The Gandhi family portrait

Indira Gandhi was born on 19 November 1917 to Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru and Kamala Nehru. The Nehrus were a distinguished Kashmiri Pandit family and Indira was brought up in an intensely charged political atmosphere at her family residence, Anand Bhawan, where she spent her childhood years.

As the daughter of Jawaharlal and Kamala Nehru, she had inherited the freedom movement and the trials and tribulations that came along. (AFP Photo)

In 1936, Kamala Nehru, who had been ailing for long, finally succumbed to tuberculosis. Indira, a lonely figure without her mother, was just 18 at the time. (AFP Photo)

Young Indira studied at Somerville College, University of Oxford, England and maintained a long-distance relationship with her father through long letters.
While she was abroad, Indira met a young Parsi man active in politics, Feroze Gandhi.

When Indira and Feroze Gandhi returned to India, they had already decided to get married. (AFP Photo)

Jawaharlal Nehru sought Mahatma Gandhi's help to dissuade their love relationship. But despite her father’s opposition, Indira remained adamant and the marriage took place in March 1942 according to Hindu rituals. (AFP Photo)

The couple had two sons, Rajiv and Sanjay.

Feroze Gandhi died of a heart attackin September 1960. (AFP Photo)

The subsequent death of her father in 1964, caused Indira Gandhi to limit herself to her immediate family. (AFP Photo)

Special: Remembering Indira, 25 years later

Rajiv Gandhi attended the Doon School in Dehradun and later  went to the United Kingdom to study at the Cambridge University. After his return, Rajiv remained aloof from politics and instead focussed on becoming a professional pilot. He, later, worked for Indian Airlines, as a pilot.

It was at the Cambridge University that young Rajiv met Sonia Maino (later Sonia Gandhi) from Italy whom he later married in 1968. (AFP Photo)

Sonia and Rajiv Gandhi had two children, son Rahul, born on June 19, 1970, and daughter Priyanka, born on January 12 1972. (AFP Photo)

Special: Remembering Indira, 25 years later

Indira Gandhi seen here with her grandchildren, Rahul and Priyanka. (Image: Pressbrief.in)

Special: Remembering Indira, 25 years later

Maneka became politically active after Sanjay's death, seeking her rightful share in Sanjay's legacy. She was displeased with Rajiv being promoted as the new political heir of Indira, which led to a public fallout with her mother-in-law Indira Gandhi. (AFP Photo)

Special: Remembering Indira, 25 years later

Rajiv entered politics out of a sense of family duty. Sonia Gandhi was vehemently opposed to the idea, given the explosive nature of Indian politics but finally supported her husband's decision.  After the assassination of his mother in 1984, the Indian National Congress party leaders nominated him to be Prime Minister. (AFP Photo)

Special: Remembering Indira, 25 years later

Rajiv Gandhi led the Congress to a major election victory in 1984. (AFP PHOTO)

Special: Remembering Indira, 25 years later

In May 1991, Rajiv Gandhi was assassinated at the hands of Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam terrorists. (AFP photo)

Special: Remembering Indira, 25 years later

After her husband's assassination, Sonia Gandhi became a virtual recluse for the next six years. (AFP Photo)

Special: Remembering Indira, 25 years later

Sonia Gandhi, led the United Progressive Alliance to a surprise electoral victory in the 2004 Lok Sabha elections. (AFP Photo)

Special: Remembering Indira, 25 years later

Sanjay Gandhi's widow Maneka and their son Varun were excluded from power in the Congress after Sanjay's death, and are now members of the BJP. (NDTV Photo)

Special: Remembering Indira, 25 years later