On former prime minister Indira Gandhi's death anniversary, her grandson Rahul Gandhi and granddaughter Priyanka Gandhi remembered her in an emotional way. Both leaders shared childhood photos on social media in which Indira Gandhi is seen with her grandchildren, photos that carry memories of time spent in a grandmother's lap and of love and respect for her personality.
Rahul Gandhi, leader of the opposition in the Lok Sabha and Congress MP, shared a childhood photo in which Indira Gandhi is holding him in her lap. With the photo, he wrote that he still remembers sitting in his grandmother's lap, holding both her hands and listening to words spoken in her voice. He also recalled the mantra she used to teach him.
The mantra Rahul remembered
Rahul wrote in his post, "Asato ma sadgamaya, tamaso ma jyotirgamaya, mrityorma amritam gamaya," followed by "Om shanti, shanti, shanti." Addressing his grandmother, he wrote that she had given him such a beautiful gift, such a priceless gift, one he had never even imagined.
Priyanka's words about her grandmother
Priyanka Gandhi also posted a childhood photo, in which she is seen sitting beside Indira Gandhi. Writing about her grandmother's personality, she said, "How beautiful a woman she was! Free like the sky, deep like the sea, strong like the earth and shining like fire." The two posts showed two different glimpses of Indira Gandhi, Rahul's photo carrying memories of a grandmother's lap and childhood lessons, and Priyanka's words carrying the depth and strength of her personality.
How and when Indira Gandhi died
Former prime minister Indira Gandhi was assassinated on 31 October 1984. She was shot at her official residence in New Delhi by two of her own security personnel. She was 66 years old at the time. On the morning of 31 October, as she was leaving her residence for her office, her two bodyguards Satwant Singh and Beant Singh opened fire on the way. Beant Singh fired five shots from his revolver, while Satwant Singh fired 25 rounds from his carbine. Indira Gandhi was taken to AIIMS hospital, but she died.
The assassination came about four months after Operation Blue Star in June 1984, when the army conducted an operation at the Golden Temple complex in Amritsar to flush out armed militants present there. The military action caused heavy damage to the Golden Temple complex and a large number of people were killed. Amid the anger over this action, Indira Gandhi's two security personnel killed her, and investigations and judicial proceedings described the anger linked to Operation Blue Star as the main reason behind the conspiracy.
