ராஜீவ் காந்தி... this day that year (May21,1991)
Rajiv Gandhi(1944-1991)sixth prime minister (1984-1989) of India,
the third member of his family to attain that post.
"As we build today so will be the tomorrow.Together we will build for an India of the twenty-first century. Together we will transform what needs transformation. Together we will face challenges and obstacles to progress. Together we will create an India that is strong, wise and great - a flame of peace and tolerance" From the Broadcast to the Nation on 12th November 1984.
Rajiv Gandhi, grandson of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru entered public life in February 1983 after the tragic death of his brother Sanjay Gandhi and became the youngest Prime Minister of India following yet another tragedy after the death of his mother Indira Gandhi in 1984. He was also, perhaps one of the youngest elected heads of the Governments in the democratic world.
Besides being the harbinger of a generational change in the country, Mr. Gandhi received the biggest mandate in the nation's history in the elections to the Lok Sabha in the year 1984.
Rajiv Gandhi's concern for the weak and disabled was deep and abiding.It was during Rajiv Gandhi's tenure as Prime Minister that concrete steps were taken to draw the youth more closely into nation building activities. His Prime Ministership saw a tremendous growth in India's stature in International affairs. Rajiv Gandhi had great faith in the people of India and the future.
Rajiv Gandhi was President of the Indian National Congress, Bombay (1985), when the party celebrated its Centenary.A bold, courageous and dynamic leader Rajiv Gandhi was assassinated at Sri Perambadur, Tamilnadu in 1991when he was busy campaigning for the Congress in Lok Sabha Elections as Party President.
Twenty-six of 29 people involved in the 1991 assassination of former Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, including LTTE-Prabakaran in Sri Lanka, were sentenced to death.
