Sanjay Gandhi was born on 14 December 1946 in New Delhi. He was the son of Feroze and Indira Gandhi, and the grandson of India's first Prime Minister, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru. After his early education in New  Delhi  and  Dehra  Dun, he pursued his interests in engineering with the Rolls Royce Factory in Crewe, Eng­land, from where he returned  in 1966 with a Diploma in Mechanical Engineering and began the unique venture of building a "people's car", Maruti, neither  asking  for nor  getting  any  favours.

However, events overtook him as  he was drawn into the national life of the country and began to take an active interest in the development of the youth of the country.  In  1975,  Sanjay  Gandhi joined the Youth Congress, and from the beginning he set his stamp on its activities. His unswerving conviction that action spoke louder than words, led to result-oriented programmes. These  he  propagated  in clear, simple language with an intensity that was compelling. He was able to harness youth in constructive programmes and emerged as the leader of a surging youth movement in the country, providing leadership for a new generation of young Indians who needed both direction and inspiration. The  5-Point  Programme which Sanjay Gandhi propounded struck at the very roots of social injustice, and was directed towards channeling the  abundant energies and constructive  work  of  the youth of India towards the goal  of National  reconstruction.

March 1977 saw a reversal in the political fortunes of Sanjay Gandhi, but not a reversal in his beliefs and convictions. In spite of a spate of legal cases and other harassment instituted against him and persecution from several quarters, he continued to inspire and motivate. This was the supreme test of leadership, and the qualities of courage and dignity displayed by Sanjay Gandhi earned him the unqualified support of his followers and the masses of India. The Congress (1), Party won an overwhelming victory and Sanjay Gandhi was elected to the Lok Sabha in January 1980 from Amethi.

In the Lok Sabha, he became the symbol of a new generation of Indians who, through unstinted hard work, wanted to build up the country and its people to a destined greatness. On 10 June 1980, he was appointed General Secretary of the AICC (I) to begin  this task.

Hardly had Sanjay Gandhi's parliamentary career begun, when it was cruelly cut short. On 23 June  1980, he  died  in an air crash in New Delhi. He left unfinished a gigantic task but in the  short span of his life, he set an example of service and leadership to his countrymen, which will remain a beacon of inspiration for future generations.

The Posts & Telegraphs Department is privileged to issue a commemorative stamp in his memory.

Source : Information Folder issued by Indian Posts & Telegraph Department, Government of India