Sonia Gandhi as PM’s wife

As the wife of Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi she had the exalted status of being the First Lady but Sonia never paraded herself in that image. Some misgiving or fear always lurked in the corner of her heart. Without Indiraji everything looked empty to her. Rajiv tried his best to provide emotional support to her and consoled her in every way possible without neglecting prime ministerial duties.
As Rajiv Gandhi gained public confidence and huge popularity he became more and more busy. Sonia Gandhi understood the helplessness of her husband. She never displayed any displeasure at Rajiv finding less time for his family. She infact cooperated in every possible way. The relentless comforting and nudging by Rajiv gradually wore away her fears and misgivings. But being careful about the security of her children and worrying for her husband had become her habits. Her worries began as soon as Rajiv would leave for duty and only ended when he returned home.
Meanwhile, the term of the parliament was to end in January, 1985. The elections for 8th Lok Sabha had to be held in December 1984 to be instituted in the January. Rajiv Gandhi had taken charge only in the month of October and facing elections in only two months hence could prove great challenge for any new PM. Accepting the challenge Rajiv Gandhi went for elections to be held in December, 1984.
On November 13, 1984 Election Commission announced Lok Sabha General Elections will be held in all states except Punjab and Assam. On November 20, due notification was issued declaring the dates of nominations, withdrawals and the voting.
Rajiv Gandhi began his election campaign from Bulandshahr (U.P.) on November 30, 1984. In a whirlwind electioneering spanning 25 days Rajiv spread his messages throughout the country where polls were scheduled. During the campaign Rajiv came down heavily on opposition parties for supporting Akali Dal resolution of Anandpur Sahib which demanded the state of Punjab be segragated from the rest of the country. It blatantly smacked of separatism. Rajiv alleged that entire opposition was overtly supporting separatism and covertly encouraging terrorism.
The issue became the focal point of the election. The Congress raised the slogans of stability and integrity of the country forcefully. It put the opposition parties on the defensive. They spent most of their energies in explaining away their position in the light of the charges made by Rajiv Gandhi.
The people were asked to choose between integrity of the country and its fragmentation. It made the desired impression on the people. The people were emotionally very sympathetic to Rajiv Gandhi because of the sacrifice of his mother for the country. Entire opposition was caught on the wrong foot. It got blown away in the sympathy wave.
Out of the 508 Lok Sabha seats Congress party contested on 496 and bagged 401 seats. Such a massive victory was not registered even by Jawaharlal Nehru and Indira Gandhi. In Rajiv Gandhi a new bright star had risen on the firmament of Indian politics. It was unprecedented scale of mandate given by the people to Rajiv Gandhi. The opposition had almost been wiped out. The opposition benches of 8th Lok Sabha would be thinly populated. BJP won only two seats. T.D.P. became the largest opposition group with 28 seats.
Later, elections were held in Punjab and Assam raising the Congress tally to 415 seats. Most of the political commentators gave credit for this victory to Rajiv Gandhi but review of the background factors shall reveal that Sonia also played a big role for it. Only because of her sacrifices, commitments and cooperation Rajiv was crossing milestones on the path of politics. Without the contribution of Sonia Gandhi he could not have made success of himself.
8th Lok Sabha was constituted on December 30, 1984. The very next day, Rajiv Gandhi again took oath of the office of the Prime Minister of India. 40 others were also sworn in as ministers. On January 5, 1985 Rajiv Gandhi shed light on his policies and programmes in an address—
“… the government will peacefully solve the problem of Punjab within a time frame and constitutional framework. Everyone’s cooperation will be sought to end the chapter of mistrust and distress. I want to assure the Sikh brethren that their life and property shall be protected. It is a moral duty of my government that separatist tendencies and violent methods shall not be tolerated. The unity and the integrity of the country is our top priority above everything else. I am well aware of the sacrifices made by Sikh community for independence of the country.”
Rajiv Gandhi made following specific announcements :

• A Central Ganga Authority shall be set up to make the Ganga river and tributaries pollution free and the purifications of their waters.
• National Development Board will be instituted to develop the arid lands. It will work on 50 lac hectares of land to produce fodder and fuel wood.
• For industrial development public sector shall be principal medium. But revolutionary changes will be effected to reform them and increase the productivity.
