149 years ago, on October 2, 1869, the Indian statesman and public figure, "father of the nation" Mahatma Gandhi was born. His policy found numerous followers, including his associate Jawaharlal Nehru and his daughter Indira Gandhi. Her husband was the namesake of Mahatma Gandhi, but this surname, by a fateful coincidence, did not bring happiness to any of her bearers. Several members of this family died a violent death, in which many Indians saw the karmic punishment for a three-fold mistake …
* Father of the nation * Mahatma Gandhi.
Even at the beginning of the XXI century. India remains one of the few countries in the world in which centuries-old traditions and taboos are still strong, the violation of which entails popular anger. Representatives of the ruling family of Gandhi violated caste law three times, and when one by one they died a violent death, in India it was called karmic punishment, and in the West - the curse of the clan. However, skeptics saw in this only the consequences of political struggle - one way or another, many rulers endangered their lives in an effort to assert their power, and often they had to pay for it with their own lives. But why is the myth of the curse of the Gandhi clan still alive?
One of the leaders and ideological inspirers of the movement for Indian independence from Great Britain, Mahatma Gandhi, at one time became a major political figure who enjoyed great influence and respect among the people. He grew up in a family in which all national traditions and religious dogmas were strictly observed, therefore, when his son was going to marry a representative of another caste, he did not approve of his choice, although he still gave his permission to marry. Mahatma Gandhi's ideas about non-violent methods of resistance (boycott, demonstrations, etc.) found numerous followers, including Jawaharlal Nehru, one of the leaders of the national liberation movement. With the support of Gandhi, he became Chairman of the Indian National Congress, and since 1947 - Prime Minister of India.
Jawaharlal Nehru.
Gandhi's ideas did not find support among all segments of the population - Orthodox Hindus considered him a traitor and conspired, as a result of which in 1948 he was killed by extremists. Jawaharlal Nehru continued to implement the doctrine of Mahatma Gandhi. He attempted to reconcile Hindus with Muslims and Sikhs and members of rival political parties. He was also popular among the people, but when, after the death of his wife, Nehru allowed himself an affair with an Englishwoman, this caused general outrage. Although he received a European education and was distinguished by progressive views, all his life he sacredly honored the laws and traditions of his country, so he did not dare to legalize these relations.
Indira Gandhi as a child.
Promotional video:
Indira Gandhi in his youth.
But his daughter Indira was much bolder. Her chosen one was Feroz Gandhi - the namesake of Mahatma Gandhi, who was not a Hindu, but a Parsi, and belonged to a different caste. And although from a financial point of view, this marriage was successful, in society, the union of a representative of a higher caste with a native of the lower class was considered unacceptable. Her father did not approve of this marriage and warned her of the possible consequences, but in 1942 she nevertheless married Feroz Gandhi. This act by the daughter of the Prime Minister aroused the indignation of both ordinary people and clergy, and when her husband died of a heart attack, and 4 years later her father died of a heart attack, many called it karmic punishment for violating age-old traditions.
Indira Gandhi with her father.
Indira Gandhi with her husband.
And soon an evil fate overtook her sons. The eldest son, Rajiv Gandhi, also violated the taboo by marrying a foreign woman - Italian Sonia Maino, whom he met while studying in Cambridge. His mother, Indira, who at that time had already taken the post of Prime Minister of India, did not object to his choice. She also supported Sanjay's youngest son when he married a lower-class woman. She pinned her hopes for the continuation of the ruling dynasty on him. However, her dreams did not come true - in 1980, Sanzhdai died in a plane crash. This became a new reason to remember the ancestral curse.
* Indian Iron Lady * Indira Gandhi.
Indira Gandhi with her sons.
And in 1984, Indira Gandhi herself died a violent death - she was shot by her own bodyguards. After her death, the government was headed by Rajiv. But he was destined to outlive his mother by only 7 years. In 1991, he was killed by a suicide bomber who detonated a charge hidden under her clothes when Gandhi approached a crowd of people during a rally.
Indira Gandhi with her sons.
* Indian Iron Lady * Indira Gandhi.
The fact of the death of several representatives of the ruling family made people all over the world talk about the curse of the Gandhi clan: three times violation of the law of ancestors in one family could not go unpunished. However, the skeptics, among whom were primarily political scientists and religious scholars, saw the reasons in completely different circumstances.
Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.
* Indian Iron Lady * Indira Gandhi.
Indira Gandhi's demographic policy provoked anger among the people: in order to curb the growth of the population, she introduced the forced sterilization of men with two or more children, and forced abortions for women who became pregnant with their fourth child. And for Indians, the birth of children was God's blessing. The war in Pakistan has exacerbated intra-ethnic conflicts and decreased economic growth. In addition, Indira Gandhi suppressed the uprising by invading the Golden Temple in Amritsar, which was considered the main spiritual shrine of the Sikhs. And they considered it their duty to take revenge on her for this - Indira Gandhi was killed by a personal guard, consisting of Sikh warriors. Those responsible for her death confessed their guilt, but demanded to call it not murder, but sacred retribution.
Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.
Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.