It will be a blasphemy to compare the two as they are as different from each other as chalk is from cheese. The only similarity is the common surname. Well not really. As I go deeper, I do find few similar strands. Gandhiji was an aspiring young lawyer with no inclination to join politics. It was the proverbial kick in the soul that made him protest and explore his leadership qualities.

The rest is, well, history. For Rahul politics was partly a hand of fate. While he does have a political lineage along with a silver spoon, if fate had not interfered Sanjay Gandhi branch would have been the first family. But if hypothesis rules there could have been a dictatorship and nuclear war with Pakistan along with another partition of India.

Rajiv Gandhi landed in to politics straight from the politics by virtue of a plane crash. Soniaji took over due to bomb blast and Rahul took over because Priyanka made way for him. There must have been a desire to serve the country or to carry on family business. I do not know which came first. The color of her skin and command over language prevented Soniaji from occupying the hot seat.

Can I call it again an intervention of fate for the loyal clean bureaucrat turned politician Sirdar, my hero. Coming back, for Gandhiji, politics was a vocation, a calling of soul. For Rahul it is a profession. Gandhiji had his brush with truth and till his last was always on the horns of a dilemma on being truthful.

I have no idea if Rahul ever had ‘sach ka samna’ a hand to hand combat with reality. Gandhiji had a temple in Harijan Basti, Rahul has been wooing dalits left, right and center, leaving Bahanji squirming in her seat despite being a dalit ki beti. And is plain jealous of Rahul for making in roads in her constituency despite having a foreign lineage and rich heritage.

Both Gandhiji and Rahul have lived abroad for their education and work. Rahul had a Columbian girl friend, Gandhiji had an Indian wife. Rahul has contested election and is an important office bearer of congress party and yes both are from congress – Gandhiji great grand father, Rahul great grand son. Gandhiji had many children rahul has none.

Gandhiji used to move bare foot and in a langoti, Rahul despite enjoying cricket and disco has a simple profile. Gandhiji had no security Rahul has Z class. My only desire is that Rahul should not have a brush with violent death but the possibility can not be ruled out coming out of a cursed family. In the end, I look up to Rahul for providing a meaning full leadership and to evolve as a matured statesman. Right now he is a shrewd politician. Bapu is dead; long live Rahul!
Amen!