In India, there is one family whose fortunes have been almost as dramatic as in the TV series: the Nehru-Gandhi family. It is very rare for a family to rule a country for more than 40 years and serve as prime minister for three generations. The end of each generation of this family is full of tragedy and makes people feel a little cursed. The story of this family is not only about the inheritance of power, but also a history of blood and tears.
Let's start with Nehru. Nehru was India's first post-independence prime minister, and his political career can be described as spectacular. He had big dreams of building a modern India and making India a force to be reckoned with in the world. Under his leadership, India did show some influence on the international stage, especially the Non-Aligned Movement, which he championed, which made India a representative of third world countries.
However, some of Nehru's foreign policies, especially those toward China, made serious mistakes. He insisted on using the McMahon Line as the Sino-Indian border, which has been a point of contention between China and India. In 1962, when he pursued the so-called "Forward Policy" in an attempt to change the status quo on the border, it led to a Sino-Indian border conflict that resulted in a crushing defeat for India, and Nehru's personal prestige and India's international standing were greatly damaged. Two years later, Nehru died of illness, and many believe he died with a deep sense of melancholy.
Next, let's talk about Nehru's daughter, Indiala Gandhi. She became India's first female prime minister in 1966, and her ruling career was one of drama. Indila Gandhi was a charismatic and decisive political leader who pushed for a number of major policies, including economic reforms. Under her leadership, India not only successfully conducted its first nuclear test, but also successfully supported the independence of East Pakistan in 1971, thereby weakening Pakistan's national power.
However, Indiala's reign also sparked great controversy, particularly in her approach to Sikh issues. In 1984, in an attempt to suppress the Sikh uprising, she ordered the army to attack the Golden Temple, a holy site for the Sikhs, an act that led to the deaths of a large number of innocent Sikhs and the deterioration of her image among the Sikhs. On October 31 of the same year, Indila Gandhi was assassinated at her residence by two Sikh bodyguards, which brought her political career to a tragic end. The death of Indila Gandhi was not just a personal tragedy, but also a symbol of the end of an era.
Let's take a look at Indiala's son, Rajiv Gandhi. After the assassination of his mother, Rajiv Gandhi succeeded to the position of prime minister. Although he was a political amateur, he entered the political arena with the desire to reform and open up, and worked hard to promote the modernization of India. Under his leadership, India embarked on a series of economic and technological reforms that came to be known as the cornerstone of India's modernization.
The good times were short-lived, and Rajiv's tenure was also controversial, especially after the events in Belfast, which severely affected his political image. In 1991, Rajiv was hit by a deadly terrorist attack on the campaign trail and also embarked on the path of his mother's tragedy. With the death of Rajiv Gandhi, the political fate of the Gandhi family seems to be controlled by some force of irresistibility, and the tragic end of three generations cannot help but make people sigh.
Looking back at the history of the Nehru-Gandhi family, it is not difficult to see that each generation of leaders has had extraordinary political achievements, but at the same time, they have also had tragic fates that are difficult to escape. Their lives and decisions affect hundreds of millions of Indians, and even the entire world. Their stories are full of power struggles, feelings for family and country, and personal sacrifices.
Is such a family, such a fate, really just an accident? Or is there some other unknown force behind it? We may not know the answers to these questions, but what is certain is that the story of the Nehru-Gandhi family will forever be engraved in the history of India and the world.
The story of the Nehru-Gandhi family is an epic work spanning decades, and their fate is intimately linked to the history of the country of India. From Jawaharlal Nehru's visionary vision to India's iron-fisted policies to Rajiv's modernization reforms, every leader has worked tirelessly for India's development and progress. The tragedy also seems to have not faded from the family.