In politics, leaders remain ‘Young Turk’ beyond 60. But veteran Congress leader R K Dhawan has proved that they can also remain young at heart even at 74. Having achieved several milestones in his political career, veteran Congress leader and confidant of Gandhi family Dhawan has finally settled down in personal life.
The cupid struck bachelor Dhawan last year, at 74, when he met Achla and decided to spent life together. The closely guarded relationship will be made public at a party the couple is organising for close family friends at a five-star hotel here on July 16 -- which is also Dhawan’s 75th birthday. He is supposed to introduce his 60-year-old wife Achla, marking a new chapter in his social life. The invites sent to friends carries Achla’s and Dhawan’s names requesting their presence at the dinner party.
The word has spread in the political circle with leaders accepting in hush hush tones that late marriage is no longer a taboo in politics. Achla, 15 years younger to Dhawan, is a divorcee and has a daughter from a previous marriage to a pilot.
Dhawan, a permanent invitee to the Congress Working Committee, has remained close to Gandhi family despite all the controversies since he knows loyalty and silence has a premium.
He had a long association of 22 years with former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and said to have enjoyed unparalleled power and influence in the government.
A graduate of Punjab University, Dhawan worked as personal secretary to Indira from 1962 to 1984. He was elected to Rajya Sabha in 1990 and served as a member on various parliamentary committees.
Born in Chiniot, now in Pakistan, on July 16, 1937, Dhawan’s parents Mela Ram and Ram Piari migrated to India after Partition.