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Gandhi is the family name of a number of prominent 20th century Indian politicians and leaders. It is most commonly used to refer to Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi (1869–1948), one of the leaders of India's independence movement, frequently called Mahatma Gandhi, and known to Indians as the Father of the Nation.
It may also be used to refer to the Gandhi family, descendants of India's first prime minister (1947–1964), Jawaharlal Nehru, who subsequently became a major force in Indian politics. This family is not related to Mohandas Gandhi; the last name Gandhi was obtained by Indira Nehru after she married Feroze Gandhi. Some important members of this dynasty were:
- Indira Gandhi (1917–1984), Prime Minister of India (1966–1977, 1980–1984); daughter of Jawaharlal Nehru
- Sanjay Gandhi (1946–1980), son of Indira Gandhi
- Maneka Gandhi, widow of Sanjay Gandhi
- Varun Gandhi, son of Sanjay and Maneka
- Rajiv Gandhi (1944–1991), Prime Minister of India (1984–1989); son of Indira Gandhi
- Sonia Gandhi (born 1946), widow of Rajiv Gandhi, current (2004) leader of the Indian National Congress
- Rahul Gandhi (born 1970), son of Sonia Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi
- Priyanka Gandhi (born 1971), daughter of Sonia Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi
Gandhi is also the name of a 1982 film, a dramatized biography of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi. See Gandhi (film).
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