Political Storm Erupts Over Rajiv Gandhi’s Academic Record After BJP Shares Aiyar’s Remarks

A fresh political controversy broke out on Wednesday after BJP shared a video of Congress veteran Mani Shankar Aiyar discussing former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi’s academic failures.

The video, posted by BJP leader Amit Malviya, reignited debate over Gandhi’s education at Cambridge University and Imperial College, London.

Aiyar’s Remarks on Rajiv Gandhi’s Academic Background

In the video, Aiyar implied that many had questioned how Rajiv, an airline pilot who had failed in college, became Prime Minister. However, Aiyar did not complete the thought before elaborating on Gandhi’s academic struggles.

“Everybody knows Indira ji’s name. Similarly, when Rajiv became the Prime Minister, people thought—forgive about others, I thought—he is an airline pilot and has failed twice,” Aiyar said.

He then explained that despite Cambridge University’s leniency in passing students, Gandhi failed there.

“I studied with him at Cambridge. He had failed there, and it is very difficult to fail in Cambridge. It is easy to get first class, but failing is very difficult because the university, in order to save its image, tries not to fail anyone so that at least everyone passes. But, in spite of that, Rajiv failed,” Aiyar stated.

Following this, he attended Imperial College in London but failed again, Aiyar added.

BJP’s Reaction to the Video

After the video surfaced, BJP leader Amit Malviya remarked that many had wondered how a person with such an academic history could become the country’s Prime Minister. “Let the veil be stripped,” Malviya tweeted, sharing the footage.

Congress Defends Rajiv Gandhi’s Legacy

Congress quickly countered the BJP’s claims, arguing that Gandhi’s performance as Prime Minister mattered more than his academic history. Congress MP Tariq Anwar dismissed the significance of academic failures.

“Failing is not a big deal; even the best people fail sometimes. But he did not fail in politics. When he was given political responsibility and became Prime Minister, I believe there have been very few Prime Ministers in our country who have achieved as much in just five years,” Anwar asserted.

Congress leader Rashid Alvi accused Malviya of distorting facts. “The question is not whether Rajiv Gandhi passed or failed. How was Rajiv Gandhi as a Prime Minister? What kind of work did Rajiv Gandhi do after becoming the Prime Minister? If you want to analyze Rajiv Gandhi, then you have to analyze his work,” Alvi emphasized.

Rajiv Gandhi’s Achievements as Prime Minister

Congress MP Kunwar Danish Ali and senior leader Harish Rawat highlighted Rajiv Gandhi’s contributions, including the IT revolution and economic modernization.

Rawat stated that Gandhi’s parliamentary speeches continue to guide leaders.

“I knew Rajiv Gandhi, who gave the country a modern outlook. He took concrete steps for the liberalization of the economy as well,” Rawat said. However, he noted that Gandhi did not always have unanimous support within his party.

Mani Shankar Aiyar Clarifies His Remarks

Speaking to India Today, Aiyar said that Rajiv Gandhi had always been open about his academic failures.

“I heard Rajiv Gandhi 45 years ago, saying in an interview that he had failed his exams at Cambridge, and later he told me that he’d also failed his exams at Imperial College. He was upfront about it. He was not hypocritical about it. He didn’t attempt to hide it,” Aiyar stated.

According to government records, Gandhi initially studied at Trinity College, Cambridge, but later transferred to Imperial College for mechanical engineering. He later admitted that he was not interested in “mugging for his exams.”

After returning to India, he cleared the entrance examination for the Delhi Flying Club and obtained a commercial pilot’s license.

He went on to work as a pilot for Indian Airlines before entering politics following his brother Sanjay Gandhi’s death.

Political Fallout and Congress’s Response

Mani Shankar Aiyar’s remarks once again put Congress in an uncomfortable position. Some party members dismissed Aiyar’s statements as irrelevant, with one spokesperson calling him a “sleeper cell of BJP.”

The controversy deepened after the BJP circulated a short clip of Aiyar’s comments.

However, the clip did not provide full context. Aiyar had been responding to a question on whether Rahul Gandhi had the capability to lead the Congress party.

In his response, he discussed Indira Gandhi’s political transformation before bringing up Rajiv Gandhi’s academic record.

“But I now say he was an excellent Prime Minister,” Aiyar had added, highlighting Rajiv Gandhi’s growth in leadership.

Congress Leaders Dismiss BJP’s Claims

Senior Congress leader Ajay Singh Yadav downplayed Aiyar’s comments, saying, “Mani Shankar Aiyar has no relevance in the party. He does not hold any significant position. Therefore, there is no need to give much attention to his statement.”

Congress MP Tariq Anwar reiterated that academic failures do not define a person’s leadership. “Failing is not a big deal; even the best people fail sometimes. But he did not fail in politics,” Anwar maintained.