The tragic tale of Bhutto's & Gandhi's Assassinations

In this file photo dated June 28, 1972 Pakistani President Zulfikar Ali Bhutto (centre) shakes hands with Indira Gandhi as his daughter Benazir Bhutto (right) looks on

Indira Gandhi
Inbred charisma, sharp cunning, ruthless tact for political manipulation, Indira Gandhi had it all. Nobody in their wildest dreams could imagine that she could be slayed by her own bodyguards. Mrs Gandhi, after all, has survived it all. From the Bangladesh war to Emergency to a landslide victory via re-election, Gandhi was The Master of the Game. But Operation Blue Star revealed the gravity of the Khalistan problem India was facing then. On Oct 31, 1984, Gandhi's body was riddled with bullets from her own bodyguards' machine guns. She was a gutsy woman who played political football, quite literally.

Rajiv Gandhi
If Indira Gandhi found her nemesis in the Khalistani movement, LTTE was Rajiv's fatal error. The Indian Peace Keeping Force in Sri Lanka turned out to be our Vietnam story. But the LTTE is notoriously vengeful. One of our most charismatic and glamorous leaders met an awful end thanks to this baggage, during campaigning for an election. Rajiv Gandhi's death also coincided with India's darkest hour economically with only half a billion dollars in our national treasury during the cruel summer of May 1991.

Zulfikar Ali Bhutto
Like Indira found death at the hands of her own bodyguard, Zulfikar Bhutto too died at the hands of his own general. People who were meant to 'protect' them actually ended up killing them. General Zia-ul-Haq (who like Sanjay Gandhi died in a plane crash) decided to seize power, jailed Bhutto, and got him executed for 'crimes'.

Benazir Bhutto
The Daughter of the East, with Rajiv Gandhi, was seen as part of a new confident political order. Western-educated, urbane, chic, Bhutto often made it to the "most beautiful people in the world" lists in the 1980s. Her return in 1989 revamped the PPP, and despite a turbulent 90s and many years in exile, she remained the face of Pakistani democracy. She appealed to the younger, urban Pakistanis (just as Rajiv Gandhi won our hearts). Her return to power was almost guaranteed. But her perceived proximity to the West angered jehadis who swore revenge. And revenge they got. Five bullets were fired at her vehicle. And one hit her neck. A horrible way to go for anyone. And like Rajiv, she was campaigning for re-election…