When Indira Gandhi
was assassinated in
October 1984, Rajiv Gandhi was offered the Prime
Ministership of India. Almost immediately, RG declared national elections
throughout the country. On 31 December 1984, Rajiv and his party,
the Congress, won the much more  than
won either by Jawaharlal Nehru or even Indira Gandhi. Jawaharlal Nehru,
when elected the Prime Minister of free India, had made a memorable
enunciation, which has been repeated time and again. '...Long years
ago we made a tryst with destiny, and now the time comes when we shall
redeem our pledge, not wholly or in full measure, but very substantially.
At the stroke of midnight hour when the world sleeps, India will awake
to life and freedom. A moment comes, which comes but rarely in
|
history, when we step out from the old and into the new, when an
age ends, and when the soul of a nation, long suppressed, finds
utterance...'
Rajiv was a perfect statesman. All the qualities that were imbibed
in him, can be said to have been passed down the generations. He
was a wonderful orator, not a man who merely spoke, but one who
believed in putting his words into action.
He well understood the significance of his Prime Ministerial position.
It was not to grab political power, but to build an India on the
very foundations laid down by his forefathers. His famous words,
'...I am young, and I too have a dream...,' moved the masses thoroughly.
He wanted a strong, self-reliant and free India which would be treated
with respect among the various nation-states. He acknowledged the
fact that cooperation was necessary for India's development. It
is for this reason that he welcomed heartily all help from other
countries, along with urging the people of India to work harder
to achieve his dreams.
Rajiv was a shy and an extremely well behaved boy. He was very observant
by nature. As a child, he had always been very fond of airplanes,
and pictures of them occupied most of his drawing book. He was a
perfect family man. He was very close to his father. Whatever he
did, he did with extreme clarity and precision. He was an introvert,
in fact it can be said that he loved spending quiet moments with
Nehru, Indira and Feroze. Among other things, he was extremely fond
of swimming, riding and picnics.
|
