Rahul Gandhi - Indian Politician & Congress Leader
Rahul Gandhi (born on 19 June 1970) is a senior Indian politician and a Member of Parliament (MP) from Wayanad, Kerala, in the 17th Lok Sabha. He is a prominent leader of the Indian National Congress (INC) and previously served as the President of INC from 16 December 2017 to 3 July 2019.
He has also held leadership roles in the Indian Youth Congress and the National Students’ Union of India (NSUI). Apart from his political career, he is a trustee of the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation and the Rajiv Gandhi Charitable Trust.
Early Life & Education
Rahul Gandhi was born in New Delhi, India, to former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi, who later became the Congress Party President. He is the grandson of Indira Gandhi, India’s first and only female Prime Minister, and the great-grandson of Jawaharlal Nehru, India’s first Prime Minister.
- He spent his childhood between New Delhi and Dehradun, attending St. Columba’s School (Delhi) and The Doon School (Dehradun).
- Following security concerns after Indira Gandhi’s assassination (1984), he was homeschooled.
- He initially enrolled at St. Stephen’s College, Delhi, but later transferred to Harvard University.
- After the assassination of his father Rajiv Gandhi (1991), he moved to Rollins College, Florida, where he completed his Bachelor’s degree (1994) under the pseudonym Raul Vinci for security reasons.
- He later earned an M.Phil. in Development Studies from Trinity College, Cambridge (1995).
Political Career
Rahul Gandhi formally entered politics in 2004, contesting from Amethi (Uttar Pradesh), a seat previously held by his father and a Congress stronghold.
- 2004, 2009 & 2014: Successfully won the Amethi Lok Sabha seat in three consecutive elections.
- 2013: Appointed Vice President of the Indian National Congress.
- 2014 General Elections: Led Congress’ campaign, but the party suffered its worst defeat, securing only 44 seats.
- 2017-2019: Served as Congress President, attempting to revitalize the party.
- 2019 General Elections: Lost the Amethi seat but won from Wayanad, Kerala.
Rahul Gandhi has been a strong critic of the BJP-led government, advocating for youth empowerment, farmers’ rights, economic reforms, and social justice. He has actively campaigned against economic policies like GST and demonetization.
Personal Information
| Category | Details |
|---|
| Full Name | Rahul Gandhi |
| Born | 19 June 1970 (Age: 54) |
| Father | Rajiv Gandhi (1944-1991) |
| Mother | Sonia Gandhi (Born 1946) |
| Birthplace | New Delhi, India |
| Political Party | Indian National Congress (INC) |
| Educational Qualifications | B.A. – Rollins College, Florida M.Phil. – Trinity College, Cambridge |
| Residence | 12, Tughlak Lane, New Delhi |
| Net Worth (2019) | ₹14.85 Crore |