Rajiv Gandhi, The Prime Minister continues...

As a matter of fact, political experience is not an absolute and perfect yardstick to measure the suitability for leadership. A leader ought to have a vision and the capacity to make his people live that vision.

A leader makes the nation feel that it is safe in his hands. It is one of the mysteries of human society that whenever it faces an existential crisis a leader emerges to lead it and take it forward. The emergence of Rajiv Gandhi as leader was a historic inevitability. So, lack of experience became an irrelevant factor in the overall context.

Rajiv Gandhi was not a politician in the conventional sense of the term. He did not have to be one. He was a leader; history bestowed on him the role of leading the nation. He was new to the job, but had a new perspective on politics; he had a new approach, a new style. Indian politics was surely entering a new phase.

Rajiv Gandhi assumed the prime ministership under extremely trying

circumstances. His mother, the most powerful democratic prime minister

in the world, had been brutally assassinated a few hours earlier. The country was on the brink of anarchy. There was uncertainty everywhere. The question on everyone’s mind was: what would happen to the country now?

There was a great emotional upsurge in the country. The people of India

wanted a leader strong enough to lead the nation at that critical time.

True to their belief, Rajiv Gandhi, after assuming the prime ministership, took firm control and put down the raging violence that had broken out after the assassination of Indira Gandhi. In his broadcasts to the nation, people could hear the ring

of sincerity and firmness. Despite the enormity of the personal tragedy he

had suffered, Rajiv Gandhi could maintain equanimity of mind and addressed himself seriously to the problems at hand. The greatest asset he could draw upon at this extremely trying time was the total support he received from the people of the country. They found him serious-minded,

sincere, firm and dignified.

To be continued.....