# Rajiv Gandhi Memorial

* This article is part of a series aboutRajiv Gandhi
Prime Minister of India(1984–1989)
Early life and education
Eponyms
Family
Memorial
Foundation
Assassination
Premiership
General elections
1984
Ministries
First
Second
Lok Sabha
Seventh
Eighth
National policy
Legislations
NPE
Anti-defection law
Muslim Women Act
Representation of Women
NDPS
Prevention of Corruption Act
Treaties and accords
Assam Accord
Non-Nuclear Aggression Agreement
Mizoram Peace Accord
Rajiv–Longowal Accord
Missions and agencies
BIRF
Controversies
1984 Anti-Sikh riots
Bofors scandal
Indian intervention in the Sri Lankan Civil War
Wars and attacks
Sri Lankan Civil War
Operation Pawan
Operation Brasstacks
Operation Flowers are Blooming
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Rajiv Gandhi Memorial is a memorial to the former Indian prime minister Rajiv Gandhi in Chennai, India. The memorial is located at Sriperumpudur at the site where he was assassinated on 21 May 1991. It was opened on 10 October 2003 by then President of India APJ Abdul Kalam.

## Background

Then prime minister of India Rajiv Gandhi was assassinated by a suicide bombing in Sriperumbudur in Tamil Nadu, India on 21 May 1991. At least 14 others, in addition to Rajiv and the assassin, were killed. It was carried out by the Sri Lankan Tamil separatist organization Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam as a retaliation to the involvement of the Indian Peace Keeping Force in the Sri Lankan civil war.

## Memorial

A memorial was planned by the Government of India at the site where Rajiv was assassinated. The Government of Tamil Nadu allocated 12.19 acres (4.93 ha) of land for the memorial in June 1994. It was built at a cost of ₹211.5 million (equivalent to ₹1.4 billion or US$16 million in 2023). It was designed by K T Ravindran, and was built by the Central Public Works Department. It was opened on 10 October 2003 by then President of India APJ Abdul Kalam, in the presence of Rajiv's widow Sonia Gandhi.

## Design

At the spot where Rajiv died, a square marble plinth measuring 1.03 m$^2$ (11.1 sq ft) stands on a raised platform. The Jaisalmer marble is inlaid with a portrait of Rajiv, and embedded in a pink stone block. The platform is surrounded by seven 15 m (49 ft) high granite pillars each measuring 1.2 m (3 ft 11 in) in diameter. The pillars are mounted by various capital figures made of bronze, which weigh about 1.5 tonnes. The seven pillars were designed to represent the seven concepts in Hinduism namely, dharma, satya, nyaya, vigyan, tyaga, shanti, and samriddhi. They also represent the seven sacred rivers – Ganges, Yamuna, Godavari, Brahmaputra, Narmada, Sindhu, and Kaveri. Various quotations of Rajiv are carved at the base of each pillar.
Towards the south of the memorial is a granite stone wall measuring 45 m (148 ft) in length and 4.8 m (16 ft) in height. The wall consists of bas relief work depicting the transformation of Indian civilization. The wall consists of Rajiv's words, "I am young and I too have a dream...". The path taken by Rajiv before the accident is marked by pink granite stones, leading up to the central plinth. The complex is surrounded by lawns, and various lighting.

## Gallery

* Entrance
* A stone sculpture at the memorial
* "The path of Light" traces Rajiv Gandhi's final steps with the Indian flag in the background
* A stone mural marks the spot of his death
* A stone plaque with the history of events