Rajiv Gandhi

Rajiv Ratna Gandhi was India’s Primeprime Ministerminister from 1984 to 1989. He was appointed Primeprime Ministerminister the same day the previous Primeprime Ministerminister, his mother Indira Gandhi, was assassinated on October 31, 1984. Both were part of the powerful Nehru-Gandhi family. In 1991, he was assassinated by a suicide bomber from the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) militant group while he was campaigning for elections in Tamil Nadu. Later that year, the Indian government posthumously awarded him with the Bharat Ratna, the country's highest civilian award.

Rajiv Gandhi reluctantly began his political life after his brother Sanjay was killed in a plane crash in 1980. At that time, his mother was Prime Minister and pulled him into politics from his domestic life and career as a pilot. In June 1981, he was elected to the Lok Sabha (lower chamber of the national parliament) and became a member of the national executive of the Indian Youth Congress (the youth wing of the National Congress party).

In 1984, at age forty, Rajiv Gandhi went on to becomebecame the youngest Prime Minister of India at 40 years old and the leader of the Congress Party in 1984 after the assassination of his mother and, Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. During his tenure, he signed peace accords with insurgent groups in states where religious tensions were high and helped develop India’s science and technology sectors, earning him the title “Father of Information and Technology.”

Gandhi continued his role as leader of the Congress Party until his assassination in 1991.

Rajiv Gandhi was born in Bombay (now Mumbai) in 1944 to Indira Gandhi and Feroze Gandhi. Rajiv Gandhi married Edvige Antonia Albina Maino in 1968 in New Dehli. His wife later changed her name to Sonia Gandhi, and the couple hashad two children, Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi.

Rajiv Gandhi reluctantly began his political life after his brother Sanjay was killed in a plane crash in 1980. At that time, his mother was Prime Minister and pulled him into politics from his domestic life and career as a pilot. In June 1981 he was elected to the Lok Sabha (lower chamber of the national parliament) and became a member of the national executive of the Indian Youth Congress (the youth wing of the National Congress party).

His tenure was filled with issues, including the Shah Bano caseShah Bano case andtheand the Bhopal disaster, and his support to reverse the coup in the Maldives in 1988 infuriated the Tamil militants, PLOTE, and LTTE. He lost his bid for reelection in 1989 due to some of these issues and following a financial corruption scandal in his party.

Rajiv Gandhi was born in Bombay (now Mumbai) in 1944 to Indira Gandhi and Feroze Gandhi. Rajiv Gandhi married Edvige Antonia Albina Maino in 1968 in New Dehli. His wife later changed her name to Sonia Gandhi, and the couple has two children Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi.

In 1951, Rajiv Gandhi beganbriefly attendingwent theto Shivschool Niketanat SchoolWelham andPrep laterin Dehra Dun but soon moved to the Welham Boys’ School and theresidential Doon School in 1954the Himalayan foothills. In 1961, Rajiv Gandhi went to London to study engineeringengineering at Trinity CollegeTrinity College., Inand in 1966, Rajiv Gandhi washe admittedtransferred to the Imperial CollegeImperial College, London London, to study mechanical engineeringmechanical engineering. When he returned to India, he joined the Delhi Flying Club in Delhi, became a pilot, and went to work for Air India in 1970.

Rajiv Ratna Gandhi was IndiaIndia’s sixth Prime MinisterPrime Minister, serving from 1984 to 1989. He was appointed Prime Minister the same day the previous Prime Minister, his mother Indira GandhiIndira Gandhi, was assassinated on October 31, 1984. Both were part of the powerful Nehru-Gandhi familyNehru-Gandhi family. In 1991 he was assassinated by a suicide bomber from the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE)Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) militant group while he was campaigning for elections in Tamil NaduTamil Nadu. Later that year, the Government ofIndian Indiagovernment posthumously awarded Rajiv Gandhihim with the Bharat RatnaBharat Ratna, the country's highest civilian award.

Rajiv Gandhi began his political life after his brother was killed in a plane crash in 1980. At that time, his mother was Prime Minister and drewpulled him into politics from his domestic life and career as a pilot. In June 1981 he was elected to the Lok SabhaLok Sabha (lower chamber of the national parliament) and became a member of the national executive of the Indian Youth CongressIndian Youth Congress (the youth wing of the National Congress Congress Partyparty).

Rajiv Gandhi then went on to become the youngest Prime Minister of India at 40 years old and the leader of the Congress Party in 1984 after the assassination of his mother and Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. During his tenure, he signed peace accords with insurgent groups in states where religious tensions were high and helped develop India’s sciencescience and technologytechnology sectors earning him the title “Father of Information and Technology.”

