ABSTRACT
The brutal murder of Mrs Gandhi altered the course of the country’s history, but its impact on Karnataka was, surprisingly, minimal. There were no acts of retaliatory violence against Sikhs1 in Bangalore or elsewhere in Karnataka, as there were in several other states. People reacted with sorrow, and Congressmen in particular behaved as if they had been orphaned. With the appointment of Rajiv Gandhi as Prime Minister and later his ‘election’ as party chief, Congressmen heaved a sigh of relief. Rajiv’s appointment meant that despite his inexperience, the dynasty would continue.
