Early Life and Education

• Born to Jawaharlal Nehru, India's first Prime Minister, and Kamala Nehru on November 19, 1917, Indira Gandhi was part of the freedom struggle from a young age. She founded the children’s ‘Bal Charkha Sangh’ and the ‘Vanar Sena’ during the non-cooperation movement.
• She received her early education from Modern School Delhi, the International School of Geneva, and later pursued higher studies at the University of Oxford. Recognising her academic prowess, she was awarded the Citation of Distinction from Columbia University.
• In 1942, she married Feroze Gandhi, and they had two children, Sanjay and Rajiv.

Political Career in Indian National Congress

• Indira Gandhi's political career took off in 1955 when she joined the Working Committee of the Congress party. She served as an aide to her father during his tenure as Prime Minister and later became the President of the Indian National Congress in 1959.
• After the death of Jawaharlal Nehru in 1964, Lal Bahadur Shastri assumed the office of the Prime Minister. Indira Gandhi was elected as a member of the Rajya Sabha and served as the Information and Broadcasting Minister in Shastri's government.
• Following Shastri's untimely death, Indira Gandhi was elected as the leader of the Congress party. Despite initial criticism and challenges from within the party, she emerged victorious and became the Prime Minister of India.
• In the 1967 elections, Indira was elected from the Rae Bareli constituency. But internal party conflicts led to her expulsion. She responded by forming a separate faction, the “New Congress”, with the support of a majority of Congress MPs.

Bank Nationalisation

• In a significant move, Indira Gandhi announced the nationalisation of 14 commercial banks in India on July 19, 1969. The decision was taken under the Banking Regulation Act of 1949 . The nationalisation was a major step towards adopting a socialist pattern in the Indian economy.
• This decision was also motivated by the need to make banking services and credit facilities accessible to India's farmers and rural population.
• The banks that were nationalised in 1969 included: Allahabad Bank, Bank of India, Bank of Maharashtra, Central Bank of India, Dena Bank, Indian Overseas Bank, Syndicate Bank, Punjab National Bank, UCO Bank, Union Bank, United Bank of India, Canara Bank, Indian Bank, and Bank of Baroda.
• The nationalisation of banks led to priority sector lending, reduced regional inequalities, and increased access to banking facilities. It also played a significant role in reducing poverty in rural areas and supporting the green revolution.

Abolition of Privy Purse

• The rulers of the Princely states were given ‘privy purse’ payments under Art.291 and Art.362 of the Indian Constitution. Indira Gandhi argued that the ‘privy purse’ violated the principle of equal rights for all Indian citizens. She also saw it as a necessary measure to reduce the government's revenue deficit.
• In 1971, the 26th amendment of the Indian Constitution abolished Privy Purse. Articles 291 and 362 were removed from the constitution, thereby ending the special privileges and entitlements of the rulers which were against the ideals of equality and social justice.

Garibi Hatao: A Commitment to Poverty Alleviation

• In response to her political opponents' campaign slogan “Indira Hatao”, Indira Gandhi launched the "Garibi Hatao" or "Eradicate Poverty" campaign. This campaign, which was part of the Fifth Five-Year Plan, focused on poverty alleviation, employment generation, and increasing agricultural production.
• The "Garibi Hatao" campaign resonated with the poor and disadvantaged sections of the society and played a crucial role in Indira Gandhi's electoral success.

Role in the Bangladesh Liberation War

• During the Bangladesh Liberation War, Indira Gandhi stood in solidarity with the people of Bangladesh. She allowed refugees from East Pakistan to take shelter in India and extended financial aid, diplomatic assistance, and military support to the people of East Pakistan.
• The India-Pakistan war of 1971, which started with a Pakistani attack on an Indian Air station, ended with India's victory over Pakistan. Indira Gandhi's role in the formation of Bangladesh as an Independent nation and her successful leadership during the India-Pakistan war significantly boosted her popularity.

The Controversial State of Emergency

• In 1975, the Allahabad High Court declared the 1971 elections void on the grounds of dishonest election practices. The Supreme Court of India banned Indira Gandhi from holding any government office for 6 years and revoked her parliamentary position.
• In response to the ensuing chaos and disorder, President Fakruddin Ali Ahmad, on the recommendation of Indira Gandhi and her cabinet, declared a National Emergency in India. As a result, an Emergency was imposed on June 25, 1975, under Article 352 of the Indian Constitution .
• The Emergency period witnessed strict censorship on the media, imposition of curfews, and widespread arrests. Opposition-ruled states were put under President's rule, public protests were banned, and compulsory sterilisation was imposed on the population. The Emergency lasted for 21 months and was withdrawn on March 21, 1977.
• The 1977 elections saw the Congress party under Indira Gandhi being defeated by the Janata Alliance. However, in the 1980 elections, the Congress party made a comeback, and Indira Gandhi was reelected as the Prime Minister of India.

Twenty-Point Programme: A Vision for Socio-Economic Development

• The Twenty Point Programme, launched by Indira Gandhi in 1975, aimed to eradicate poverty and improve the quality of life of the underprivileged sections in the country. The programme was restructured in 1982 and 1986 and was reintroduced in 2006 with new schemes and programmes.
• The programme encompassed various aspects of socio-economic development, such as education, health, agriculture, irrigation, drinking water, and environment. Some of the key points of this programme included poverty eradication, farmer welfare, food security, clean drinking water, women's welfare, youth development, environmental protection, child welfare, and social security.

Operation Blue Star: A Controversial Military Operation

• Operation Blue Star, conducted by the Indian Army in June 1984, aimed to remove Sikh militants, including Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, from the Golden Temple Complex in Amritsar. The operation resulted in significant casualties and damage to the temple complex, leading to widespread criticism and protests.

Assassination and Legacy

• Indira Gandhi was assassinated by two of her bodyguards, Satwant Singh and Beant Singh, on October 31, 1984. The site of her cremation in New Delhi is known as ‘Shakti Sthal’. She was succeeded by her son, Rajiv Gandhi, as the Prime Minister of India.

Awards and Recognitions

• Indira Gandhi was the recipient of numerous awards and recognitions, including the Bharat Ratna in 1972, the Mexican Academy Award in 1972 for her efforts during the Bangladesh Liberation War, and the FAO 2nd Annual Medal in 1973. She was also awarded the Sahitya Vachaspati by Nagari Pracharini Sabha in 1976.
• She received international recognition as well, including the Mother’s Award (US) in 1953, Italy’s Isabella d’Este Award, and Yale University’s Howland Memorial Award. In 1971, a Gallup poll in the United States named her as the most admired person in the world.

Published Works

Indira Gandhi's published works include:

• ‘The Years of Challenge’ (1966-69)
• ‘The Years of Endeavour’ (1969-72)
• ‘India’ (London) in 1975
• ‘Inde’ (Lausanne) in 1979