RK Dhawan passes away at 81; The rise, fall and rise again of Indira Gandhi’s close confidant in 10 points
Veteran Congress leader and Former Union Minister Rajinder Kumar Dhawan, popularly known as RK Dhawan, passed away at BL Kapur Hospital in New Delhi on August 6. He was 81. He was admitted to the hospital last Tuesday for age-related ailments. Dhawan was a member of the Congress Working Committee and came into the spotlight after he was appointed as Former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi’s personal assistant, and since then he remained close to the Gandhi family. Dhawan was with Indira Gandhi through thick and thin, until the day she was assassinated in 1984. He was elected to the Rajya Sabha in 1990 and served as a member on various parliamentary committees. Here are 10 points that described the rise, fall and rise again of RK Dhawan.
- Dhawan gained entry into the Nehru-Gandhi family as Yashpal Kapur’s cousin. Kapur was a leader of Indian National Congress and a close aide of Indira Gandhi. Dhawan started out as a stenographer and later became an indispensable odd-job man. After Kapur left his secretarial duties for political work, Dhawan stepped in.
- Dhawan had a complete control of the access to Indira Gandhi. The power that he held is best documented in the book ‘With Great Truth & Regard: A Story of the Typewriter in India’ authored by senior journalist Rama Lakshmi.
- He was also a part of Indira’s innermost circle during the Emergency years.
- After the assassination of Indira Gandhi, a commission of inquiry under Justice MP Thakkar was appointed by Rajiv Gandhi. Dhawan and his family were put under surveillance and every movement was monitored.
- The committee investigating the assassination came to the conclusion that the ‘needle of suspicion points to Dhawan’s involvement’. He was removed from all his posts. Thus, from one of the most powerful men in the country he was reduced to a national pariah.
- In 1989, when Rajiv Gandhi came under the attack from the opposition over the Bofors scam, he realised the need of a seasoned operator like Dhawan. Gandhi cleared all the charges against Dhawan and brought him back into public life. Dhawan was appointed as the Officer on Special Duty to Rajiv Gandhi in 1989. And thus began his second inning in the Indian politics.
- Dhawan was said to often bring peace between the then President Zail Singh and Rajiv Gandhi.
- He was elected twice to Rajya Sabha and was a member of the Congress Working Committee. He remained a prominent leader under Sonia Gandhi.
- Dhawan was the Minister for Urban Development when PV Narasimha Rao was the Prime Minister.
- On July 16, 2012, the workaholic Dhawan married his companion of several years, Achala, at the age of 74.