Every year, on 20th August, the nation pays homage to its former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi on his birth anniversary and the day is commemorated as ‘Sadbhavana Diwas.’ Sadbhavana which translates to ‘goodwill’ in English, is aimed at promoting peace, harmony and national integration. It hopes to encourage peaceful coexistence among individuals and groups across diversities and instil social peace, solidarity, and fraternity. It is a day to not only pay respects to a former national leader who made significant contributions to India’s growth story but also to remember these great values which are foundational to Indian society.
Sadbhavana Diwas is being celebrated since 1992, a year after Rajiv Gandhi was assassinated in Tamil Nadu by a suicide bomber with links to the LTTE during an election rally. The same year, the Congress Party also started a Rajiv Gandhi National Sadbhavana Award to be conferred on people who make outstanding contribution to communal harmony, national integration and peace. The last award was given in 2018 to Gopalkrishna Gandhi, an IAS officer and the grandson of Mahatma Gandhi and C. Rajagopalachari.
A late entrant to politics, Rajiv Gandhi was a pilot by profession and thrust into politics owing to his family legacy. The son and grandson of former Prime Ministers, Rajiv Gandhi took over as the head of government in a tumultuous time after Indira Gandhi was assassinated and remains India’s youngest Prime Minister to date. He is also the only leader to have led his party to 400+ seats in a Lok Sabha Election, when the Congress won 414 seats in the 1984 Elections.
Some of the top achievements of Rajiv Gandhi, in his single tenure as Prime minister, include – the IT revolution as he ushered in the era of digitalization in India; peace accords in Punjab, Assam, Mizoram and Darjeeling; a special focus on the youth especially lowering of the voting age; attempts to resolve disputes with China and Pakistan; initiated the process of liberalization; some important laws like anti-defection; and launched ‘Project Clean Ganga’ and the national wasteland development programme along with other projects for the environment. However, some major controversies also marred his career like the Bofors Scandal, Shah Bano case, Bhopal gas tragedy, etc.
Across the country, people and leaders today paid their tributes to the late Prime Minister on his 80th birth anniversary with his son and Leader of Opposition, Rahul Gandhi leading the mourning as he paid a floral tribute at Veer Bhumi. Various community events and functions were also organized.
