After the brutal assassination of Rajiv Gandhi the senior Congressmen naturally assumed that Sonia Gandhi would accept the leadership of the party. To them it looked a normal succession process. After Indiraji the Congressmen had made Rajiv Gandhi as their leader. Rajiv had accepted the responsibility for the sake of the nation, party and family tradition. Similarly Sonia Gandhi had to continue the tradition. Sonia Gandhi already was against Rajiv Gandhi’s joining politics and had tried her best to keep him off politics. The politics had killed her mother-in-law, Indiraji and then taken away her dear husband condemning her to widowhood. Why would she get attracted to politics? It had given her nothing but pain and sorrow. Then, there was the factor that she was now in perpetual sorrowing mood. She had lost interest even in eating food and taking care of herself. No one seemed to understand what Rajiv meant to her and how deep her loss was! His death had pushed her into an endless tunnel of darkness of grief. She was internally broken down who would not even care to listen to the talk of politics.
Seeing this unyielding attitude of Sonia Gandhi the party chose P.V. Narsimha Rao as its leader on May 29, 1991.
On 30th May a havan was organised in Teen Murti Bhavan for the peace of the soul of Rajiv Gandhi. It was attended by Sonia Gandhi, Rahul, Priyanka, family friend Amitabh Bachchan, all senior and prominent Congress leaders, leaders of political parties and invited guests.
Late Rajiv’s Doon class mate and the family friend of Gandhis Amitabh Bachchan was quizzed by media person about the possibiliy of Sonia Gandhi entering politics. He replied in plain words, “Sonia has been hit by such a great tragedy only a few days ago. She has lost something that meant everything to her. In such a situation she shouldn’t be forced into politics. It will be her own decision about what she wishes to do. As far as I am concerned I have lost my best friend and leader. My heart is heavy. I also want to be left alone to mourn for my friend, please.”
Sonia Gandhi decided to mourn the loss of her dearest for 40 days. During this sorrowing period people from the country and abroad came to her to share her grief. Sonia received a pile of condolence messages. She used to reply them properly herself. During this mourning period the 21st birthday of Rahul also fell on June 20, 1991 but sorrowing Sonia Gandhi had withdrawn into grief from all outside joys or celebrations. On that day the sight of her sad, shrivelled and cowering children brought tears to her eyes.
Sonia Gandhi bravely set aside her personal grief. She decided to face the future by devoting herself to the happiness of her children and their lives. Her dearest Rajiv had seen some dreams but his untimely death left those dreams unrealised. Sonia Gandhi made up her mind to free herself from grieving mood to realise those unfulfilled dreams of Rajiv as best as she could. Now she had got a mission to replace sadness. She seriously mulled over her resolve. Without doubt the loss of Rajiv was a deep tragedy for Sonia. So deep that her mother Paula and her sisters assumed Sonia would now leave India and move to live in Italy permanently as there was nothing left for her here. They were wrong. By marrying Rajiv Gandhi she had not only joined Gandhi family but become a part of India. Alongside Rajiv she had fallen in love with India.
When Sonia knew little about India and she had misgivings about her future mother-in-law named Indira Gandhi, Rajiv had told her to come to India and see for herself what the people here were like and how his mother was. He promised once in India she won’t be able to leave it.
Now it was coming true. Sonia had become an Indian and had grown down deep roots emotionally. She could not even imagine leaving India.
Sonia Gandhi wrote to her family—
‘I want to live in India. Hundreds of millions of people here are ready to wipe off my tears. How can I leave this land that loves me so much? Now it is my country and I live in the hearts of crores of people of this land.
The land for the sake of which my Rajiv sacrificed his life is now like a pilgrim centre, a holy place. Now I will dedicate my life in fulfilling the dreams of Rajiv living here’.
The election results for 10th Lok Sabha were out. The Congress had improved its tally mainly due to sympathy wave created by the assassination of Rajiv Gandhi in the last phase of elections. Compared to 196 seats won by Congress in 1989 elections it now had 244 seats, a little short of simple majority. Being the largest party in Parliament it formed government at centre with P.V. Narsimha Rao as Prime Minister. Rajiv’s dream of the Congress government at the centre had come true at the cost of his life, a supreme sacrifice.
Sonia Gandhi too was now resolved to realise other dreams of Rajiv in her own way in his memory. On the birthday of Rahul Gandhi, Sonia declared institution of ‘Rajiv Gandhi Foundation’ on June 21, 1991. It was inaugurated by the President R. Venkataraman.
