NEW-AGE POLITICIAN RAJIV GANDHI (1944–1991)

Forced to inherit the nation’s mantle after his mother’s death, Rajiv gave it his all, firing the country with his young energy and imagination

- SAM PITRODA

Rajiv Gandhi’s contribution to India lies in the seeds he sowed in the mid-’80s to take India into the 21st century. He brought the energy of young, fresh new thinking. I had the opportunity to work closely with him on many important initiatives. I know he was committed to using technology to benefit people at the bottom of the economic pyramid. He encouraged indigenous development, institution-building, civil society, democratization, decentralisation, privatization, deregulation, entrepreneurship, creativity, openness and accountability. He was always time-conscious and would tell me, “I wish people recognised they take 3