Nehru–Gandhi family

The Nehru Dynasty
Ethnicity	Mixed ethnicity
Current region	New Delhi
Information
Place of origin	India
Notable members	Motilal Nehru; Jawaharlal Nehru; Indira Gandhi nee Nehru; Feroze Gandhi; Rajiv Gandhi; Sanjay Gandhi; Sonia Gandhi; Maneka Gandhi; Rahul Gandhi; Varun Gandhi

The Nehru family is a prominent Indian political dynasty. Their political involvement has traditionally revolved around the Indian National Congress. Members of the family have traditionally led the Congress party and the Republic of India since independence.

The Guardian wrote in 2007 "The [Nehru] Gandhi brand has no peer in the world - a member of the Gandhi family has been in charge of India for 40 of the 60 years since independence. The allure of India's first family blends the right to rule of British monarchy with the tragic glamour of America's Kennedy clan."^[1]

Note that Mahatma Gandhi was not related to this family (although he was friends with Jawaharlal Nehru). The 'Gandhi' surname comes from Feroze Gandhi, whom Indira Priyadarshini (the daughter of Jawaharlal Nehru) married, and later chose to change her name to Indira Gandhi after marriage. Feroze Gandhi was born "Feroze Gandhy" into a Parsi family and was educated at the City Anglo-Vernacular High School and Ewing Christian College, followed by the London School of Economics.

Family tree [edit]

First generation [edit]

Motilal Nehru (1861–1931) was a lawyer, a prominent leader of the Indian independence movement and an important leader of the Indian National Congress, who also served as the Congress President twice, 1919–1920 and 1928–1929. He was the founder patriarch of India's most powerful political family, the Nehru–Gandhi family.
Swaruprani Nehru (1868–1938) was the wife of Motilal Nehru. She became active in the Indian independence movement when her husband and son were jailed by the British.
- Jawaharlal Nehru (1889–1964) was the only son of Motilal Nehru. He was the first Prime Minister of India. He was one of the most prominent leaders of the Indian independence movement and had succeeded his father as President of the Congress in 1929.
- Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit (1900–1990) was the eldest daughter of Motilal Nehru. She was an Indian diplomat and politician. She was prominent in Congress itics. She became a diplomat, serving as ambassador to the USSR, High Commissioner to the United Kingdom and later as President of the United Nations General Assembly.
- Krishna Hutheesing (1907–1967) was the youngest daughter of Motilal Nehru. She was a famous Indian writer and biographer.
Nandlal Nehru (1845–1887) was an older brother of Motilal Nehru. He was the Diwan (Prime Minister) of the princely state of Khetri in Rajputana.
- Brijlal Nehru (born 1884) was the son of Nandlal Nehru and a nephew of Motilal Nehru. He was the Finance Minister of the princely state of Jammu and Kashmir during the rule of Maharaja Hari Singh.

Second generation [edit]

Jawaharlal Nehru (1889–1964) was the first Prime Minister of India. He was one of the most prominent leaders of the Indian independence movement and had succeeded his father as President of the Congress in 1929.
Kamala Nehru (1899–1936) was the wife of Jawaharlal Nehru. She was a prominent social reformer and was involved in the national polics of India during her lifetime. She was an active member of the All India Congress Committee.
- Indira Priyadarshini Gandhi nee Nehru (1917–1984) was the only child of Jawaharlal Nehru. She was the third Prime Minister of India and was also the President of the Congress.
- Feroze Gandhi (1912–1960) was a prominent Indian politician and journalist, son in law of Jawaharlal Nehru and husband of Indira Gandhi. Note that Feroze Gandhi is not related to Mahatma Gandhi.
Brijlal Nehru (born 1884) was a cousin of Jawaharlal Nehru. He was the Finance Minister of the princely state of Jammu and Kashmir during the rule of Maharaja Hari Singh.
Rameshwari Nehru (1886–1966) was the wife of Brij Lal Nehru.
- Braj Kumar Nehru (1909–2001) was the son of Brij Lal Nehru and a nephew of Jawaharlal Nehru. He was notable as the Indian diplomat and ambassador to the United States and as High Commissioner to United Kingdom. He later served as Governor of several Indian states and was a top advisor of his cousin Indira Nehru-gandhi

Third generation [edit]

Indira Gandhi (1917–1984) was the third Prime Minister of India. She was also the President of the Congress.
Feroze Gandhi (1912–1960) was a prominent Indian politician and journalist, son in law of Jawaharlal Nehru and husband of Indira Gandhi. Feroz Gandhi is not related to Mahatma Gandhi.
Braj Kumar Nehru (1909–2001) was a cousin of Indira Nehru-Gandhi. He was notable as the Indian diplomat and ambassador to the United States and as High Commissioner to the United Kingdom. He later served as Governor of several Indian states and was a top advisor of his cousin Indira Nehru-Gandhi.
Magdolna Nehru (1908) is the widow of Braj Kumar Nehru.

Fourth generation [edit]

Rajiv Gandhi (1944–1991) was the eldest son of Indira and Feroze Gandhi.
Sonia Gandhi (1946) is the widow of Rajiv Gandhi. She was Italian. She took Indian citizenship after marriage with Rajiv Gandhi. She is the President of the Indian National Congress and has served as the Chairperson of the ruling United Progressive Alliance in the Lok Sabha since 2004. In September 2010, on being re-elected for the fourth time, she became the longest serving president in the 125-year history of the Congress party. Led Congress Party to victory in two successive elections, yet chose not to become Prime Minister of India
- Rahul Gandhi (1970) is the only son of Rajiv Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi. He is the vice president and also General-Secretary of the Congress. He is the Chairman of the Congress coordination panel for 2014 Lok Sabha polls.
- Priyanka Vadra (1972) is the only daughter of Rajiv and Sonia Gandhi. She holds no active position in the Congress party but has featured prominently in campaigns.
Sanjay Gandhi (1946–1980) was one of the most powerful politicians in India during the 1970s. During his lifetime he was widely expected to succeed his mother as Prime Minister of India and President of the Congress, but following his early death in a plane crash his older brother Rajiv became their mother's heir, and succeeded her as Prime Minister after her death.
Maneka Gandhi (1956) is the widow of Sanjay Gandhi. She is a prominent politician in India but is estranged from the rest of her family. She is a member of the Bharatiya Janata Party.
- Varun Gandhi (1980) is the only son of Sanjay Gandhi and Maneka Gandhi. He is a member of the Bharatiya Janata Party National Executive and the youngest National Secretary in the history of the party.

Fifth generation [edit]

- Rahul Gandhi (1970) is the only son of Rajiv Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi. He is the Vice-President of the Congress.^[2] He is the Chairman of the Congress coordination panel for 2014 Lok Sabha polls.
- Varun Gandhi (1980) is the son of Sanjay Gandhi and Maneka Gandhi. He is a member of the Bharatiya Janata Party National Executive and the youngest National Secretary in the history of the party.