His tenure was filled with issues, including the Shah Bano case and andthe Bhopal disasterBhopal disaster, and his support to reverse the coup in the MaldivesMaldives in 1988 infuriated the Tamil militants, PLOTE, and LTTE. He lost his bid for reelection in 1989 due to some of these issues and following a financial corruption scandal in his party.

Rajiv Gandhi was born in MumbaiMumbai in 1944 to Indira Gandhi and Feroze GandhiFeroze Gandhi. Rajiv Gandhi married Edvige Antonia Albina Maino in 1968. His wife later changed her name to Sonia GandhiSonia Gandhi, and the couple has two children Rahul Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka GandhiPriyanka Gandhi.

In 1951, Rajiv Gandhi began attending the Shiv Niketan School and moved to Welham Boys’ School, Dehradun, and Doon School, Dehradun, in 1954. In 1961, Rajiv Gandhi went to London to study A-Levels. Later in 1962 he was admitted to Trinity College, London, to study engineering but didn’t obtain a degree. In 1966, Rajiv Gandhi was admitted to Imperial College, London, but did not complete the course in mechanical engineering. In 1966, Rajiv Gandhi returned to India, the same year Indira Gandhi became the first women Prime Minister of India. He joined Flying Club in Delhi and was trained as a pilot. In 1970, Rajiv Gandhi was employed by Air India as a pilot.

In 1951, Rajiv Gandhi began attending the Shiv Niketan School and later moved to the Welham Boys’ School and the Doon School in 1954. In 1961, Rajiv Gandhi went to London to study engineering at Trinity College. In 1966, Rajiv Gandhi was admitted to the Imperial College, London, to study mechanical engineering. When he returned to India, he joined the Flying Club in Delhi, became a pilot, and went to work for Air India in 1970.

Rajiv Ratna Gandhi - Indian politician, Prime Minister in 1984-1989. Rajiv Gandhi was the grandson of Jawaharlal Nehru and the son of Indira Gandhi, the only woman in India to hold the position of prime Minister.

Rajiv Ratna Gandhi was India’s sixth Prime Minister, serving from 1984 to 1989. He was appointed Prime Minister the same day the previous Prime Minister, his mother Indira Gandhi, was assassinated on October 31, 1984. Both were part of the powerful Nehru-Gandhi family. In 1991 he was assassinated by a suicide bomber from the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) militant group while he was campaigning for elections in Tamil Nadu. Later that year, the Government of India posthumously awarded Rajiv Gandhi with the Bharat Ratna, the country's highest civilian award.

Rajiv Gandhi began his political life after his brother was killed in a plane crash in 1980. At that time, his mother was Prime Minister and drew him into politics. In June 1981 he was elected to the Lok Sabha (lower chamber of the national parliament) and became a member of the national executive of the Indian Youth Congress (the youth wing of the Congress Party).

Former Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, pictured on May 5, 1991.

Rajiv Gandhi then went on to become the youngest Prime Minister of India at 40 years old and the leader of the Congress Party in 1984 after the assassination of his mother and Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. During his tenure, he signed peace accords with insurgent groups in states where religious tensions were high and helped develop India’s science and technology sectors earning him the title “Father of Information and Technology.”

His tenure was filled with issues, including the Shah Bano case and Bhopal disaster, and his support to reverse the coup in the Maldives in 1988 infuriated the Tamil militants, PLOTE, and LTTE. He lost his bid for reelection in 1989 due to some of these issues and following a financial corruption scandal in his party.

Gandhi continued his role as leader of the Congress Party until his assassination in 1991.

Rajiv Gandhi was born in Mumbai in 1944 to Indira Gandhi and Feroze Gandhi. Rajiv Gandhi married Edvige Antonia Albina Maino in 1968. His wife later changed her name to Sonia Gandhi, and the couple has two children Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi.

In 1951, Rajiv Gandhi began attending the Shiv Niketan School and moved to Welham Boys’ School, Dehradun, and Doon School, Dehradun, in 1954. In 1961, Rajiv Gandhi went to London to study A-Levels. Later in 1962 he was admitted to Trinity College, London, to study engineering but didn’t obtain a degree. In 1966, Rajiv Gandhi was admitted to Imperial College, London, but did not complete the course in mechanical engineering. In 1966, Rajiv Gandhi returned to India, the same year Indira Gandhi became the first women Prime Minister of India. He joined Flying Club in Delhi and was trained as a pilot. In 1970, Rajiv Gandhi was employed by Air India as a pilot.

Rajiv Ratna Gandhi - Indian politician, Prime Minister in 1984-1989. Rajiv Gandhi was the grandson of Jawaharlal Nehru and the son of Indira Gandhi, the only woman in India to hold the position of prime Minister.