Indira Gandhi's son and Congress leader Sanjay Gandhi was born on December 14, 1946. On his 73rd birth anniversary, here are some facts about the late Congress leader.
Updated On: 2019-06-23 08:47 AM IST
Sanjay Gandhi was born on December 14, 1946, and died on June 23, 1980. He was expected to succeed his mother, Indira Gandhi as head of the Indian National Congress. Sanjay Gandhi studied at Welham Boys' School and then at the Doon School in Dehradun.
Sanjay Gandhi was born on December 14, 1946, and died on June 23, 1980. He was expected to succeed his mother, Indira Gandhi as head of the Indian National Congress. Sanjay Gandhi studied at Welham Boys' School and then at the Doon School in Dehradun.
Sanjay Gandhi was interested in sports cars, and also obtained a pilot's licence in 1976. He had also won several prizes in aircraft acrobatics. Sanjay Gandhi never attended college. Instead, he took up an apprenticeship with Rolls-Royce in Crewe, England.
Sanjay Gandhi was interested in sports cars, and also obtained a pilot's licence in 1976. He had also won several prizes in aircraft acrobatics. Sanjay Gandhi never attended college. Instead, he took up an apprenticeship with Rolls-Royce in Crewe, England.
Even while Sanjay Gandhi was keen on building a career as an airline pilot apart from being a politician, Sanjay remained extremely attached to his mother, Indira Gandhi. In pic: Sanjay with his mother just before death in a plane crash in Delhi.
Even while Sanjay Gandhi was keen on building a career as an airline pilot apart from being a politician, Sanjay remained extremely attached to his mother, Indira Gandhi. In pic: Sanjay with his mother just before death in a plane crash in Delhi.
Maruti Udyog, today India's premier automobile manufacturing corporation, was founded by Sanjay Gandhi, but the company did not produce any vehicles during his lifetime. In pic: A young Sanjay with his dad Feroze Gandhi.
Maruti Udyog, today India's premier automobile manufacturing corporation, was founded by Sanjay Gandhi, but the company did not produce any vehicles during his lifetime. In pic: A young Sanjay with his dad Feroze Gandhi.
Sanjay Gandhi escaped an assassination attempt in March 1977 when unknown assailants fired at his car during an election campaign near New Delhi. In pic: A picture of Sanjay taken during a meeting in Avril in 1976 in front of the portrait of Mahatma Gandhi and of his mother Indira Gandhi. Pic/AFP
Sanjay Gandhi escaped an assassination attempt in March 1977 when unknown assailants fired at his car during an election campaign near New Delhi. In pic: A picture of Sanjay taken during a meeting in Avril in 1976 in front of the portrait of Mahatma Gandhi and of his mother Indira Gandhi. Pic/AFP
Even if we leave Emergency apart, Sanjay Gandhi remained a controversial person. Former PM I.K. Gujral once resigned from the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, apparently because he did not like receiving orders from Sanjay, who was an unelected person.
Even if we leave Emergency apart, Sanjay Gandhi remained a controversial person. Former PM I.K. Gujral once resigned from the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, apparently because he did not like receiving orders from Sanjay, who was an unelected person.
It is also alleged that legendary singer Kishore Kumar's songs were banned on All India Radio by Sanjay Gandhi after the singer refused to attend a function of the Indian Youth Congress. In pic: Sanjay poses with his family members.
It is also alleged that legendary singer Kishore Kumar's songs were banned on All India Radio by Sanjay Gandhi after the singer refused to attend a function of the Indian Youth Congress. In pic: Sanjay poses with his family members.
Sanjay Gandhi married Maneka Anand (now Gandhi) when the latter was just 18 years old, in 1974. The couple have a son named Varun Gandhi. In pic: Indira Gandhi with her two sons Rajiv (L) and Sanjay in New Delhi on March 21, 1977. Pic/AFP
Sanjay Gandhi married Maneka Anand (now Gandhi) when the latter was just 18 years old, in 1974. The couple have a son named Varun Gandhi. In pic: Indira Gandhi with her two sons Rajiv (L) and Sanjay in New Delhi on March 21, 1977. Pic/AFP
Sanjay Gandhi had launched a compulsory sterilisation programme in September 1976 to check population growth.
In 1977 political satire, Kissa Kursi Ka, produced by Janata Party MP Amrit Nahata, was banned by Sanjay Gandhi. It resulted in Sanjay Gandhi and then I&B minister VC Shukla in an 11-month long legal case for destroying all the prints and the master-print of the film. Kissa Kursi Ka had spoofed Sanjay Gandhi's auto-manufacturing plans (later established as Maruti Udyog in 1981) and some Congress supporters.
Sanjay Gandhi was appointed the Secretary-General of the Congress in May 1980. Just a month later, he died in an air crash. Sanjay Gandhi died instantly from head wounds in an air crash on June 23, 1980, near Safdarjung Airport in New Delhi. In pic: Rajiv Gandhi and Indira Gandhi after Sanjay died in a plane crash.
Sanjay Gandhi was appointed the Secretary-General of the Congress in May 1980. Just a month later, he died in an air crash. Sanjay Gandhi died instantly from head wounds in an air crash on June 23, 1980, near Safdarjung Airport in New Delhi. In pic: Rajiv Gandhi and Indira Gandhi after Sanjay died in a plane crash.
