Talk:Rajiv Gandhi/Archive 1

Sri Lanka POV Issues
The end of the article seems to suffer from a serious P.O.V. problem re: Sri Lanka. Could this be edited to a more neutral position? —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 69.192.168.184 (talk • contribs) 06:54, 24 January 2006 (UTC).
 * Just because those who killed Rajiv Gandhi were from Sri Lanka should there be a "Sri Lankan POV" in the article? Then by the same logic, the article on Mahatma Gandhi should have a "Marathi POV" because Gandhi's assassin was from Maharashtra!

Religion?
All right. Biographies of this dude have been written. He lived his life in the public eye. So what's the story: Was he a Zoroastrian, a Hindu, or a Muslim (as claimed by Sangh Parivar – I don't buy it myself)? I realize that orthodox Zoroastrians don't allow children of mixed marriages to be Zoroastrian, but I'm under the impression that reformist Zoroastrians do. The reason I ask is that we keep hearing that Manmohan Singh is the first non-Hindu PM, and I want to settle the question. So what about Rajiv? Indira? even Jawahar himself, hardly an observant Hindu? QuartierLatin1968 18:53, 1 Apr 2005 (UTC)
 * The cremation article says he was cremated in spite of being a Parsi.


 * After the "Unconventional and illegal" marriage of Indira to Feroze, they both declared themselves to be of Adi Dharm religion and married under Act III of 1872 (aka the Brahmo Marriage Law) after a "valid" Vedic marriage under the Arya (Adi Dharm) 1939 law. This "ancient" religion reconciles common pre-Vedic roots of Kashmiri Pandits (which Nehru claims ) and pre-vedic Zorastrianism (which Feroze Gandhi claims). This issue was previously long settled in 1916 by Govt. of India's ethnography studies in 4 Vols. for the Central Provinces (incl. Allahabad where the marriage took place) and where the contrasting beliefs of post-Vedic Hinduism and Zorastrianism (like Asuras="evil" (Ahuras="Good") and Devas="Good" (Devs="Bad")) were harmonised. Its a very theological issue which is difficult to discuss with Wikipedia hooligans lurking about. Yvantanguy (talk) 04:06, 27 April 2008 (UTC)


 * Rajiv Gandhi was cremated by his family. Feroze Gandhi was also cremated. Parsis are never cremated but exposed in towers of silence. The Special Marriage registration affidavits of Rajiv Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi (publicly accessible to any Indian citizen at Patiala House Magistracy Court New Delhi) records Rajiv Gandhi religion as Adi Dharm (Pandit) and Sonia Maino as Roman Catholic. The photograph was filed by Indira Gandhi in Delhi High Court in Sanjay Gandhi's succession case (shares of Maruti Technical Services Ltd) when Maneka Gandhi alleged that Indira Gandhi was never married legally to Feroze Gandhi referring also to Katherine Frank's book. Also Rajiv Gandhi got married by Adi Dharma Vedic rites to Sonia Maino, which marriage was subsequently registered under Special Marriages Act. All this is freely available in public domainProtozoan (talk) 11:12, 22 December 2009 (UTC)
 * Can you point us to the sources. As I have stated earlier, the photo in itself cannot be taken as a surce. We need reliable academic sources, not originial research. I am also aware that Rajiv Gandhi was cremeated as per hindu rites, but unless there is a proper reference that states so we will have to go with the present source. --Deepak D'Souza (talk) 11:00, 23 December 2009 (UTC)
 * 1) The Romesh Thapar piece can hardly be considered as "reliable source". Its only a passing reference (Thapar could have been mistaken) and has no grounds to sustain its author's speculation.
 * 2)Rajiv Gandhi cremated AMIDST HINDU CHANTS - source: http://www.nytimes.com/1991/05/25/world/assassination-in-india-gandhi-cremated-amid-hindu-chants.html?pagewanted=1
 * 3)Feroze Gandhi cremated - See Katherine Franks' book on Indira Gandhi.
 * 4)Parsis never cremated but exposed in towers of silence - en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parsi
 * 5) Rajiv and Sonia married by Hindu rites / civil ceremony - photographs available all over the internet. http://www.rediff.com/news/2006/feb/25sonia.htm, http://livinggallery.oneindia.in/v/album01/rajiv-gandhi-sonia-gandhi/rajiv-sonia-just-married.jpg.html
 * 6) Rajiv and Sonia's civil marriage certificate with affidavits as I have stated - apply to Addl Chief Judicial Magistrate Patiala House, New Delhi, its a "public document" under the Indian Evidence Act. Protozoan (talk) 19:09, 24 December 2009 (UTC)
 * OH, and that Indira Gandhi filed that photograph in question - see http://www.nytimes.com/1984/05/02/world/around-the-world-mrs-gandhi-not-hindu-daughter-in-law-says.html?sec=&spon=
 * "Using a photograph of Mrs. Gandhi's 1942 wedding as evidence, the Prime Minister's lawyer told the high court judge the marriage had been performed according to Hindu rituals."Protozoan (talk) 19:02, 24 December 2009 (UTC)

Religion
From: SK Sanyal

Title of Mr. Firoze Gandhi was Khan. Even a few years ago in the Wikipedia page his name was written as Rajiv (Khan) Gandhi. Please note that Mr. Firoze Gandhi changed his title by Affidavit only. This is the reason of his last rites like Muslims. Subsequently, Rajiv (Khan) Gandhi changed his religion in Italy and became a Christian. Therefore I request the Wikipedia to kindly rectify.