The primary aims of the foundation were the causes most dear to Rajiv Gandhi like spreading literacy, use of science and technology in development works, helping out handicapped and paralysed persons, nursing aerodynamic talents, setting up institutions for the promising talents in various other fields, taking care of children orphaned by violence and terrorism and all other works that could help the interests of the people and the nation. The foundation has proved true to its promises and goals.
Besides Rajiv Gandhi Foundation, Sonia Gandhi was president of six other institutions namely, ‘Rajiv Gandhi Institute for Contemporary Studies’, ‘Jawaharlal Nehru Memorial Museum and Library’, ‘Indira Gandhi Memorial Trust’, ‘Jawahar Bhavan Trust’, ‘Veer Bhoomi Memorial Trust’ and ‘Sri Perumbudur Memorial Trust’.
August 20, 1994 was the day Congress was celebrating Rajiv Gandhi’s 50th Birth Anniversary at grand scale. From all over the country Congress delegates, leaders, social workers, writers, journalists and foreign guests had gathered in Delhi. Naturally present was Sonia Gandhi who still shunned politics. PM Narsimha Rao rose up to address the gathering but the congressmen began to raise slogans hailing Sonia and asking her to take charge of the Congress.
For ten minutes Narsimha Rao stood and waited to speak hoping the noise to die out. Appeals were made to the congressmen to stop making noise and raising slogans. When Rao began to speak the congressmen began to walk away in frustration. The delegates and workers were in defiant mood.
The dissatisfaction with Narsimha Rao was very understandable. Under him Congress was losing ground and earning disrepute. A lot had happened between 1991 and 1994. A Mumbai stock broker had alleged he bribed Narsimha Rao with Rs. one crore. During a no-confidence motion Rao was charged to have brought the support of some MPs with huge amounts of money. One of those MPs admitted to have received the money.
Narsimha Rao did little to prevent the desecration of Babri Mosque structure by Hindu Communal forces on December 6, 1992. That alienated Muslims from Congress. To make matters worse the support base of Congress amongst scheduled castes, tribes and backwards was fast getting eroded due to various reasons. The uninspiring leadership of Rao was costing Congress dear. All that grassroot Congress-workers could do was to hopefully look at Sonia and pray for the change of her mind.
Sonia Gandhi watched Congressmen walking away without reacting. Some senior Congress leaders prayed to her to join politics. She remained calm. How could she accept politics that had killed her dear Mummy and the dearest husband to destroy her world? Why couldn’t congressmen understand it? Although Sonia was determined to stay away from politics yet the destruction of the Congress party, the legacy of Nehruji, Indiraji and Rajiv was causing her great distress. She sympathised with the workers of the party who looked so despairing and frustrated. But what could she do?
Sonia was totally detached from politics yet her stature in the party and foreign lands was very high, an envy of others. She commanded such respect that at her command Congress workers could do anything asked of.
Inspite of being apolitical all eyes were fixed on the house at 10, Janpath where the widow of Rajiv Gandhi lived. All political creatures and non-political ones kept track of what Sonia Gandhi was doing or she was saying. It had great significance. She held no official post or party post yet Sonia had the immense power of the legacy of Nehru-Gandhi family. The people’s faith and affection for the family was incredible. Without being in power Sonia was the symbol of power.
Narsimha Rao was the Prime Minister by default. Only the refusal of Sonia to take charge of the party had made him PM. For all practical purposes he enjoyed the post by her grace. When Rajiv Gandhi had been assassinated all congressmen had pleaded to Sonia to accept the legacy of the political family and wear the crown. Had she accepted she would have been Congress President and PM instead of Narsimha Rao. Even now one missive from Sonia Gandhi could create storm in the Congress party. Narsimha Rao felt uneasy about it. He wanted to break the emotional anchorage of Congress party to Gandhi family. At his hint the party high command made moves to break free of Sonia influence. Sonia Gandhi and Narsimha Rao had been having strained relationship ever since July, 1992.
Then, a Congress commission levelled a charge against Rajiv Gandhi in a report which claimed the communal BJP prospered during the prime ministership of Rajiv Gandhi.
That started the bitterness in the relations between Sonia and P.M. Rao. It increased as new situations built up. Verma Commission and Jain Commission reports on the assassination of Rajiv Gandhi were not properly pursued with by Narsimha Rao government. The name of Rajiv Gandhi was deliberately mentioned now and again in connection with Bofors Howitzer deal. Rajiv initiated ‘Garibi Hatao’ programme was neglected. These factors further vitiated the relations between Sonia Gandhi and Narsimha Rao.
The worst came when the people suspected BJP and Rao government acting in collusion when Babri mosque was demolished by Hindu fanatics angering the Muslim community. The Congress party lost its Muslim support base. The traditional Congress support bases amongst minorities and backwards were dangerously shrinking whereas opponents were gaining ground. The Congress faced a perilous future prospect due to inept handling of situations by Narsimha Rao clique.
