The forces arrayed against Rajiv in his native India, is proof enough that Rajiv was a giant, way

 ahead of his detractors.

Tall, slim, always smiling, Rajiv was the quintessential humanitarian. A philanthrope to a fault. In fact a little ignorant of the ways of 'little minds.'

His persona radiated calm composure. Recalling her days at Cambridge, Sonia writes: 'I had noticed on a large number of occasions, a large, noisy group of students usually sitting around a long table opposite mine. One of the boys of that group stood out. He was striking in both looks and manners. He was not boisterous as the others, he was more reserved, more gentle. He had big black eyes and a wonderfully innocent and disarming smile.'

He was, at heart, a humanist who understood the tribulations of the least fortunate of his fellow beings and he sincerely believed that non-violence without gentleness, kindness and humanitarianism is meaningless. He said: True non-violence requires understanding of the historical and moral truth that hate does not drive out hate, that anger does not conquer anger, that fear does not overwhelm fear. In the heart of a truly non-violent person, there is a profound belief that hate can only be driven out by love, that anger can only be conquered by compassion and that fear can only be overcome by courage.' Rajiv's moorings in non-violence, no doubt, went back to Gautam Buddha and were rooted in the teachings of Mahatma Gandhi.

Rajiv's concern for children were further reflection of his gentle temperament. David P. Haxton said: 'During the period of his tenure, I met Rajiv Gandhi four times and on each occasion, when asked to assist in some development or to encourage a change, or to undertake a public venture on behalf of children, his reply was always a soft, but firm 'we can do that'. His concern for children was real.'