This marvellous photograph shows two of India's leading political dynasties together. It was taken in Kashmir in 1986 and is a wonderful counterblast to the photo taken in Kashmir some forty years earlier of five future Prime Ministers.
Rajiv Gandhi was at the time India's Prime Minister and Farooq Abdullah had recently resumed the post of Chief Minister of (what was then) the state of Jammu & Kashmir. Both also feature in the earlier photo!
The full line-up of the 1986 photo is, from the left (so to speak):
+ Farooq Abdullah
+ Priyanka Gandhi
+ Rahul Gandhi
+ Sonia Gandhi, and in front of her
+ Sara Abdullah
+ Rajiv Gandhi, and in front of him
+ Hinna Abdullah
+ Molly Abdullah
+ Safia Abdullah
+ Omar Abdullah
Omar Abdullah, of course, followed in his father's footsteps in becoming Chief Minister - and both have served as ministers in India's national government. Omar is contesting the coming assembly elections in J&K.
Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi became leaders of the Congress Party: Sonia was an MP for many years and now sits in the Rajya Sabha; Rahul is the current leader of the opposition in the Lok Sabha. His sister, Priyanka, is likely to enter Parliament when she contests a by-election for one of the two seats won by Rahul in this year's general election.
This photograph was recently posted on X by Safia Abdullah Khan and is reposted here with her permission. 'It was taken on 19th December 1986 in Tangmarg', she recalls. 'We were supposed to go up to Gulmarg but due to a heavy bout of snow the road was closed.'
Rajiv Gandhi was at the time India's Prime Minister and Farooq Abdullah had recently resumed the post of Chief Minister of (what was then) the state of Jammu & Kashmir. Both also feature in the earlier photo!
The full line-up of the 1986 photo is, from the left (so to speak):
+ Farooq Abdullah
+ Priyanka Gandhi
+ Rahul Gandhi
+ Sonia Gandhi, and in front of her
+ Sara Abdullah
+ Rajiv Gandhi, and in front of him
+ Hinna Abdullah
+ Molly Abdullah
+ Safia Abdullah
+ Omar Abdullah
Omar Abdullah, of course, followed in his father's footsteps in becoming Chief Minister - and both have served as ministers in India's national government. Omar is contesting the coming assembly elections in J&K.
Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi became leaders of the Congress Party: Sonia was an MP for many years and now sits in the Rajya Sabha; Rahul is the current leader of the opposition in the Lok Sabha. His sister, Priyanka, is likely to enter Parliament when she contests a by-election for one of the two seats won by Rahul in this year's general election.
This photograph was recently posted on X by Safia Abdullah Khan and is reposted here with her permission. 'It was taken on 19th December 1986 in Tangmarg', she recalls. 'We were supposed to go up to Gulmarg but due to a heavy bout of snow the road was closed.'
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