On May 21, 1991, former Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi was killed when a 22-year-old woman carrying out a suicide mission set off a bomb in his presence. Gandhi had been making his way to a campaign rally where he was to give a speech, walking along a route where children and supporters stood waiting, offering garlands and warm greetings. Among them was a woman identified as Kalaivani Rajaratnam, who stepped forward and bowed before him. In that moment, she triggered the explosive device, unleashing a blast that reverberated through the surrounding streets. The devastating attack claimed the lives of Gandhi, Rajaratnam, her co-conspirator, and 11 additional victims, while leaving as many as 59 civilians wounded, children among them.
Born on August 20, 1944, in Bombay, India, Rajiv Gandhi carved out a political career that mirrored those of his maternal grandfather and his mother before him, both of whom had served as Prime Minister. When his mother was assassinated in 1984, Rajiv stepped into the role at just 40 years old, making him the youngest person ever to hold the office of Prime Minister in India's history. He led the country until 1989, when an election loss ended his tenure. In the aftermath of that defeat, he took on the position of Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, a role he held until his resignation in 1990.
Investigations following his death revealed that Gandhi's assassination was driven by a personal vendetta tied to his administration's decision to deploy Indian Peace Keeping Forces to Sri Lanka. Suspicions surrounding war crimes perpetrated against the Sri Lankan Tamils also factored into the motive. To preserve his legacy, a memorial was erected at the location where Gandhi was cremated. Furthermore, the Indian National Congress Party introduced the Rajiv Gandhi National Sadbhavana Award in 1992, created to honor those who made outstanding contributions to communal harmony. Ever since his death, May 21st has been marked as Anti-Terrorism Day across India.