<<Previous Page Next Page>>     Rajiv Gandhi's unique place in world history comes from his zeal to dream himself and make the globe dream too. His legacy to India was to have ‚brought it into the twenty-first century parallel with the more advance countries in the world, out of the branding of India as a developing country - to the status of a developed country.' Not satisfied with a justful mention of his nation in global chapters, he pledged to ‚work for a strong and prosperous India devoted to peace with our neighbours and peace in the world.' As an aside, Rajiv Gandhi's sense of humour was as refreshing as the morning dew on the leaves of those dew drops on the Chinar trees he often looked up to in Kashmir. Once asked to comment on how, without a shred of political experience he was heading the world's most populous nation and pat came the reply, 'You see, we have a fantastic thing called the democratic process.' The entire American media stood up in ovation and joined in the laughter. But a keen look at this quip reflects the third Gandhi icon's deep-seated respect for his country, the pride that he took in being an Indian and flaunting India. He went lock, stock and barrel into recreating that respect among his nation's millions, dragging them out of collective pessimism and ennui. Overseas, he told the leaders and their people to emulate India and, in no small measure, convinced them that in doing so they would be actually doing nothing more than self-service. With his dreams, his technology, his will to change the world and his keen perceptions borne out of a rich familial heritage, Rajiv Gandhi was India's man who symbolized continuity and change. Not just that, he acted as the most crucial buffer between the pre-independence ideals of Nehru and Gandhi and a post-independence pragmatism that would mould India into a world power. All said, Rajiv's ideals poured out in very private moments - in his letters to his son Rahul and daughter Priyanka. Call it advisories or visionaries, these snippets form the backbone of his persona. Here is one of the many: 'When you have to do something, you must remember that it must be done the best way possible. There should be no half-way point where you say it is good enough. You must always do your best and then try a little harder. If it is a race you are winning you must put in that extra bit that will make you feel you are about to burst, only then can you get ahead. You must try and work till you get perfection. It is all the little details that make the difference.' That Rajiv would go a long way to stardom was foretold by poetess Sarojini Naidu on his first birthday when she sent the boy his first Diwali greeting: 'In a free India which will be, you will achieve a splendid manhood and be a leader among those who dedicate their talents, their time, their hope, their faith and service to the redeeming of humanity from evil. The world will be your country and all mankind your kindred. To the little one, celebrating so unconsciously your first festival of lights, you will be yourself a living and imperishable flame to light the world.' Indeed, Rajiv was many things to many people but a ray of light to all. He acquainted his mother to Bach, his wife to Indianness, his children to sensitivity, his people to optimism, his nation to progress, his world to peace and his tender loving self to martyrdom. Yes, he was a light that was extinguished abruptly. Yes, he was a dream that continues to live.   <<Previous Page Next Page>>