SK Sanyal112.79.200.10 (talk) 13:23, 18 June 2010 (UTC)

Persian people
-due to their relative purity as a ethnic group of Persian descent, Rajiv Gandhi should be acknowledged as half-Persian and in the Persian peoples category. Parsis are an Indian branch of the Persians. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 67.41.240.68 (talk • contribs) 04:26, 21 February 2006 (UTC).
 * Parsis are descended from ancient Persians. They fled to India about fifteen hundred years ago. Ever since, they count themselves as Indians, not Persians. The popular story about how Parsis were absorbed into the Indian society shows clearly that they were and are Indians. If a Parsi whose ancestors left Persia 1500 years ago and settled in India is treated as a "Persian of Indian branch", then the American Presidents like Abraham Lincoln, George Washington and Thomas Jefferson whose ancestors left Britain and other European countries in the last two, three or four hundred years should be treated as "Britons of the American branch" — Preceding unsigned comment added by 117.197.232.223 (talk) 01:21, 15 March 2012 (UTC)
 * You just responded to a comment from over 6 years ago. I'm certain that person is no longer watching. Qwyrxian (talk) 03:32, 15 March 2012 (UTC)

Picture Request
hi guys,

is there someone who could insert a picture of rajiv gandhi please? thanks. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by Chokerman88 (talk • contribs) 04:36, 21 May 2005 (UTC).

Hi. Could you please upload a real photo. Whomever drew this picture is a bad artist..does not reflect the picture of the person he tried to paint. Thanks. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 76.119.214.241 (talk) 19:52, 22 April 2012 (UTC)

KGB allegations
I looked up the book "The State Within A State-The KGB And Its Hold On Russia-Past,Present and Future" by Yevgenia Albats - used to support the allegations made in the outlook magazine article "How Free Is India?" regarding Rajiv Gandhi and the KGB. There is a reference to a letter written by the head of KGB Viktor Chebrikov re Rahul Gandhi and funds provided to the Congress party. There is absolutely no reference to Rajiv Gandi other than than the line "contact with the son of Premier Rajiv Gandhi". So how did the wiki article end up arguing it was Rajiv Gandhi who had been in contact with the KGB? Furthermore there is no mention of the Communist party of the soviet union itself actively being involved. information is factually incorrect and should be removed. Cliniic (talk) 17:15, 17 February 2012 (UTC)
 * As per the book, the letter is from 1982, when Prime Minister (written as Premier Minister) of India was Indira Gandhi. The only alive son of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in 1982 was Rajiv Gandhi (Sanjay Gandhi died in 1980). Hence the person being referred to is Rajiv Gandhi and not Rahul Gandhi. The comma is missing from the quotation which should read "son of Premier Minister, Rajiv Gandhi". Secondary sources like Subrahmanian Swamy have quoted from Albats' book many times and the allegation is on Rajiv Gandhi only. So I am removing the neutrality disputed notice. 192.193.216.147 (talk) 04:37, 24 August 2012 (UTC)
 * On second thoughts, even without the comma, "son of Premier Minister Rajiv Gandhi" could mean both "son of Premier Minister Rajiv Gandhi" (in which case it would be Rajiv Gandhi who is the Premier Minister and Rahul Gandhi who is the son) or "son of Premier Minister, Rajiv Gandhi" (in which case it is Indira Gandhi who is the Premier Minister and Rajiv Gandhi is the son). But in 1982 which is when the letter is dated, Indira Gandhi was the Prime Minister of India, so the letter is no doubt referring to Rajiv Gandhi. 192.193.216.147 (talk) —Preceding undated comment added 04:43, 24 August 2012 (UTC)

Religion
Please Protect this page: Users changing the Religion Very Often Jethro76 (talk) 12:47, 23 April 2013 (UTC)
 * I've removed the religion parameter entirely, because it was unsourced. In order to include the information, it must be verified by a reliable source. Once we have that, we can worry about people changing it inappropriately. Qwyrxian (talk) 00:34, 24 April 2013 (UTC)

Inaccuracy about his spouse's education
It says on the main page "He went to study at Trinity College, Cambridge, and later at Imperial College London, but did not complete a degree at either. At Cambridge he met the Italian-born Antonia Albina Maino, who was also studying in the university, whom he later married." On Sonia Gandhi's page, it says she was in Cambridge studying at the Bell Language School. I am from Cambridge and I studied at the University. The Bell Language School is not a part of the University. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 122.180.80.194 (talk) 07:37, 3 June 2013 (UTC)