• Science, Technology and Industry ministries have been asked to prepare resolutions to work out steps for increase the productivity and practical application of modern techniques.
• Administrative reforms have great importance for social and economic revolution. So, Prime Minister himself shall look after the departments of personnel and administrative reforms.
• The government has ordered work at extensive scale to lay down a new Education Policy.
• The basic policies adopted by Nehruji and Indiraji and principles set in respect of foreign policy will be adhered to.
• We are committed to justice, equality and mutual cooperation based on non-alignment and the new economic system and continue with them.”

Rajiv Gandhi stood for clean politics. For that Sonia was proud of him and inspired him to remain so. In his election speeches he had promised to bring purity and transparency in politics. To translate that in reality Rajiv introduced Anti-defection Bill in the parliament on January 30, 1985. He said, “It is the first step in the direction of bringing cleanliness in public life. More steps will be taken. They include election related reforms. To introduce the reforms the cooperation of the opposition is expected. The seven evils that Mahatma Gandhi wanted to banish from social life included unprincipled politics as one of them. The bill is intended to eliminate the evils of unprincipled politics. For first time this bill recognises the importance of the party and its identity. Now no individual politician will change sides ignoring the party. If a person fights election on the ticket of a particular party the people naturally vote him for the principles of the party. If such an elected member changes sides he/she is clearly betraying the party and the voters’.
Computer education
Rajiv Gandhi was a great computer enthusiast. He knew the importance of computer in the future of the country. Then Indians knew very little about computers. It was merely an expensive gadget meant for technological snobs. Rajiv Gandhi revealed the scope of computer as an instrument for information, education, communication, entertainment and data processing revolution. He said the future belonged to the computer and it would become the most important personal aid of an educated person. It was due to his endeavour that computer education was introduced in schools and educational institutions. When we see today how computer has transformed India into an information technology giant of the world and an emerging economic power we need to remember that it is mostly due to Rajiv Gandhi and his correct assessment of the role of the digital technology in future world.
Peace treaties
For the first year Rajiv government worked with great enthusiasm and activeness. Inspite of various parliamentary sessions and numerous foreign visits Rajiv Gandhi worked out solutions of Punjab and Assam problems. In case of Punjab he signed a historic pact with Harchand Singh Longowal on July 24, 1985 which ultimately led to return of the peace in the state of Punjab. The terrorism became history. On August 14, 1985, in the wee hours of the morning a compromise formula on Assam was signed by the home secretary of the central government and the home secretary of Assam. The student leaders of agitating groups of Assam signed the joint agreement. P.K. Mahant represented Assam Gan Parishad and B.K. Phukan-Viraj Sharma duo represented Assam Students Union. Everything seemed to be working perfectly for Rajiv Gandhi.
In July, 1986 PM, Rajiv Gandhi went to Mizoram. There the people had risen in armed rebellion against the central government under the leadership of Laldenga. Rajiv was able to reason with him and brought Laldenga into mainstream politics. On August 7, 1986 Mizoram was granted full statehood. With relentless effort of the young PM. Gorkha issue and racial problems of Tripura were settled down to a large extent.
Sonia as first lady
Rajiv Gandhi had become so involved with nation’s political problems that he was hardly finding time to spend with Sonia Gandhi or talk to her and children in a carefree mood. A stage came when Rajiv could meet Sonia only once a week. One can only imagine the feelings of Sonia Gandhi for who Rajiv was the only emotional anchor in life now.
But she stoically bore with it.
Now Rajiv Gandhi and his family lived in a very strict security cover. The family was ever under threat from terrorist outfits. The children had been shifted from Dehradun to New Delhi already during Indiraji’s time itself. But the assassination of Indiraji had further heightened the danger to them. Hence they were removed from Delhi schools too.
Rahul and Priyanka stayed home and were getting tutored by carefully selected teachers who were throughly investigated and kept under watch. The children were under such restriction that they could not attend any party or meet any friends even. Anyone’s entry into Gandhi household was severely restricted and the members of the family could go out only under heavy security cover programmed and detailed secretly in advance. The situation indicated that the very independence of the life of Sonia and her children had become hostage to security concern. The small first family of the nation was deprived of the basic conveniences a commoner enjoyed. Sonia Gandhi was paying the price of being the wife of the Prime Minister of India and all the sacrifices her family had made for the country.
