Rajiv Gandhi was the sixth Prime Minister of India, serving from 1984 until his assassination in 1991. The correct spelling of his name is /ˈrɑːdʒiːv ˈɡæn(d)iː/ which follows the English transliteration of the Hindi language. The first syllable "ra" is pronounced like "rah" with a long "a" sound, and the second syllable "jiv" is pronounced like "jive" with a short "i" sound. The last name "Gandhi" is pronounced like "gahn-dee" with a long "a" sound and a silent "h".
Rajiv Gandhi is a proper noun that refers to an Indian politician and statesman who served as the sixth Prime Minister of India from 1984 to 1989. He was born on August 20, 1944, in Mumbai, India, and was the eldest son of Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and politician Feroze Gandhi.
Rajiv Gandhi became involved in politics after the assassination of his mother in 1984. He was appointed as the Prime Minister at the age of 40 and played a crucial role in modernizing India's economy and infrastructure. His policies focused on liberalization, technology, and public welfare. During his tenure, he introduced several significant reforms, including educational reforms, advancements in science and technology, and efforts to combat corruption.
However, his tenure was also marred by controversies and challenges. The Bofors scandal, ethnic conflicts and violence in Punjab and Assam, as well as the Sri Lankan Civil War, were some of the issues that he grappled with during his time in office.
Rajiv Gandhi's life was tragically cut short when he was assassinated on May 21, 1991, by a suicide bomber associated with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) during an election campaign in Sriperumbudur, Tamil Nadu.
Despite the controversies surrounding his tenure, Rajiv Gandhi is widely remembered as a dynamic leader who sought to bring India into the modern era. His contributions to Indian politics and his commitment to social welfare transformed the country and left a lasting impact on its development.