The Love Saga Of Gandhi Family - Part I

Love And Romance

oi-Staff

By Super

Monday, May 21, 2012, 17:22

Their love knew no bonds. It was not a love at first sight story, it was all about a relationship that stood against all the frontiers, religion and even crossed several country boundaries to pay their humble homage for the four letter word, 'Love'. It is not a legendary love story but the tough and the surviving one. Read to creep into the love life of Rajiv and Sonia Gandhi, and their daughter Priyanka and Robert Vadra.

Sonia And Rajiv Gandhi

Sonia Manio met Rajiv Gandhi in Cambridge during 1960's when the former Prime Minister was studying at the famous British University. She was born into a family of modest means in an Italian village. In 1964, she went to study English at 'The Bell Educational Trust's' language school in the city of Cambridge. It is here that she met Rajiv Gandhi. Some reports state that at this period she even worked in a restaurant as waitress for paying the tuition fees, as her family couldn't afford one.

Their love life did not start at a very glance. It bloomed everyday to its perfection until they held their hands together to lead a respectable married life. Maino's family opposed the match, and did not encourage the relationship. However, Maino, stood firm to her decision and paved her way with her love to India, to be his wife.

They were married in 1968. The simple ceremony was held on Vasant Panchami day in February, the same day when Indira Gandhi married Feroze few decades earlier. The wedding was a simple nondenominational ceremony in the garden of Safdarjang Road. Sonia wore a pink sari made from cotton which Nehru had spun while in prison. Biographer Nicholas Nugent in his book Rajiv Gandhi - son of a dynasty, states that, it was the same sari which Indira had worn for her wedding.

The new addition to the family became an instant favourite. Sonia and Indira became extremely compatible to each other. However, with the time, Sonia showed aversion to politics. She detested the very word and opposed her husband Rajiv entering it. So, after marriage Rajiv began working for Indian Airlines as a professional pilot and Sonia took care of her family, while his mother became Prime Minister in 1966. It is also said that even he exhibited no interest in politics and did not live regularly with his mother in Delhi at the Prime Minister's residence. In 1970, his wife, Sonia gave birth to Rahul, their first child, and in 1972, to Priyanka, their second. When Rajiv remained aloof in politics, his younger brother Sanjay became a close advisor to their mother.

Well the, destiny had a sad end for the cupid struck couples. Due to the well known political reasons Indira Gandhi was ousted from office in 1977. After the death of Sanjay, Rajiv entered politics to stable the disturbed situation in 1982. When everything seemed to go well. Indira Gandhi was assassinated by her bodyguards on October 31st 1984. With all the above upheavals Sonia continued to focus on her family and avoided all contact with public. However she was at her husbands side to stretch forth a helping hand in his campaign, victory and even defeat.

The family looked just a perfect portrait of happiness. But all faded in few seconds when he was assassinated by a female LTTE suicide bomber. With the sad demise the love story did breathe an end but the royal pair still look blissed when thought about in every Indian heart.