Thread by @sampitroda

May 21st is the death anniversary of Rajiv Gandhi the Prime minister of India who dreamed of proud and inclusive India in the 21st century with growth and prosperity for all.

To achieve this dream he focused on technology, liberalization, modernization, young local talent, and indigenous development. In the process, he helps create new jobs, new businesses, new institutions, infrastructures and needed human capacity in various domains.

I had the honor and privilege to work with him has an advisor on technology missions and the chairman of Telecom Commission. He provided Political will
and real meaning to my own life to help connect India.

Then, we had 2 million phones and it used to take 10 years to get a telephone connection. His vision, policies, and programs ultimately resulted in 1.2 billion phones and millions of new high tech jobs in India.

Along with the telecom revolution he planted seeds for computerization and software that today provides $150 billion software and service export per year. Indian software talent is now globally recognized and respected.

The real credit to get India global recognition goes to Rajiv Gandhi and his emphasis on computerization.

Rajiv Gandhi launched multiple new initiatives during his tenure as the PM like an immunization to ultimately eradicate Polio, local vaccine production to make India the largest producer of vaccines.

Dairy development to make India largest producer of milk, Literacy mission to make India literate, C- DAC to develop Indian Super Computer, Panchayats to decentralize development, Voting for 18-year-old to listen to the voices of the young and a lot more.

Rajiv Gandhi’s life was taken away at an early age by a terror attack. His loss left a huge vacuum in politics, leadership, and development in India.

Today is the day to pay respect to this great leader who dreamed of India in the 21st century and at the same time reflect on his contribution to India.