Remembering Rajiv Gandhi on his birth anniversary: Rare and unseen pictures of former PM

Rajiv Gandhi (File Photo)

The former Prime Minister of India, Rajiv Gandhi, was born on August 20, 1944. Rajiv Gandhi's birth anniversary is celebrated on August 20th each year to commemorate his life and contributions to India.

Born into a politically influential family, Rajiv Gandhi's grandfather, Jawaharlal Nehru, was the first Prime Minister of India, and his mother, Indira Gandhi, served as the Prime Minister for three consecutive terms.

Rajiv Gandhi entry into politics came after the tragic assassination of his younger brother Sanjay Gandhi. Following this incident, he decided to support his mother in her political career and joined the Indian National Congress party.

In 1981, Rajiv Gandhi contested his first election and won a seat in the Lok Sabha. In 1984, after the assassination of Indira Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi was appointed as the Prime Minister of India. His vision for a technologically advanced India earned him the nickname "Mr Clean" and "The IT Prime Minister."

Rajiv Gandhi was assassinated on May 21, 1991, during an election campaign in Tamil Nadu. The assassination was carried out by a suicide bomber from the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), a separatist militant organization from Sri Lanka.

Let's see a few of the rare and unseen pictures of the former PM of India on his birth anniversary:

Rajiv Gandhi returned to India in 1966, the year his mother became the Prime Minister of India

He went to Delhi and became a member of the Flying Club, where he was trained as a pilot. In 1970, he was employed as a pilot by Air India

In 1968, Rajiv Gandhi married Edvige Antonia Albina Maino, after three years of courtship. She changed her name to Sonia Gandhi

Rajiv Gandhi was sworn-in as the Prime Minister of India on October 31, 1984, the same day his mother was assassinated by her bodyguards. He was 41 and became the youngest PM of India