Simi Garewal

I had never met Rajiv Gandhi until I approached him for my documentary.

I remember, the first time, I suddenly got very nervous when he was in front

of me. I blurted, ‘I’d like to make a documentary on you’, and then I lapsed

into a long silence, which never seemed to end. It may have gone on for

minutes, but it seemed like hours - till I heard his soft-spoken voice gently

prodding, ‘Why don’t you tell me about it...’

Luckily I found my voice again.

Rajiv-ji told me he had seen the film I made on Raj Kapoor and ‘liked it very

much’. I soon learned that Rajiv-ji relied on instinct. I asked him to read my

synopsis but he refused! When I asked why, he looked at me and replied,

‘Trusting is better than reading’

He never asked me how I was planning to make my film, never refused my

direction; never interfered. People may not believe this but he never once

asked for my questions in advance! Which is why his answers were so

spontaneous.

In the very first interview which we shot on the patio of 7 Race

Course Road, Rajiv-ji opened up. It was for Part One - ‘The Person’.

I never expected that he’d speak so candidly about his family, his

childhood, Sanjay, his mother, his children and other personal things.

I think the ‘rare’ moment came when he talked about Sonia and

their love; right from the time he first set eyes on her to their happy

family life. It wasn’t a Prime Minister talking - just a regular,

loving husband and father.

I soon saw that the gravitas expected of a PM did not weigh on

Rajiv-ji. He extended little courtesies like ‘Ladies first’ and other little

gestures that you don’t expect from heads of state. But it came

naturally to Rajiv. There were no hard edges. He was an elegant,

graceful, soft-spoken aristocrat.

For a man who initially resisted stepping into politics, I would soon

also learn that he was a far-thinking with modern progressive ideas..

Over the next 4 1/2 years I travelled with him all over India and abroad. Be it Pakistan, China, Amethi,

Tamilnad, every tour in India. Where Rajiv Gandhi went - so did we. My experiences and adventures on

tours could fill up a book!

Apart from several long interviews conducted in 7 RCR, his Parliamant House office, South Block...

...I also filmed him piloting his plane, playing with his dogs and driving his car. I remember I was holding the

portable light sitting next to him at the wheel. The roads were cleared of traffic and Rajiv-ji drove really

fast! He would careen and swerve on those Delhi roundabouts and my poor cameraman was literally

rolling from side to side on the floor of the backseat.

On hearing the clatterbangs behind him, Rajiv-ji kept asking politely,

‘Are you alright?’

All we could hear were feeble grunts and groans!

1989 was a bad year for both of us...

Rajiv suddenly called for an election on 17 October. I was still editing

my film and Channel Four demanded it immediately.

My mother was very ill at the time and I had to work day and night to

deliver my films to London.

Rajiv lost the election. And I lost my beloved mother. Daddy was

already gone. It was a very painful time and my sister and I went

away to London for several months. To heal...

We returned only when we were conveyed several messages from him.

When I reached Delhi, Rajiv-ji was now in 10 Janpath.

He said he had seen the two parts of my film and thanked me.

So did Sonia-ji, in a beautiful letter. In those days her letters were

handwritten.

Rajiv-ji asked several times, ‘what can I do for you?’

‘Nothing’ I replied.

‘There has to be something’

‘Ok then - I’d like an autographed photograph’ I replied - and he

laughed.

Knowing of my recent loss, he said, ‘work is the best antidote for

grief’.

So we decided that I would continue my documentary with Part

Three - his new phase, as Leader of the Opposition.

A trust had been built by now and I felt a friendship grew.

He shared his thoughts and fears, he also analysed his successes

and failures; he voiced his aspirations and dreams. I noted every

conversation in my diaries, as I always have since my childhood.

Not once, but several times, Rajiv-ji encouraged me to join

politics.

‘Educated women representing different fields should be part

of the mainstream political system’, he would say.

I remember in April ’91, I had written his AICC speech, which he

liked, and he once again said:

‘I hope you are thinking of coming in to politics one day’.

But I had no interest. In my ringside view I had seen the

vagaries of power! I saw how it changed people’s loyalties and

behaviour. For when I started my film Rajiv was Prime MInister.

Then two years later, when he lost - I saw how people shifted their

allegiance. Then again, in 1991, when they realized he would come

back in power - those same people did an about turn!

It was a disillusioning, but valuable lesson in human behaviour.

Over the months I kept inviting him to Mumbai for dinner, to meet the luminaries of our city. We even discussed the

guestlist I had sent to his private secretary - and of course - the menu!

Food was a favourite topic. He loved the sitaphal ice-cream from Mumbai which I took regularly for him and his

family.

When I was with him in end April’91, campaigning was underway.

‘Now your dinner will have to wait till after the elections,’ he said.

‘You wont be able to come after the elections’, I shook my head.

‘Why not?’

‘You’ll be Prime Minister then. So it won’t be possible’

‘Of course it will’, he brushed it aside, ‘I promise’.

I completed shooting the last interview for my documentary that

day and gave him some ideas for election campaign films, which

he liked, and he asked me to make them.

I filmed him just two weeks before, in between his tours.

And that was the last time...

Campaign films done, I returned to Mumbai. It was quite late at night and the TV had gone off in the

entire area. So I decided to play video games to wind down.

My sister, Amrita, was strangely restless and I remember her looking for a radio.

‘Who on earth listens to radios’ I told her.

She tuned in to the BBC and we heard those awful words:

“Rajiv Gandhi has been assassinated”

We reeled with shock! I thought, hoped, maybe he is only hurt, maybe he can get medical help and be

alright. Frantic, I rang Rajiv-ji’s private secretary, Mr. V. George - and he confirmed the awful news.

My thoughts went to Sonia-ji, Priyanka and Rahul - that close family unit - and what it would do to them...

As for me. Its 20 years? I still have not got over it...

Part Three of ‘India’s Rajiv’ remained untouched. Everytime we

sat down to edit it, my crew and I would break down. I couldn’t do it.

Then finally I was sent a message from Sonia-ji. Rajiv-ji had given so

much of his time for my film; I should make it. For him.

Films are a form of immortality. ‘India’s Rajiv’ is the only complete

interview-based documentaion of his entire life.

At the Rajiv Gandhi Memorial at 1, Safdarjung Road, many of his

huge hoardings and quotes on display are incribed: ‘From an interview

with Simi Garewal’ or ‘From ’India’s Rajiv’.

I realized then, that this is what ‘posterity’ means. We will all go one

day. I will not be here - but this Memorial will remain forever and so will

the film I made on him.

Future generations will watch it; they will get to know Rajiv Gandhi as

he was....and Rajiv will live again..

Who says television is transient? It isn’t. If it’s important and

worthwhile, it lives on...