Rahul Gandhi, momo-loving martial artist: 5 things you didn't know about new Congress president
If Rahul Gandhi, the new Congress chief, came over for dinner, what should you treat him to? Read on to find out.
In Short
- Rahul Gandhi will officially become Congress president today
- He takes over from Sonia Gandhi
- Here are 5 things you didn't know about Rahul Gandhi
Rahul Gandhi, the scion of the Nehru-Gandhi family, officially took over as Congress President from its longest-serving chief - his mother, Sonia Gandhi.
You may know Rahul Gandhi as the 'yuvraj' who took on Narendra Modi in the 2014 Lok Sabha election, or the gaffe-prone politician who suggested that Bengaluru had "cities" within it. But there's more to Rahul Gandhi than his role in the Congress party.
What might you learn about Rahul if you sat down with him for an informal chat? Well, we can give you an idea of what you might discover. Here are five things that you probably didn't know about Rahul Gandhi.
AIKODO ACE: Rahul Gandhi has a black belt in aikodo, a Japanese martial art. And his coach, Sensei Paritos Kar recently told India Today that he's been practicing with the young neta since 2009 (Kar says Rahul also knows sword-fighting and Brazilian jiu-jitsu). You can read about that interview here. And here's a picture of Rahul Gandhi with his aikodo group.
OXBRIDGE MAN: Rahul has a M. Phil in Development Studies from Cambridge, one of the UK's two most prestigious universities. He has also attended Harvard University, in the US.
FAVOURITE FOOD: Does Rahul Gandhi enjoy a plate of steaming momos as much as you do? You bet.
ON THE BOOKSHELF: Congress leader Digvijaya Singh told the Indian Express in 2014 that Rahul Gandhi is a "voracious reader." So, what would the new Congress president bring if you invited him to your local book club? We can't say for sure, but according to a report in our magazine, he's been reading Swami Vivekananda's books.
MOTIVATOR: According to a report in Mail Today, Asha Devi, the mother of victim of the 2012 Nirbhaya gangrape, said Rahul Gandhi counselled and motivated her son after the heart-rending tragedy. "After learning that he wanted to join the defence forces, Rahul asked him to pursue a pilot's training course after completion of school," Asha Devi said.
"When he was studying, Rahul used to talk to him over the phone and taught him to adopt a 'never quit' attitude." she said. Read the full report to learn more.
WATCH | Rahul Raj: Political journey of Rahul Gandhi from a reluctant price to Congress' foreman