In Pictures: The Life & Times Of Former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi; A Look At His Rare Photographs

Former PM Rajiv Gandhi Birth Anniversary: At Rajiv Gandhi's 76th Birth Anniversary, here is a look at some key events of his personal and political life.

This picture taken 21 March 1977 shows Indian prime Minister Indira Gandhi with her two sons Rajiv (L) and Sanjay in New Delhi

In this picture taken early 1984 shows Indian prime minister Indira Gandhi (R) and her son Rajiv (L) at a Congress Party meeting in New Delhi.

Assassinated Prime Minister Indira Gandhi lies in state at Teen Murti Bhavan on October 31, 1984 in New Delhi, as her son Rajiv Gandhi (L) looks on. Indira Gandhi was killed by two of her Sikh bodyguards following an Indian army raid on the Golden Temple in the northern city of Amritsar, Sikhdom's holist shrine./ (Credits for all Images used in the gallery: AFP)

Rajiv Gandhi (D), Indian Prime Minister accompanied by his wife of Italian origin, Sonia (2nd L), at a gathering on June 01, 1985 in New Delhi near the tomb of his mother Indira Gandhi murdered in 1984.

A photo taken on June 8, 1985 shows French Prime Minister Laurent Fabius (C), his Indian counterpart Rajiv Gandhi (L) during the 39th Aeronautical Show at Le Bourget airport, near Paris. AFP PHOTO MICHEL CLEMENT

In this file photograph dated 16 May 1991, Indian premier Rajiv Gandhi addresses the crowd during his election campaign rally at Faizabad in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh./ . Rajiv was assassinated whilst electoral campaigning in southern India on 21 May 1991. AFP PHOTO/ STR / FILER

India's Premier Rajiv Gandhi (2nd-R), accompanied by his Italian-born wife Sonia (C) and his daughter Priyanka (2nd-L) and son Rahul (L), pray, on his mother, Indira Gandhi's, cremation site 31 October 1989 in New Delhi. Indira, a Congress party leader, was brutally assassinated by Sikh militants in 1984, a tragedy which thrust power onto Rajiv, who was then a commercial pilot of Indians Airlines. On 21 May 1991, Rajiv Gandhi, then Indian Prime minister, was assassinated by a woman activist allegedly belonging to Sri Lankan Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) rebels.

French president François Mitterrand (L), Indian Premier Rajiv Gandhi (C) and Senegalese president Abdou Diouf (R) pose after the G7 bilateral talks, on july 13, 1989 at the Elysee palace in Paris./ JEAN-PIERRE MULLER / AFP

A photo taken on June 8, 1985 shows French Prime Minister Laurent Fabius (C), his Indian counterpart Rajiv Gandhi (L) during the 39th Aeronautical Show at Le Bourget airport, near Paris. AFP PHOTO MICHEL CLEMENT

Indian Premier Rajiv Gandhi and his Italian-born wife Sonia visit 20 December 1988 in Badaling the Great Wall during their trip to China. On 21 May 1991, Rajiv Gandhi, then Indian Prime minister, was assassinated by a woman activist allegedly belonging to Sri Lankan Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) rebels. / AFP PHOTO JOHN GIANNINI