Recently, Queen Elizabeth completed 23,226 days, 16 hours, 30 minutes and donkey’s seconds on the British throne to become the longest serving European monarch of a European state, beating the previous record set by Queen Victoria.
Back home, our own Sonia Gandhi was re-elected for the umpteenth time as the Congress President. She had long back broken the previous record of being the longest serving president of the Congress, beating the previous record set by Annie Beasant.
As courtiers in Britain and India lined up to pay fulsome tribute to their queens, we bring you a snapshot of these two remarkable woman who have essayed pivotal roles in the political histories of their respective countries:
| Queen Elizabeth | Dowager Queen Sonia |
| PROFILE | |
| House of Windsors | House of Nehru-Gandhis |
| Title: Defender of the Faith | Title: Defender of Secularism |
| Predecessors: Queen Elizabeth I, Queen Victoria | Predecessors: Annie Beasant, Indira Gandhi |
| Rivals to the throne: None, unlike Queen Elizabeth I who had to be wary of Mary, Queen of Scots | Rivals to throne: Feeble threat from Maneka Gandhi |
| Favourite Phrases: “One is not amused”, “annus mirabillis” | Favourite Lines: “Hawabaaz”, “zeher ki kheti” |
| Her favourite Prime Minister: Tony Blair | Her favourite Prime Minister: Dr Manmohan Singh |
| Didn’t get along with: John Major | Didn’t get along with: Narasimha Rao |
| SIMILARITIES | |
| Longest reigning monarch of Britain | Longest reigning president of Congress party |
| Oversaw liquidation of the British Empire | Overseeing rapid disintegration of the Congress raj |
| The Prime Minister is required to keep her in the loop while running the country | The Prime Minister was required to keep her in the loop as well as take her permission for all major decisions |
| DIFFERENCES | |
| Son itching to take her post | Son itching to stay away from the post |
| Her daughter is 12th in line of succession after male siblings, their children and grandchildren | Her daughter is second in line with her children in tow to take over the party if/when Rahul declines |
| Was not in favour of Scotland’s secession from UK | Supported Telangana’s secession from Andhra Pradesh |
(Theme, inputs by Lakshmi Sriram)