Indira Gandhi

Indira Gandhi was a central figure in Indian politics and a powerful world leader.

She served as the Prime Minister of India during two different periods. Her first term lasted from 1966 to 1977. She returned to power from 1980 until her death in 1984. She was the first and only female Prime Minister in India's history. In total, she served for 15 years and 350 days. This makes her the second-longest-serving Prime Minister in the country.

Gandhi's life was shaped by her family and her education. She was born in 1917 in Allahabad to Jawaharlal Nehru. Her father was the first Prime Minister of India. Her childhood was often lonely and difficult. Her father was frequently away for political work or in prison. Her mother, Kamala Nehru, suffered from illness and passed away early. Indira studied at several schools in India and Europe. She eventually enrolled at Somerville College in Oxford to study history.

Although she excelled in history and economics, she struggled with Latin. She left Oxford before completing her studies to care for her mother. Later, she married Feroze Gandhi, and they had two sons, Rajiv and Sanjay.

Before becoming Prime Minister, Gandhi held several important roles. She served as a minister in the government of Lal Bahadur Shastri. In 1959, she was the president of the Indian National Congress. In this role, she helped dissolve the communist-led government in Kerala. After Shastri died in 1966, she won a leadership election. She defeated her rival, Morarji Desai, to lead the party. At that time, she was the second female Prime Minister in the world.

Many leaders initially thought she would be a weak leader. They hoped to control her as a puppet for their own interests. However, she quickly proved to be a very strong and decisive leader.

Her leadership was defined by major military and political shifts. In 1967, she led India during a conflict with China in the Himalayas. In 1971, she led India during a war with Pakistan. This conflict supported the independence movement in East Pakistan. The war resulted in an Indian victory and the creation of Bangladesh. This event ended the Bangladeshi genocide and increased India's influence in South Asia.

During this time, she also signed a friendship treaty with the Soviet Union. This treaty helped India face geopolitical threats. She also oversaw India's first successful nuclear weapon test in 1974.

Gandhi's political career included periods of intense controversy. In 1975, she declared a nationwide state of emergency. During this time, she ruled by decree and suspended civil liberties. More than 100,000 people, including journalists and political opponents, were imprisoned. This period caused massive public anger. As a result, her party lost the 1977 election. This was the first time the Indian National Congress had ever lost an election.

However, she regained power in a landslide victory in 1980.

In her later years, Gandhi faced challenges from separatist movements. She dealt with the Sikh separatist movement during her fourth premiership. In response to this, she ordered Operation Blue Star. This military action took place in the Golden Temple and killed hundreds of Sikhs. This event led to her assassination on 31 October 1984. Two of her own Sikh nationalist bodyguards killed her.

Her death was a major turning point in Indian history. She was cremated at a site now known as Shakti Sthal.

Today, Indira Gandhi is remembered in many different ways.

Supporters call her "Mother Indira" because of her work with the poor. They credit her with victories over China and Pakistan. They also point to the Green Revolution and economic growth. Critics, however, point to her authoritarian rule during the Emergency. She was named "Woman of the Millennium" in a 1999 BBC poll. In 2020, Time magazine named her one of the 100 women who defined the past century. Her memorial features a large iron ore rock to honor her strength.