It appeared time was changing and so was the mind of Sonia Gandhi. The legacy of a political family and the responsibilities towards the people and country were wearing out the resistence of Sonia Gandhi. Her conscience was calling her to do her due duty to the Congress party and the country. She was no more Sonia Maino of Italy but Sonia Gandhi of India.
She was also in a moral dilemma. She was resolved to serve the cause of handicapped, paralysed and orphans through Rajiv Gandhi Foundation. And there was this Congress party, now like an orphaned child looking up to her hopefully praying to be taken care of. It had the sole hope in Sonia Gandhi. It was time to remember the old saying ‘Never say never to anything’. It might prove true in her case.
Soon after the assassination of Rajiv Gandhi the people who came to share her grief could only speak words of condolence and political discussion or mention was strictly forbidden. The time changed and Sonia began to listen to political views and situation. Then she started taking part in political discussions and engaged in question-answers. Her questioning and reactions revealed she had a good understanding of political matters. Sometimes she showed glimpses of a seasoned politician. Sonia Gandhi was silently undergoing a political evolution. Her growing interest in politics made congressmen think what their individual positions would be if Sonia Gandhi joined politics. What would be the fate of Narsimha Rao and his group? Traditional voters of Congress party were deserting it, the infighting and groupism was ravaging the party. The election defeats were demoralising the party cadres.
Muddled policies of Narsimha Rao and his indicisiveness made congressmen despair. Various groups were emerging and slight warmth shown by Sonia Gandhi to a group began to make other groups squirm. Such was the influence and invisible power of Sonia.
On August 24, 1995 in late Rajiv’s constituency Amethi, Sonia Gandhi addressed a massive public meeting in which she expressed her displeasure at the way Rajiv Gandhi assassination investigation was being handled. She said, “I’ve come to Amethi after a long time. It has been my late husband’s constituency. Coming here brings back old memories about him. You know how he loved the poor and his commitment to the country. He sacrificed his life for the country. You know my pain and how much I loved him. Four years and three months have gone by since his assassination but the investigation against the killers is still incomplete. The probe is going on very slowly. In every aspect of the country separatist tendencies are on the increase. After his death I started to feel that his dreams must be realised. And that would be the only true tribute to him.”
It was a big pointer.
Meanwhile tussle was going on between ruling group of Congress and rebel group. The leaders were trying to tear each other apart. Dissatisfaction was ripe. The sub groups within the party were fighting for fishes and loaves. Only a charismatic leader could save the party from disintegration. The party had no such leader. If Sonia Gandhi were to join politics and take command of the party then all the problems of Congress party would be solved. All factions would willingly bow to her. Congressmen were so loyal to the Nehru-Gandhi family that they could have accepted the leadership of even Rahul or Priyanka.
Without being in politics Sonia Gandhi meant a lot for Congress and she had an international image no less than anyone in power. Some wondered if Sonia joined politics would she be able to retain same degree of importance? The foreign dignitaries, even heads of states who visited India made it a point to visit Sonia Gandhi as a duty or out of respect. It was all due to her importance in Indian politics and her connection to Nehru-Gandhi family.
In May, 1996 Lok Sabha elections were held. The Congress was voted out of power. Deve Gowda of Janata Dal formed a coalition government. Congress party under the Presidentship of Sitaram Kesari provided outside support to it. On 28th May Deve Gowda was sworn in as the Prime Minister.
Sonia Gandhi watched this strange political drama from a distance. It made her sad. Meanwhile she found an opportunity to discharge a great social responsibility. Sonia learnt that her daughter Priyanka had fallen in love with a youngman called Robert Vadra, the son of an industrialist of Moradabad, U.P. She gave assent to their marriage.
On February 18, 1997 Priyanka and Robert Vadra were married in a ceremony held at 10, Janpath according to the customs and traditions of Kashmiri pandits. For Sonia Gandhi it was the first joyous occasion after the death of her husband.The marriage signified the union of two communities. Similarly, 55 years ago in 1942 Indira Nehru had wed Feroz Gandhi to become Indira Gandhi. Priyanka had followed the example of her grandmother unwittingly. Two hundred guests and relatives from both sides took part in the marriage ceremony and rituals. Some family members of Sonia Gandhi had also arrived from Italy to bless the couple and revive social contact with Sonia.
The marriage was a simple affair. The president and prime minister also came to bless the newly weds. Amitabh Bachchan and his younger brother Ajitabh also attended the ceremony.
But there was no joy at political stage.
