📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Bart Molendijk / Anefo
Politics
Rajiv Gandhi’s endorsement of TV ‘Ramayan’ linked to his fall from power
✍️ The Indian Express
🗓 12 Nov 2026, 05:35 AM
👁 5
Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi backed the production of a television series on the Ramayan, a move that political analysts associate with the erosion of his political standing.
Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi publicly endorsed the creation of a television adaptation of the Hindu epic Ramayan during his tenure. His support was seen as an effort to connect with cultural sentiments across the nation.
The endorsement, however, sparked debate among political observers who argued that the move diverted attention from pressing governance issues. Critics contend that the decision contributed to a perception of populist appeasement, weakening his political base.
Subsequent analyses link this cultural endorsement to the gradual loss of confidence within his party and among the electorate, culminating in his eventual loss of power. The episode remains a point of reference in discussions about the interplay of culture and politics in India.
The endorsement, however, sparked debate among political observers who argued that the move diverted attention from pressing governance issues. Critics contend that the decision contributed to a perception of populist appeasement, weakening his political base.
Subsequent analyses link this cultural endorsement to the gradual loss of confidence within his party and among the electorate, culminating in his eventual loss of power. The episode remains a point of reference in discussions about the interplay of culture and politics in India.