Those whom the Gods love...
Rajesh Pilot
Born: February 10, 1945
Died: June 11, 2000
Age: 55
Rajesh Pilot was driving to Jaipur from his constituency, Dausa in Rajasthan, when his car collided with a state transport bus. He died at the Sawai Man Singh hospital of multiple head injuries on June 11, 2000.
A former parliamentary affairs minister, Pilot came from a humble background. He joined the Indian Air Force, where he rose to become a squadron leader. He resigned and was brought into politics by Indira Gandhi to help the Congress following desertions by senior leaders in 1979.
A flamboyant and energetic grassroot-level leader, he was elected to Parliament six times and called himself a farmer's leader.
Pilot and Scindia died sixteen months of each other.
Rajesh Pilot's son Sachin won the 2004 Lok Sabha election from Dausa.
Photograph: Jewella C Miranda