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Rajiv Gandhi
Rajiv Gandhi, the scion of the well-known Nehru family was largely associated with the Congress in spite of being vehemently against participating in politics and was keener to become a pilot which he eventually did. Because of some unfortunate events, Rajiv had to step in to fill his brother and mother’s shoes. He served India from the year 1984 till 1989 as the PM.
Early Life and Academics
Rajiv Gandhi was born in 1944 in Mumbai and went on to be India's ninth PM. He did his schooling in Allahabad. He went to Welham Boys School as well as Doon School after which he went to Imperial College, London.
Family and Personal Life
Rajiv Gandhi was born with a silver spoon. The elder of the two brothers, he was always pushed to join politics to carry on the Nehru legacy but instead encouraged his younger brother to continue the same.
After going to London, he joined Cambridge University which was where he fell for Antonio Maino. In the late 1966, he joined Indian Airlines as a pilot and after 3 years married Antonio, known to all as Sonia Gandhi
Career
Even though, Rajiv was a part of the world famous Nehru family, he made it a point to separate himself from all forms of politics. After the death of Sanjay Gandhi, Rajiv's younger brother, he was forced to follow the suit and join politics. Rajiv was completely against the given idea and eventually succumbed to the pressure mounting. In 1981, Rajiv contested for Sanjay Gandhi’s seat and was elected from Amethi to the Indian Lok Sabha.
In 1984, his mother was assassinated and he had to take his mother’s post as the PM. Within couple of hours, he was made to swear for the pedestal post. Rajiv Gandhi then assumed the office and adjourned parliament. Again elections were held and the Congress party won by a huge margin. As the face of Indian democracy and as the youngest PM, Rajiv was constantly looking for means to improve bilateral ties with Sri Lanka and the US. He was known for playing the role of peacemaker between the LTE and the then Sri Lankan Government and eventually paid with his own dear life. On the 21st May 1991, Rajiv campaigned in the southern state of Tamil Nadu on behalf of Mrs. Chandrasekhar. It was on this very day Rajiv Gandhi was assassinated in a suicide bomb attack carried by LTE.
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