Rajiv Gandhi - A practical man!

Rajiv Gandhi had reached the airport on time that morning too. The uniform was fine, the cap was in hand, and the same simplicity in the eyes, which is of a pilot, not a politician. They were in a world where height means sky, not power. They didn't know history had written a different flight for them. The 1970s. Politics used to make noise in India, but Rajiv Gandhi lived away from it. Cambridge studies, then Air India job—their life was made up of discipline, technology and time restrictions. They were not afraid of machines, they understood them. Perhaps the first foundation of the future came from here, without slogans, without any announcement. A morning in 1980 changes everything. Death of Sanjay Gandhi. Mourning in the house, stir in the country. Indira Gandhi knew that now politics will not turn away from Rajiv. Rajiv Gandhi did not want, but politics does not ask for "want". They reached Lok Sabha from Amethi in 1981. New to the Parliament—spoke less, listened carefully. Many thought, this guy doesn't know politics. No one understood that he is seeing the country with the spectacles of the future. 31 October 1984, Murder of Indira Gandhi. Smoke in Delhi, fire on the roads, country in shock. On the same day Rajiv Gandhi takes oath as Prime Minister. 40 years of age. No long political experience, no power-greed. Just the eyes of a broken son and the responsibility of a country. He saw the files of ministries after becoming the Prime Minister. Paper, delay, mess everywhere. Railway reservation, line of days, Waiting hours for bank-passbook, Telephone - waiting for years, Administration- Delay in paperwork and lethargation. Rajiv Gandhi spoke one word - Computer. The term reached the parliament in 1985. This is where the hardest chapter of the story begins. Computer was not a household commodity in India at that time. That was scared. That was called a foreign conspiracy. Trade union said - "If the machine comes, the laborer will go." Government employees said - "We will be unemployed." "Opposition alleged in Parliament - "This is a copy of Western countries. ” Rajiv Gandhi kept listening silently. One day the debate intensified in the parliament. The opposition said — Mr. Prime Minister, what is the use of computer in a poor country? ” Rajiv Gandhi replied - "Poor are because we have learned to be afraid of technology. ” This sentence was not recorded in newspapers, but in history. Computerized reservation plan surfaced in the railway in 1986. The protest happened so much that the strikes started happening. The slogans were on — Remove the computer. ” Machines broken in some cities. Employees said - "We will drive the train, not the machines." ” Rajiv Gandhi did not stop the plan. They said— "Railways is the backbone of India, and technology is required to strengthen the spine. ” At the same time we talked about bringing computers in the banking sector. Opposition said—"It will eat the job. ” Rajiv Gandhi held a meeting with RBI and public bank officials. They said it clearly— "Computer will not unemploy the clerk, will make him efficient." ” 1987 - Telecommunication. Getting a phone call back then was a game of bribe and years of waiting. Rajiv Gandhi strengthens C-DOT. Emphasized on indigenous technique. The purpose was clear—phones reached the common man. Protest again—"Government is running behind technology. ” Rajiv Gandhi did not answer, he worked. How the opposition taunted one day in the parliament. Mr. Prime Minister, you are making the country a machine. ” Rajiv Gandhi said in silent voice— I am preparing the country for the future. ” Invested in IT education. Engineering colleges got a promotion. The foundation of software technology parks. At that time no one had idea that these steps would make India the IT center of the world. From labour organizations to senior leaders of their party—many were uncomfortable. Something said—"these are going too fast. ” Rajiv Gandhi said - "If we don't go fast today, tomorrow we will be left behind. ” Computers started appearing in government offices from 1988-89. Slowly, people started to understand - jobs were not lost, the work became easy. Railway lines got shortened. Banking has got faster. The telephone has arrived. The sound of protest started slowing down. But politics didn't give them time. Power lost in 1989. Rajiv Gandhi sitting in the opposition. Same parliament, same bench—but same faith. 1991. An election meeting. One of the bang. Rajiv Gandhi martyred. The person who was cursed due to computer, is the same person called the architect of modern India in history. Today, when mobile is in hand, UPI runs, the country earns through software - it is important to remember that all this did not happen suddenly. It began at the time, was scared of computers, and one Prime Minister said— Countries are not made out of fear. ” This story is of neither slogan nor imagination. This is a true story that wasn't understood at that time, But today whole India is living.