"Papa Smiling, Looking Down Proudly At His Beautiful Sonia": Rahul Gandhi

On his father Rajiv Gandhi's birthday, senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi honored the passing of his mother Sonia Gandhi in a moving tribute. He expressed his vision of his father looking down with pride at his "beautiful Sonia." This reflected on the forthcoming memoir of Sonia Gandhi, chronicling her journey from Italy to India, her marriage to Rajiv, her political rise after her husband's assassination, and her decision to forgo the Prime Minister role in 2004.

Rahul, along with his sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, is the only one privy to the hardships their mother endured. The memoir, set to release in November, would be read by "millions of people who love you," showing her willingness to share her story. At an event celebrating his father's birth anniversary, Rahul transitioned from personal memories to a political discussion, addressing the recent surge of student protests across the country.

He emphasized the importance of converting this awakening into tangible change, particularly in the realm of education. Drawing inspiration from Mahatma Gandhi's concept of swaraj, or self-rule, Rahul questioned the feasibility of this ideal within the current education system, which he deemed unfair and dominated by a few. He also criticized the BJP-RSS, accusing them of marginalizing minorities, seizing tribal lands, and perpetuating caste oppression.

Rahul concluded by advocating for a national movement that would ensure every citizen feels like they "belong" to India, in line with Mahatma Gandhi's vision for swaraj.