Gandhi clan strained over son’s marriage

India’s former first lady opposed to inter-racial union

NEW DELHI •

The vexed issue of marrying outside Indian society is returning to haunt the Nehru- Gandhi dynasty that has ruled India for much of the postindependence era.

Last year Sonia Gandhi, the Italian-born widow of the assassinated former prime minister, Rajiv, discovered the limitations imposed by her “foreign origins” and turned down the chance to be prime minister.

Now the dynasty’s next generation, Rahul Gandhi, 34, is reported to be at loggerheads with his family over plans to marry the Hispanic girlfriend he fell in love with seven years ago while studying for a master’s in development economics at Cambridge University in England.

Rahul, whose dimple-cheeked good looks bring instant comparison with his late father Rajiv, is being groomed as the next leader of the Congress Party after his election last year to the safe family seat of Amethi. Many pundits believe he will become India’s next prime minister, the office his father achieved at 39, when the current caretaker incumbent, Dr. Manmohan Singh, hands over in four years’ time.

However, the issue of marriage is looming large. India’s gossip columnists report that Rahul is adamant that he will marry his “Colombian-born” girlfriend.

Rahul, who almost never gives interviews, this month spoke publicly about his relations with his mother, Sonia, and sister, Priyanka, the masterminds behind his political career.

“I am a stubborn person,” he told Tehelka magazine. “ My mother can come to me, sit in front of me and tell me, ‘ do this’ or ‘ do that.’ But if my mind is made up I will not do it. My mother can tell me 100 times, but I won’t do something if I don’t want to.”

For the gossips and Gandhiwatchers the significance of that statement was crystal clear — Rahul will not be budged from his marriage plans. Many, citing anonymous family sources, are predicting that an “auspicious” date will be named shortly.

Surprisingly little is known about the putative bride, usually described as “the daughter of a Colombian businessman.”

Even her name is a matter of speculation. Until last year India knew her as Juanita or Juneita. But Rahul announced during the 2004 election campaign that her name was Veronique and that she was Spanish, not Colombian.

As a foreigner who married into the Gandhi family, Mrs. Gandhi might be expected to support her son. But analysts see her own bitter experience behind her coolness toward the union.

During the 2004 election Mrs. Gandhi suffered vicious personal attacks from the Hindu nationalist parties who, in defeat, announced they would boycott any swearing-in ceremony involving “that Italian housewife.”

Congress party members desperately hope Rahul can carry the torch first lit by Jawaharlal Nehru, free India’s first prime minister, and passed to his daughter Indira Gandhi.

Like his mother and father before him, both reluctant entrants into Indian politics, Rahul might well find himself having to choose between his private life and public duty.

The Daily Telegraph