Original name of spouse?
There seems to be some sort of confusion about the name of his spouse. Is it Antonia Maino, as is written on the main section? Or Albina Maino, as written under Early Life and Career sub-section? 23-v,340vpe4wtme4p&#59;t,e0 (talk) 12:48, 12 January 2014 (UTC)

Bhopal disaster.
Someone added bhopal disaster in the article. Read the whole section and that section has nothing to do with Rajiv Gandhi. Secondly wikileaks information or allegations always seems to be suspicious here in India. They are hardly trust by Indian media. Eventually I am removing materials that have nothing to do with Rajiv Gandhi. Please discuss if have any doubts or views. Thanks and wishes. -- 25 CENTS VICTORIOUS ☣ 06:17, 9 April 2014 (UTC)

Controversies: Add Wikileaks Allegations?
Should we add the recent wiki allegations of Rajiv Gandhi being a arms middleman? http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-india-22061487.

Wikileaks allegations have been added for other indian politicans such as Mayawati TimesGerman (talk) 16:10, 8 April 2013 (UTC)
 * Wikileaks allegations are always being a questionable, based on possibility and things which are based on possibility cannot be add up here on wikipedia. -- 25 CENTS VICTORIOUS ☣ 06:23, 9 April 2014 (UTC)

Not a graduate
The article does not mention that Rajiv, like his mommy and grandaddy, was a drop-out. None of them were graduates. Anwar (talk) 15:25, 2 August 2008 (UTC)

*Give a source. Day dreaming can't be taken as encyclopedic. -- 25 CENTS VICTORIOUS ☣ 09:01, 13 April 2014 (UTC)

Removed text
Per WP:COATRACK: "Rahul was the prime ministerial candidate in Indian general elections, 2014 where Congress party suffered their worst defeat, managing to win only 44 seats." Baffle gab1978 (talk) 00:11, 26 June 2015 (UTC)

Controversies section
, hats off for the work you have done on this article. I considered doing the review myself, but I think I've edited too close to this topic for that. However, I have one strong suggestion; get rid of the controversy section, and incorporate the information therein into the body of the article. Controversy sections are POV magnets, and figuring out due weight is always a challenge. It is also difficult to separate criticism from controversy; there are policies of his which have received criticism worth mentioning here, which does not rise to the level of the Bofors scandal. Regards, Vanamonde93 (talk) 18:22, 26 July 2015 (UTC)

Neutrality, OR, unreliable sources, etc.
This article (currently nominated for "good article status") does not maintain a neutral POV. Alluding to the "Italian waitress" in the lead, citation-less statements such as " his brother Sanjay (earlier Sanjiv) wielded significant, unofficial power; despite this", "Gandhi's prime-ministership marked an increase of insurgency in northeast India" etc. all lower the quality of the article. There also appear to be unreliable references in use: Meena Agarwal (who is named as a historian?) and her Diamond Pocket Book, Attar Chand, Tanvir Khan, et al. Sections under his prime-ministership are ordered haphazardly and the article, in general, suffers from a lack of balance.--Cpt.a.haddock (talk) 07:15, 3 August 2015 (UTC)

Wrong Information corrected
Rajiv Gandhi did not withdraw the IPKF .It was V.P.Singh who wthdraw as the Prime Minister in 1990 March.Wrong details like he campaigned for UCPI while he was campaigning in Sriperumbudur for the Sriperumbudur candidate Maragatham Chandrasekhar and his last meeting was there and not tirutani as mentioned earlier.

External links modified
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A Commons file used on this page has been nominated for speedy deletion
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 * Rajiv Gandhi 1.jpg

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Middle name
I don't see a source for the "Ratna" in the article. Could someone please provide one. Thanks. --RegentsPark (comment) 20:02, 31 July 2020 (UTC)

Semi-protected edit request on 19 November 2020
Please italicise "Mohd. Ahmed Khan v. Shah Bano Begum" in the lead. 2001:BB6:4713:4858:863:B9B7:6B95:B725 (talk) 10:35, 19 November 2020 (UTC)
 * Yes check.svg Done &#8209;&#8209; El Hef  ( Meep? ) 16:45, 19 November 2020 (UTC)

Semi-protected edit request
Please add the category Parsi people as his father was a Parsi.2603:8081:1606:19E3:5C08:D9B3:6E7F:A047 (talk) 22:09, 2 February 2021 (UTC)
 * ❌. We need a WP:RS saying Rajiv identified as Parsi. ◢  Ganbaruby!   (Say hi!) 02:39, 3 February 2021 (UTC)

Alma mater
It says Rajiv Gandhi failed to pass from both the college hence the word drop out. I found a link, it says he passed with second division. Moreover alma mater doesn't have reference to claim what it's mentioned in the article.-- 25 CENTS VICTORIOUS 🍁 06:15, 1 August 2021 (UTC)
 * The reference is at the "Early life and career" section. Your link could also be right. It says he "passed the Senior Cambridge examination in the second division", it doesn't say that he completed the course.  Jay (Talk) 14:41, 1 August 2021 (UTC)