BIOGRAPHY

Rajiv Ratna Gandhi, born on August 20, 1944, was the 6th Prime Minister of India, serving from 1984 to 1989. He entered politics after the unexpected death of his younger brother Sanjay Gandhi in 1980. Following the assassination of his mother, then-Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi became the Prime Minister, making him the youngest person to hold the position in India at the age of 40.

During his term, he faced significant challenges, including the 1984 anti-Sikh riots that occurred after his mother's assassination. He implemented the anti-defection law in 1985 to curb corruption and defections among elected members. His economic policies aimed at making private production profitable, and he focused on science, technology, and industries. However, his political career faced challenges, including allegations of corruption, leading to his defeat in the 1989 elections.

Rajiv Gandhi also played a crucial role in foreign policy, with successful interventions in Seychelles in 1986 and responding to the Maldives coup in 1988. He expressed views on a nuclear-free and non-violent world order at the United Nations General Assembly in 1988. In dealings with neighboring countries, he engaged with Pakistan and signed the Indo-Sri Lanka Accord in 1987 to address the Sri Lankan Civil War.

His life ended tragically when he was assassinated by a member of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) during a campaign in Sriperumbudur on May 21, 1991. Rajiv Gandhi was posthumously awarded the Bharat Ratna in 1991, and his legacy is remembered in various government projects and schemes named after the Gandhi-Nehru family.

Reference:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rajiv_Gandhi