He who shall not be named: Sanjay Gandhi is Lord Voldemort of the Emergency anniversary

If you notice the coverage around the 40th anniversary of the Emergency rule in India you’ll note one name is rarely invoked. There is barely a whisper among the BJP and Congress ranks of the scandal ridden favourite son of then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi– Sanjay Gandhi. The Congress is loath to mention the Gandhi who has become the notorious example of the Gandhi dynasty’s excesses, while the BJP sarkar is not inclined to beat up on the husband of one of their cabinet ministers, Maneka Gandhi So we at Firstpost decided it’s time to remind everyone of the real architect of the Emergency, the man who truly epitomised the spirit of authoritarianism and came to symbolise the darkest period in the history of free India. Bored Rajiv, Sullen Sanjay in London [caption id=“attachment_2310172” align=“alignnone” width=“825”]  Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi (1917 - 1984) with her sons Rajiv (1944 - 1991, left) and Sanjay (1946 - 1980), London. Getty Images[/caption] Here’s a timely reminder of the fact that all dictators start off as cute, little kids. Proud Maa and her ‘prodigal’ betas [caption id=“attachment_2310176” align=“alignnone” width=“825”]  This picture taken 21 March 1977 shows Indian prime Minister Indira Gandhi with her two sons Rajiv (L) and Sanjay in New Delhi. AFP[/caption] Indira Gandhi made no secret of the fact that she saw Sanjay as her heir apparent. And after his death she pushed her older son Rajiv into politics to fill the political void left by her favourite son. Indira Gandhi’s maternal pride would end up being the cause of her ultimate downfall, and that of her sons. The original ‘Ma-Bete ki Sarkar’ at it’s peak [caption id=“attachment_2310200” align=“alignnone” width=“825”]  Indira Gandhi (1917-1984) with her younger son Sanjay (1946 - 1980), just before his death in a plane crash in Delhi. Getty photo from 1980.[/caption] The original Ma-Bete ki sarkar brought us the dark days of the Emergency. Beta and scion Sanjay Gandhi was allegedly the mastermind behind the forced sterilization camps and the slum demolitions, as mata Indira let her son run amok. Indira’s broken spirit at Sanjay Gandhi’s funeral [caption id=“attachment_2310224” align=“alignnone” width=“825”]  Indira Gandhi pays her last respects to son Sanjay. Getty[/caption] Though Indira Gandhi was heartbroken by the death of her favoured son, Sanjay Gandhi in a plane crash in 1980, the rest of the nation breathed a collective (and very quiet) sigh of relief. Varun Gandhi: Lone keeper of the Sanjay Gandhi flame [caption id=“attachment_2310278” align=“alignnone” width=“825”]  Getty.[/caption] “I wanted a constituency which responded to me emotionally. My father worked in this area and he was loved by the people as their son. They consider me also as their son. I belong to this place and will remain here now,” Varun Gandhi had told ET during the 2014 elections. Like father, like son? We certainly hope not.