandhi with whom Indira Gandhi was married.
Presently Sonia Gandhi the widow of Rajiv Gandhi is leading the Congress and so the role of the Gandhi family continues in Indian Politics. Perhaps this familys destiny is tied with Indian politics however one hopes that they do not go through another tragedy and continue to play their role in a peaceful manner.
Tragedy Families ? The Nehru Gandhi?s
Sanjay Gandhi:
Sanjay Gandhi was the younger son of Indira Gandhi and Feroze Gandhi. He was born on December 14, 1946. His education was done in Welham Boys School, Don School in Dera Don and at St. Columbas School, Delhi. He never attended college however did an apprenticeship at Rolls Royce in Crew England. His personal interests included sports cars and also obtained a pilots license.
It is believed that Sanjay had an immense influence over his mother and at that time the Prime Minister of India. He is believed to have used this influence to gain personal benefits while she was in power. It is believed that Sanjay Gandhi had a role in the controversies affecting the Indira Gandhi government of the time such as The Maruti Udyog, the Emergency of 1975-77, Jamia Masjid Slum and Family Planning. He was widely tipped as the successor to the Indira Gandhi and was been polished for that role by the mother.
Unfortunately Sanjay Gandhi died in a plane crash on June 23, 1980 near Safdarjung Airport near Delhi when he lost control of the plane he was flying. He left behind a widow Maneka Gandhi and a son Varun Gandhi.
Indira Gandhi:
Indira Priyadarshini Gandhi was born on November 19, 1917. Her father was the Jawaharlal Nehru the first Prime Minister of Independent India. After finishing school in 1934-35 she joined the Shantiniketan a school set up by Rabindranath Tagore. Then she went to England and studied at the Somerville College, Oxford. There she frequently met with Feroze Gandhi and ultimately married him in 1942.
She returned to India in 1941 and became involved in the Indian freedom movement. During her fathers government in 1950s she unofficially served him as personal assistant. After her fathers death she was appointed member of Rajya Sabha the upper house of parliament. She became a member of Lal Bahadur Shastris government as Minister of Information and Broadcasting. After the death of Shastri she became the Prime Minister of India. She was the prime minister of the India for three consecutive terms from 1966 to 1977 and for a fourth term from 1980 until her assassination in 1984 a total of fifteen years. She was India's first and to date only female prime minister.
His tenure has many highs and lows however Indias victory over Pakistan in 1971 perhaps was the best moment of her political career. In June 1984 Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale's Sikh group occupied the Golden Temple in Punjab. In response to that Indian Army launched operation Blue Star. The State of Punjab was closed to International Media, the Human Rights groups and other groups during the operation. Sikh Devotees were also not allowed to enter the temple. After this operation there was great anger expressed by the Sikhs against the government of Indira Gandhi. On October 31, 1984 two Sikh guards on duty to protect the Prime Minister opened fire on her killing her. She left behind a son Rajiv Gandhi.
Rajiv Gandhi:
Rajiv Gandhi was born on August 20, 1944. He was the elder son of Indira Gandhi and Feroze Gandhi. Rajivs early education was at Welham Boys' School and later The Don School. Then he was sent to London in 1961 to study A-levels. He was then offered a place at the Trinity College, Cambridge to study engineering. Though he attended the college until 1965 he left without obtaining the degree. In 1966 he was offered a place at the Imperial College London. He again left Imperial College after a year without a degree. During his stay in London he met Antonia (Sonia) Maino hailing from Italy. Later they married in 1968 in India.
Initially Rajiv stayed away from politics however after the death of his younger brother he was persuaded to enter politics. In 1981 he contested to elections and became a member of the Lok Sabha. After the assassination of his mother he was nominated for the post of Prime Minister by Indian National Congress. He became the youngest Prime Minister of India when he took oath in 1984.
Like all politicians his tenure had a number of ups and downs however it was the involvement of India in the Sri Lankan conflict that would result in his assassination. On May 21, 1991 he was at a public meeting in support of Congress candidate at Sriperumbudur a village approximately 30 miles from Madras, Tamil Nadu when a Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) suicide bomber blew her-self very close to him. He left behind a widow Sonia Gandhi, a son Rahul Gandhi and a daughter Priyanka Gandhi.
One important point to note is that although all the members of the family carry the name Gandhi they are not in any way associated with the Mahatma Gandhi. They carry this surname because of Feroze Gandhi with whom Indira Gandhi was married.
Presently Sonia Gandhi the widow of Rajiv Gandhi is leading the Congress and so the role of the Gandhi family continues in Indian Politics. Perhaps this familys destiny is tied with Indian politics however one hopes that they do not go through another tragedy and continue to play their role in a peaceful manner.
Tragedy Families ? The Nehru Gandhi?s
