Unveiling lesser-known facts about India’s youngest Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi

Rajiv Gandhi one of Indias most famous politicians was born on August 20 1944 After taking office at 41 Rajiv Gandhi Indias youngest Prime Minister made an everlasting impression on the countrys political landscape His term was a mix of modernisation technological advancement and efforts to unite a heterogeneous society On the occasion of Rajiv Gandhi birth anniversary 2024 lets look at some lesserknown parts of his life and leadership that remain relevant in Indian historyA Reluctant PoliticianRajiv Gandhi was not always drawn towards politics Unlike many leaders who spent years honing their political careers Rajiv had first taken a different path He was a trained pilot who worked for Indian Airlines a far cry from the political world dominated by his mother Indira Gandhi and the NehruGandhi dynasty Rajiv was driven into politics to support his mother who was then Prime Minister following the terrible death of his younger brother Sanjay Gandhi in an aircraft crash in 1980 This hesitant foray into politics paved the way for his ultimate climb to power as Indias leaderA Moderniser at HeartRajiv Gandhi is widely renowned for his efforts to modernise India particularly in the fields of technology and communication What is less well known is his level of involvement in Indias technical revolution His vision inspired the introduction of computers and the expansion of telecommunications laying the groundwork for Indias IT revolution Rajivs efforts to bring technology to the masses were initially greeted with opposition but his vision of a contemporary digital India remained unshakeable His efforts to increase computer literacy and develop the telecom network won him the moniker of Father of Information Technology and Telecom Revolution in IndiaYouth EmpowermentOne of Rajiv Gandhis most significant but frequently neglected initiatives was his emphasis on empowering Indias youth He believed that the kids were the nations future and should play a larger part in defining its fate His government lowered the voting age from 21 to 18 allowing millions of young Indians to participate in the democratic process Rajiv also encouraged young people to get involved in politics and many of todays political leaders began their careers during his term in powerAdvocacy for DecentralisationRajiv Gandhi was a major supporter of decentralising power and promoting local governance His efforts resulted in the development of the Panchayati Raj system which aimed to empower village councils and bring governance closer to the people This initiative was a crucial step towards boosting grassroots democracy and giving local issues the attention they deserved Rajiv Gandhi established the groundwork for the 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendments which granted constitutional standing to Panchayati Raj institutionsA Diplomat on the World StageRajiv Gandhis role as a diplomat is a lesserknown component of his career He played a critical role in mending Indias relations with its neighbours and other world countries Despite facing hurdles his activities in the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation SAARC and efforts to create peace in Sri Lanka demonstrated his commitment to regional stability and international diplomacy