(1945-1991)
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| Born in Bombay and educated at University of Cambridge and Imperial College, London. Rajiv Gandhi initially had no interest in politics and became a commercial airline pilot. When his younger brother Sanjay died in a plane crash, Rajiv sought his seat in parliament and won by a landslide (1980). He soon became his mother's chief adviser and an important political force himself. His fight against corruption earned him the nickname "Mr. Clean." By 1984 he was the most powerful political figure in India after his mother. When she was assassinated later that year, he was elected by party leaders to replace Prime Minister of India. He ran for re-election in 1989 and was defeated. Trying for a comeback in 1991, he was assassinated by a bomb at a campaign rally. |
