माजी पंतप्रधान स्व. राजीव गांधी यांच्या जयंतीनिमित्त पंतप्रधान...

By GT24x7 Reporter · 20 August 2026 · GlobalToday24x7

On the birth anniversary of former Prime Minister Late Rajiv Gandhi on August 20, 2026, prominent political leaders across party lines paid rich tributes to remember his vision, leadership, and lasting legacy. Prime Minister Narendra Modi led the national remembrances by posting a formal message on social media platform X, expressing respect to the former Prime Minister on his birth anniversary. Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla also paid heartfelt floral tributes, recalling Rajiv Gandhi's parliamentary contributions and his dignified service to Indian democracy. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh underscored the late leader's role in shaping modern governance, noting that Rajiv Gandhi made significant contributions to India's developmental journey and long-term nation-building process. Concurrently, Union Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan offered his respectful homage to the former leader, acknowledging his dedicated public service to the country.

Born on August 20, 1944, in Mumbai, Rajiv Gandhi served as India's sixth Prime Minister from 1984 to 1989, stepping into office during a critical juncture in the nation's political history. As India's youngest Prime Minister at the age of 40, his tenure was characterized by a forward-looking approach that emphasized technological progress, youth empowerment, and administrative modernization. Leaders across the political spectrum emphasized that his initiatives provided a strong foundation for India's transition into the 21st century, establishing early frameworks for telecommunications, digital technology, and grassroots local governance that continue to influence contemporary public administration.

Pioneering Technological Transformation and Panchayati Raj Reforms

Rajiv Gandhi's legacy remains deeply intertwined with India's digital revolution and administrative decentralization. Widely recognized as the architect of India's IT and telecommunications boom, his administration established the Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT) and spearheaded public telephone accessibility, which fundamentally transformed national communication infrastructure. Furthermore, he laid the legal and political groundwork for lowering the voting age from 21 to 18 through the Constitutional Amendment, thereby empowering millions of young citizens to participate actively in democratic processes.

In addition to technological advancement, his government championed the 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendment Bills to strengthen Panchayati Raj institutions and urban local bodies. By constitutionalizing local self-governance and mandating reservations for women, these historic reforms decentralized political power to village-level administration across rural India. As the country remembered the former Prime Minister, leaders reaffirmed that his progressive policies in science, education through the Navodaya Vidyalaya system, and democratic decentralization continue to serve as vital milestones in India's ongoing growth trajectory.