It’s not always the politicians themselves that engage in illicit
activities. Sometimes their own families are to blame for their
political downfall. Such is the case of Jagjivan Ram. Jagjivan had the potential to become independent India’s first Dalit Prime Minister. However, his son Suresh Ram was caught in a sex scandal that ruined those chances.
The Sex Scandal Breaks Out
Jagjivan Ram was deputy prime minister at the time of the scandal. When Indira Gandhi was beaten in the 1977 Janata Party movement, Jagjivan was looked upon as the favorite choice for the post of Prime Minister. Jagjivan had moved away from Congress and he had a strong reputation as an able administrator and experienced politician.
A magazine known as Surya published a two-page spread of nude photos of his 46-year-old son, Suresh Ram, and a college student named Sushma Chaudry. They were seen in very compromising positions. Unfortunately, his father bore the brunt of the ensuing scandal. There is more to the story than just photos beings published in some magazine though.
Jagjivan Ram was deputy prime minister at the time of the scandal. When Indira Gandhi was beaten in the 1977 Janata Party movement, Jagjivan was looked upon as the favorite choice for the post of Prime Minister. Jagjivan had moved away from Congress and he had a strong reputation as an able administrator and experienced politician.
A magazine known as Surya published a two-page spread of nude photos of his 46-year-old son, Suresh Ram, and a college student named Sushma Chaudry. They were seen in very compromising positions. Unfortunately, his father bore the brunt of the ensuing scandal. There is more to the story than just photos beings published in some magazine though.
Politics Behind Photos
The magazine that printed these photos was edited by Maneka Gandhi. Maneka was Indira Gandhi’s daughter-in-law. It was India’s first political sex scandal to be published. The photos had been taken on a polaroid camera. Many believe that this scandal coming out at such a critical point in Jagjivan’s career was nothing less than a plot to ruin his political career. Some have even theorized that politicians from his own party had a hand in the scandal.
Kushwant Singh was the consulting editor of the magazine at the time of the sex scandal. He stated that the polaroid photos were sent in an envelope to his National Herald office, which was run by Congress. Bear in mind that, at the time, obscenity tolerance was low and any media house that would have published these pictures risked being shut down. So there had to be some kind of vested interest behind these photos being published. Most agree that the photos appeared to be politically motivated.
The magazine that printed these photos was edited by Maneka Gandhi. Maneka was Indira Gandhi’s daughter-in-law. It was India’s first political sex scandal to be published. The photos had been taken on a polaroid camera. Many believe that this scandal coming out at such a critical point in Jagjivan’s career was nothing less than a plot to ruin his political career. Some have even theorized that politicians from his own party had a hand in the scandal.
Kushwant Singh was the consulting editor of the magazine at the time of the sex scandal. He stated that the polaroid photos were sent in an envelope to his National Herald office, which was run by Congress. Bear in mind that, at the time, obscenity tolerance was low and any media house that would have published these pictures risked being shut down. So there had to be some kind of vested interest behind these photos being published. Most agree that the photos appeared to be politically motivated.
It’s alleged that the photos were meant as a weapon to personally destroy Jagjivan’s political career. Jagjivan had broken away from his 30-year career as cabinet minister of the Congress. He then joined the Janata Party, giving an alternative to Indira Gandhi.
Accounts of the scandal say that Jagjivan would have given up the chance at being Prime Minister of the Janata Government, returning to Congress, if the photos remained unpublished. However, he was asked to first leave Janata, which he did not do, and the deal fell apart. It was then that Surya published the pictures of Suresh Ram.
The fallout was that Jagjivan’s political career fell, and the Janata Party split in two. It was the downfall of the Morarji Desai government. So, with the outside support of Congress, Charan Singh became the next Prime Minister.
A Case of Karma
Nearly 40 years later, in 2016, history seems to be repeating itself. The very same Maneka Gandhi seems to be getting a taste of karma. What she did to Jagjivan and Suresh Rash is now being done to her son Varun Gandhi.
The pictures look extremely doctored and many say they are
photoshopped. However, they have done their job in ruining the future
political career of her son.
Reference Links-
Reference Links-
- https://www.huffingtonpost.in/2016/10/24/38-years-after-she-published-the-countrys-first-sex-scandal-pho_a_21590206/
- https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/crime/story/19780915-abduction-of-defence-minister-jagjivan-rams-son-and-his-girl-friend-rocks-the-nation-823028-2014-04-03
- https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/society-the-arts/media/story/19781031-surya-magazines-expose-on-the-sex-scandal-involving-jagjivan-rams-errant-son-823113-2014-03-18
- https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/society-the-arts/media/story/19781031-surya-magazines-expose-on-the-sex-scandal-involving-jagjivan-rams-errant-son-823113-2014-03-18
- https://www.outlookindia.com/magazine/story/the-unhappy-medium/265509
- https://www.ibtimes.co.in/top-7-sex-scandals-hit-indian-politics-692071
- https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/1978-maneka-gandhi-leaked-first-political-sex-scandal-now-son-varun-faces-same-charge-51853
- https://postcard.news/political-sex-scandal-prevented-jagjivan-ram-becoming-indias-first-dalit-prime-minister/
- https://www.indiatvnews.com/topic/suresh-ram-sex-scandal
- http://www.millenniumpost.in/dirty-picture-on-prime-time-881
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