Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi posted heartfelt remembrances on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, on Saturday, October 31, to mark the death anniversary of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. Rahul shared a photo of himself on his grandmother’s lap and recited the Sanskrit prayer she used to teach him—“asato mā sadgamaya tamaso mā jyotirgamaya mṛtyormā amṛtaṃ gamaya OM Shanti, shanti, shanti”—while Priyanka described her grandmother as a “beautiful woman, free as the sky, deep as the ocean, resilient as the earth, brighter than a burning fire.”
The Congress party’s top leaders converged on the Shakti Sthal memorial in Delhi, where they laid floral tributes to Indira Gandhi. Mallikarjun Kharge, Sonia Gandhi, and Rahul Gandhi stood beside the memorial’s bronze statue, while several party officials carried wreaths to the former PM’s residence at 1 Safdarjung Road, now known as the Indira Gandhi Memorial.
Kharge posted a photo of the wreaths on X and called Indira Gandhi “a symbol of indomitable courage, unwavering resolve and visionary leadership.” The party’s official handle echoed the sentiment, noting her “supreme sacrifice for the unity and integrity of our nation.”
Indira Gandhi was assassinated by her bodyguards on October 31, 1984, the same day she was shooting in New Delhi. She became India’s first and only woman Prime Minister, serving from 1966 to 1977 and again from 1980 until her death. Born on November 19, 1917, she was a central figure in shaping the country’s political landscape.
The Shakti Sthal complex, which houses both the memorial and the former PM’s residence, has long been a focal point for political commemorations in Delhi. This year’s tribute added a new layer of remembrance, as the Congress leadership reaffirmed her legacy during the anniversary observances.