Indira Gandhi

Indira Gandhi

Prime Minister of India, daughter of J. Nehru
Date of Birth: 19.11.1917
Country: India

Content:
  1. Indira Gandhi: The Iron Lady of India
  2. Challenging Childhood
  3. Marriage and Political Career
  4. Iron Lady of India
  5. Assassination and Legacy

Indira Gandhi: The Iron Lady of India

Indira Priyadarshini Gandhi (born Indira Nehru) was born on November 19, 1917, in Allahabad, India. She was the only child of Kashmiri Pandit parents. Her father, Jawaharlal Nehru, was a prominent political figure and later became the first Prime Minister of India.

Indira Gandhi

Challenging Childhood

Indira's childhood was not easy. Her father was often away on political matters or serving time in prison, while her mother was frequently ill and passed away from tuberculosis at a young age. Indira mainly received her education at home and later attended Viswa Bharati University in Shantiniketan. It was during her time there that she met Rabindranath Tagore, who gave her the name Indira Priyadarshini Nehru. However, due to her mother's illness, Indira had to leave her studies and take care of her in Europe. She later resumed her education at Oxford University, where she studied history, political science, and economics.

Indira Gandhi

Marriage and Political Career

During her time in England, Indira became close to Feroze Gandhi, whom she married in 1942. While working in her father's administration, she held various positions, eventually becoming the President of the Indian National Congress in 1959. She initially declined the offer to become the Prime Minister but eventually accepted the position in 1966.

Indira Gandhi

Iron Lady of India

As Prime Minister, Indira Gandhi gained a reputation for her firm leadership, centralization of power, and tough approach to political matters. She played a pivotal role in supporting the independence movement in East Pakistan, which led to the creation of Bangladesh. She also focused on the development of India's nuclear program, approving nuclear tests as a response to perceived threats from China.

Indira Gandhi

In 1975, she declared a state of emergency and made significant changes to the Indian Constitution. However, her decision to extend the emergency regime and the subsequent elections in 1977 saw a decline in her popularity. Her party suffered a significant defeat, and she lost her position as Prime Minister.

Indira Gandhi

Assassination and Legacy

After the elections, Indira Gandhi faced numerous challenges, including calls for her arrest. Her support among the public dwindled, and she was arrested for her alleged involvement in a plane hijacking. However, she regained public support, and her party returned to power in 1980.

Indira Gandhi

Tragically, Indira Gandhi was assassinated on October 31, 1984, shortly after the end of the anti-Sikh Indian military operation known as "Operation Blue Star." She was shot by her own bodyguards, Satwant Singh and Beant Singh, in the garden of the Prime Minister's residence.

Despite the controversies surrounding her leadership, Indira Gandhi left a lasting impact on Indian politics. She is remembered as the Iron Lady of India and remains a significant figure in the country's history.

© BIOGRAPHS