| Name(s) |
RAJIV
Ratna GANDHI |
| Date of
Birth |
August 20, 1944 |
| Date of
Death |
May 21, 1991 |
|
Identity |
Sixth Prime Minister of India |
|
Date-wise Events / Works |
August 20, 1991 - SUDHA
and SIVARESAN - These two main accused
in Rajiv Gandhi's assassination case,
committed suicide on this day, when
their hideouts were stormed by the
commandos. |
|
Other Events &
Developments |
- The youngest Prime Minister of India (at the age
of 40).
- While his grand father, Jawaharlal Nehru
was the first Prime Minister of India, his mother,
Indira Gandhi, was the first female Prime Minister
of India.
- Before entering politics he was a professional
pilot for Indian Airlines.
- Following the death of his younger brother
Sanjay Gandhi in 1980, Rajiv was prompted
to enter politics.
- Following the assassination of his mother
in 1984 after Operation Blue Star, the
Indian National Congress party leaders nominated
him to be the next Prime Minister.
- Rajiv Gandhi led the Congress to a major
election victory in 1984, amassing the largest
majority ever seen in the Indian Parliament, the Congress
party winning 411 seats out of 542.
- He had the vision and foresight to see
that information technology will play a key
role in the 21 century and worked actively to
develop India's capacity in this field.
- He was also responsible for first intervening and then
sending Indian troops (Indian Peace Keeping Force
or IPKF) for peace efforts in Sri Lanka in 1987, which soon
ended in open conflict with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil
Eelam.
- In mid-1987, the Bofors scandal broke
his honest, corruption-free image and resulted in a major
defeat for his party in the 1989 elections.
- While campaigning, he was assassinated
by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam.
|
|
Awards and Accolades |
He was posthumously awarded the Highest
National Award of India, Bharat
Ratna (1991). |
|
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