I. Gan ‧ dhi, In ‧ di ‧ ra /ˈɡændi $ ˈɡɑːn-, ˈɪndɪ ə rə/ BrE AmE
(1917–84) an Indian politician who was Prime Minister of India from 1966–77 and from 1980–84. She was the daughter of India’s first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal ↑ Nehru , and her son Rajiv Gandhi also became Prime Minister, but she was not related to Mahatma Gandhi. She was ↑ assassinate d by one of her ↑ bodyguard s in 1984.
II. Gandhi, Ma ‧ hat ‧ ma /məˈhætmə $ -ˈhɑːt-/ BrE AmE
(1869–1948) an Indian lawyer and politician who successfully led the fight for India’s independence from the British. Gandhi is famous especially for developing the idea of non-violent protest, and his methods have been copied in many other places. Gandhi wore very simple ↑ homespun clothes, including a ↑ loincloth , to support the Indian way of life. His real name was Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi but he was given the name ‘Mahatma’ (meaning ‘great soul’) by his followers. He was ↑ assassinate d soon after India gained independence.
III. Gandhi, Ra ‧ jiv /ræˈdʒiːv/ BrE AmE
(1944–91) the son of Indira Gandhi, who was elected Prime Minister of India after his mother was killed in 1984 and remained in power until 1989. He was ↑ assassinate d in 1991 while campaigning (↑ campaign ) in the Indian elections.