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Rajiv Gandhi was the eldest son of Indira and Feroze Gandhi.

He went to study at Trinity College, Cambridge, and later at Imperial College London, but did not complete a degree at either.

At Cambridge he met the Italian-born Antonia Albina Maino, then a waitress in a restaurant, whom he later married.

After dropping out of university, he became a professional pilot for Indian Airlines.

He remained aloof from politics, despite his family's political prominence.

Following the death of his younger brother Sanjay Gandhi in 1980 Rajiv entered politics.

Following the assassination of his mother in 1984 after Operation Blue Star, the Indian National Congress party leaders nominated him to be Prime Minister.