The fact is that the truth is unpalatably bitter. To escape the sting of the bitter truth the weak characters take the route of lies and subterfuge. But true characters bear with it bravely like Sonia Gandhi was doing and qualify for bigger greatness to come in near future. Sonia betrayed no weakness and stood by her husband in his endeavour of bettering the state of his country.
Sonia Gandhi and Indiraji both were great admirers of Mother Teresa and found satisfaction in being useful to the latter. Infact Indiraji and Sonia had the same missionary zeal as Mother Teresa at different levels. For her mission Indiraji sacrificed her life. Sonia was now making all the sacrifices for Rajiv Gandhi and the country through him with the same missionary spirit. But no credits she claimed.
Like a truly committed wife Sonia cooperated with Rajiv in his political endeavours inspite of her dislike for politics. She understood the family’s political duties towards the country and obligations of Rajiv to the people. Rajiv duly respected the feelings of Sonia and in line with her wish kept her shielded from political involvements. After the deaths of Sanjay Gandhi and his mother Indira Gandhi he was forced by circumstances to accept the political legacy and join politics to keep Congress party afloat.
Rajiv Gandhi’s nature was so simple and sweet that it endeared even the strangers. Sonia was his wife and hence she was bound to get sweetly infected by his honest thoughts. Gradually she found herself wilfully playing the role of the better half of the Prime Minister Rajiv. It pleased her to see that her husband was becoming a towering figure in the national politics and a respected figure on international stage. Like every Indian wife she duly felt proud of her husband and emotionally an integral part of him or whatever he achieved. Sonia Gandhi inspite of her foreign origin had become an ideal Indian bahu, an example for others.
Sonia would not take any special interest in political matters of Rajiv but in finding answers to the women related problems and the schemes meant for betterment of the state of women folk she did not hesitate in giving suggestions to him just as Rajiv himself used to provide assistance to his mother politically in the initial phase. Now Sonia was doing the same for him. And in the process Sonia Gandhi was becoming a part of the national political activity.
As a part of her duty as the better half of the Prime Minister, Sonia Gandhi had begun receiving the foreign dignitaries, interacting with them and presenting customary gifts to them which felt good. She had a good command over Italian, French, English, Russian and Spanish. Now she had learnt Hindi. Sonia started going on foreign tours with Rajiv Gandhi besides accompanying him on inland official tours. Sonia Gandhi had now transformed herself into counterpart of the Prime Minister from the betterhalf of Rajiv Gandhi.
Reconciled with the situation Sonia Gandhi was now doing her duty. With Rajiv she went to Britain, U.S.A., China, Japan and Austria as the first lady. On these official visits she was seen as the true representative of the Indian culture. The popularity graph of Rajiv Gandhi was ever on the increase which irked the opponents within and the enemies of India. All the steps taken by the young PM and achievements recorded in the interest of the people and the country were making the anti-national elements and external foes feel uneasy. Rajiv and Sonia were well aware of the fact that it put their lives at greater risk. The enemies never wanted Rajiv Gandhi to succeed. But undeterred by it Rajiv continued on with this endeavour to take India forward in every field.
On October 2, 1986 the nation was celebrating 117th birth anniversary of Gandhiji. As customary a prayer meeting was being held at his memorial at Rajghat. Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi had come to take part in prayers and pay homage to the Father of the Nation. From the cover of a bush someone fired at him. Rajiv escaped unhurt. The security personnel whisked him away.

The second attempt on the life of Rajiv Gandhi was made in Sri Lanka. He had gone there to sign an agreement according to which India was to send its army units to serve as a peace keeping force (IPKF) to Sri Lanka to crush terrorist activities of LTTE (Liberation Tigers of Tamil Elam). On July 27, 1989 Rajiv was inspecting a guard of honour being presented to him. Suddenly a soldier tried to hit Rajiv on head with the butt of his gun. The security guards foiled the attempt and he again escaped unhurt although the incident shocked everyone.
The attack obviously was engineered by LTTE. It wanted to convey the message that India was not doing good in sending its army to deal with it. It was angry with the Indian PM and had put him on its hit list.