After the death of Rajiv Gandhi in 1991, Sonia Gandhi was the solution to prevent the Congress from splitting. Rahul Gandhi has been active in politics for 20 years. Yet it took 33 years after Rajiv Gandhi’s death for his daughter Priyanka to come to power through a democratic process. In the run-up to the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, Priyanka took on a major role as the general secretary of the All-India Congress Committee for Western Uttar Pradesh.

Priyanka Gandhi is known around the world as the great-granddaughter of India’s first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, daughter of Rajiv and Sonia Gandhi, sister of Rahul Gandhi, wife of Robert Vadra and mother of Rehan and Miraya. But beyond that, there is another Priyanka. This is perhaps the Priyanka to whom the Congress and the nation are looking with hope.

Two days before her tragic assassination in 1984, Indira Gandhi shared a vision of her granddaughter with her long-time political secretary, ML Fotedar: “Fotedarji, I may not live long, but you will see Priyanka grow up.” Fotedar asked him: “Do you really think I will live to see this? Indira replied confidently: “You will live to see her grow and shine on the national stage. People will see me in her, and when they see her, they will remember me. She will shine and the next century will belong to her. People will forget me.”

This prophecy of Indira came true 40 years later when Priyanka first contested elections and won. When people see Priyanka today, they often think of Indira: her height, hairstyle, nose and even the sound of her voice seem eerily similar. When Priyanka arrived in Wayanad, the signs didn’t just say ‘Priyanka is coming’. They said: “Indira is coming back”. The media also dubbed her the second coming of Indira.

Indira Gandhi shared her hopes for Priyanka’s future just before her assassination. Fotedar recorded this in his book Chinar Leaves – A Political Memoir. A prediction made by a grandmother that, 40 years later, seemed to come true as Priyanka began to enter the political arena. Indira believed that Priyanka would one day rule the country and carry on her legacy. And in 2024, as Priyanka fully enters politics, the nation watches with bated breath, wondering if her destiny will indeed be as grand as her grandmother’s vision.

A Young Girl and a Prophecy of Leadership

When she was 12, a fortune teller visited Rajiv Gandhi’s home and predicted that Priyanka would one day become Prime Minister of India. Rajiv Gandhi, hearing this, scolded his daughter, warning her to disregard such things. But now, as Priyanka takes her first steps into active politics, this prophecy persists. Her political career was expected early due to her prominent family, but she remained away from electoral politics until age 52.

Priyanka was born on January 12, 1972. She studied at Modern School, Delhi and then at Jesus and Mary College, University of Delhi, where she obtained a degree in psychology. She then completed a master’s degree in Buddhism. In her younger days, Priyanka was more interested in staying at home and managing the family. It wasn’t until 1991, when her mother Sonia entered politics, that Priyanka first got involved in a campaign.

Two strong women – her grandmother Indira Gandhi and her mother Sonia Gandhi – raised Priyanka. These two powerful women have instilled in Priyanka a sense of strength and determination, which will guide her through life’s challenges.

Visit to Nalini Prison

In March 2008, Priyanka visited Nalini, the woman convicted of Rajiv Gandhi’s assassination. Nalini later spoke of this meeting in her memoirs. Priyanka had asked her why she killed her father, a peaceful and calm man, and whether the differences could not have been resolved through dialogue. Nalini recalled how Priyanka cried bitterly during the meeting, a moment of deep sorrow for a daughter facing the painful reality of her father’s death.

There is a vision of Priyanka strong, unshaken by the loss of her family. Unlike her brother Rahul, who is often seen as emotional, Priyanka’s strength lies in her silence, her ability to endure and grow from past hurts. The tragic deaths of her grandmother and father shaped Priyanka, making her the woman she is today: strong, composed and resilient.

His role in the Congress family

When Priyanka entered politics, she did so with the weight of her family history on her shoulders. After a series of electoral defeats, notably in Uttar Pradesh, Priyanka took the reins of the Congress party’s efforts in the region. In 2019, despite the party’s defeats, Priyanka worked tirelessly, focusing on strengthening the party’s presence in Uttar Pradesh.

Priyanka’s elegant and strong style

Priyanka’s style is simple yet elegant: her graceful sarees, her signature smile and a personality that easily connects with people. She has the power to blend into any crowd, radiating warmth and charm. She does not rely on flamboyance, but communicates with serene confidence. In political speeches, she doesn’t speak as vocally as Rahul, but she speaks carefully, with a strength born of reflection.

Priyanka-Robert love story

Priyanka Gandhi first met Robert Vadra during her school days, when she was 13 years old. Robert’s sister, Michelle Vadra, was Priyanka’s classmate. What started as an acquaintance with her friend’s brother quickly turned into a friendship. After the tragic death of his father Rajiv Gandhi, Robert became a pillar of support for Priyanka. Away from the watchful eyes of security forces and the media, their friendship eventually blossomed into love.

During a visit to Sonia Gandhi’s residence with Michelle, Robert expressed his feelings to Priyanka. With the approval of his mother Sonia Gandhi and brother Rahul, their relationship resulted in marriage on February 10, 1997, at the family home on 10 Janpath. The couple was later blessed with two children, Rehan and Miraya. Priyanka chose to focus on her family, only returning to the public eye during election campaigns for her mother and brother.

When Robert Vadra was investigated by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) over alleged illegal acquisitions of property, Priyanka stood firmly by her husband. She categorically rejected the matter, terming it a political vendetta of the BJP. During questioning by the ED, Priyanka even accompanied Robert to the ED office, signaling her unwavering support. Speculations suggest that the ED case may have delayed Priyanka’s active entry into politics. Eventually, as the affair and controversies subsided, she began to actively engage in public life.

Priyanka: A symbol of hope

Priyanka’s political journey has only just begun. As she takes on greater responsibilities, the challenges she faces, from natural disasters to the problem of developmental delay, will shape her further. But India’s hope rests on her ability to continue her family’s legacy and bring the Congress Party to the forefront. She is seen as a potential leader and her rise will be closely watched by both the country and the world.

The country has rarely seen Priyanka Gandhi raise her voice in anger, but a notable example was directed at Prime Minister Narendra Modi. When Modi described Priyanka as being like a daughter to him, his scathing response to the media was: “My father Rajiv Gandhi was a martyr for this nation. I will not give this position to anyone else.” Priyanka’s pointed remark during the 2014 election campaign, declaring that “it is not a 147 cm chest, but a large heart that is needed to rule the country”, remains etched in the memory. Although known for her calm demeanor, Priyanka has shown that she can use sharp words when the situation calls for it.

During her visit to meet the family of the Hathras gang rape victim, Priyanka reminded the country of another Indira Gandhi. Her determination to break through the police barricades reminded her of Indira’s famous visit to Belchi to meet the surviving victims of the atrocities perpetrated there against the ‘untouchables’. Likewise, his trip to meet the families of farmers killed during the farmers’ protests also attracted national attention. These visits, often marked by his defiance of BJP-ruled state governments, showed his determination to stand with the oppressed, even in the face of significant opposition.

In every gesture, in every word, Priyanka reminds us of her grandmother, Indira Gandhi. If Priyanka manages to live up to the hopes placed on her, the future of Indian politics could very well belong to her.