Emergency: Revisiting The Darkest Hours Of Democracy
Summary
TLDRThe script recounts the political journey of Indira Gandhi, from her deification after the 1971 Bangladesh War victory to the challenges of corruption accusations and the 1975 Emergency declaration, which suspended civil liberties and led to mass arrests and censorship. It details the rise of her son Sanjay Gandhi and the subsequent backlash against their regime, culminating in Indira's electoral defeat in 1977. The narrative also touches on her dramatic return to power in 1980, with Sanjay's influence on the Congress Party.
Takeaways
- 🇮🇳 The 1971 Bangladesh War led to a decisive victory by the Indian army, elevating Prime Minister Indira Gandhi to a deity-like status, often compared to the goddess Durga.
- 🏆 The euphoria of victory resulted in the Congress party, led by Indira Gandhi, sweeping the 1972 assembly elections both at the center and in the states, solidifying its dominance.
- 🚀 Indira Gandhi's political challenges escalated two years later with a serious case against her over election irregularities, leading to a historic judgment by Justice Jagmohan Sinh at the Allahabad High Court.
- 📛 The judgment found Indira Gandhi guilty of electoral malpractice, invalidating her election and barring her from office for six years, which was a significant blow to her political career.
- 🗳️ Amidst accusations of corruption and a growing student movement, opposition parties staged protests, bringing the country to a standstill and intensifying the political crisis.
- 🤝 During her political crisis, Indira Gandhi turned to her son Sanjay for support, who along with his supporters, arranged demonstrations of support and loyalty.
- 📜 On June 25, 1975, a state of emergency was declared by Indira Gandhi, suspending fundamental rights and effectively making her a dictator, leading to the arrest of opposition leaders and strict censorship.
- 🛑 The emergency period was marked by the rise of Sanjay Gandhi and his aggressive cohorts, who were seen as unruly and undisciplined, contributing to a reign of terror, including forced sterilization campaigns.
- 📢 The media was heavily censored during the emergency, with the press required to adhere to strict guidelines, significantly impacting press freedom.
- 🗳️ In 1977, Indira Gandhi called for fresh elections, ending the 19-month-long emergency, but was met with a strong backlash from the public, leading to her defeat.
- 🔄 Despite her defeat, Indira Gandhi made a political comeback in 1980, returning as Prime Minister with a new Congress party where Sanjay and his allies held significant influence.
Q & A
What significant event occurred during the 1971 Bangladesh War that impacted Indira Gandhi's image?
-The Indian army's decisive victory in the 1971 Bangladesh War transformed Prime Minister Indira Gandhi into a deity, and she was compared to the goddess Durga.
How did the Congress party perform in the 1972 assembly elections following the victory in the Bangladesh War?
-The Congress party swept the polls in the 1972 assembly elections both at the center and in the states, reflecting Indira Gandhi's strong influence and popularity.
What was the political challenge Indira Gandhi faced in 1975 that threatened the future of Indian democracy?
-Indira Gandhi faced a serious political challenge in 1975 when the Allahabad High Court found her guilty of electoral malpractices, which led to widespread protests and ultimately the declaration of a state of emergency.
Who was the opposition leader that stood against Indira Gandhi in the 1971 election and later challenged her over election irregularities?
-Raj Narayan was the opposition leader who stood against Indira Gandhi in the 1971 election and later launched a case against her over election irregularities.
What was the outcome of the case filed by Raj Narayan against Indira Gandhi, and what were the implications for her political career?
-The case filed by Raj Narayan resulted in Indira Gandhi being found guilty of two counts of electoral malpractice, invalidating her election and barring her from office for six years.
How did the opposition's campaign against Indira Gandhi's government contribute to the political crisis of 1975?
-The opposition accused Indira Gandhi's government of rampant corruption and launched a major campaign against her, leading protests and rallies that brought the country to a standstill, which contributed to the political crisis of 1975.
What was the role of Sanjay Gandhi during Indira Gandhi's political crisis in 1975?
-During the political crisis, Sanjay Gandhi, Indira's younger son, provided support and advice. He and his supporters arranged demonstrations of support and loyalty and convinced Indira to fight back against the opposition and the court's ruling.
What was the significance of the state of emergency declared by Indira Gandhi in 1975?
-The declaration of a state of emergency in 1975 marked a significant shift in Indian politics, as it led to the suspension of fundamental rights of citizens and effectively made Indira Gandhi a dictator, with the ability to suppress opposition and enforce strict censorship.
What were the consequences of the emergency declaration for the opposition leaders and the media?
-During the emergency, leading opposition figures were arrested, and the press faced strict censorship, with newspapers required to submit their content for approval before publication.
How did the public's reaction to the emergency influence the political landscape leading up to the 1977 elections?
-The public's negative reaction to the emergency, including the excesses committed during this period, led to a strong opposition movement. This ultimately resulted in Indira Gandhi's defeat in the 1977 elections and the rise of the Janata Party.
Outlines
🎉 Indira Gandhi's 1971 Victory and Emerging Crisis
In 1971, Prime Minister Indira Gandhi's leadership during the Bangladesh War elevated her status, with comparisons made to the goddess Durga. This victory bolstered the Congress Party's success in the 1972 elections. However, just two years later, Gandhi faced significant political challenges. Socialist leader Raj Narain accused her of election malpractices, leading to a landmark case in the Allahabad High Court. On June 12, 1975, Justice Jagmohan Sinha found Gandhi guilty on two counts, invalidating her election and banning her from office for six years. This verdict came amid growing opposition accusations of corruption and unrest, sparking widespread protests and a national crisis.
🚨 Imposition of Emergency and Suppression of Opposition
Following the court's decision against Indira Gandhi, India was plunged into a state of emergency. Late at night on June 25, 1975, a state of emergency was declared, with President Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed's approval. Fundamental rights were suspended, censorship was imposed, and opposition leaders, including Jayaprakash Narayan and Morarji Desai, were arrested. The press was heavily censored, and Indira Gandhi effectively became a dictator. Sanjay Gandhi, Indira's younger son, emerged as a significant power figure, leading aggressive youth movements and implementing controversial programs, including forced sterilizations, which became a hallmark of the emergency period.
⛓️ Arrest of George Fernandes and Repercussions of Emergency
The emergency's repressive measures intensified with the arrest of George Fernandes, a prominent opposition leader. He and his colleagues were paraded in handcuffs and chains, symbolizing the harshness of Indira Gandhi's regime. On January 18, 1977, in a surprising move, Indira Gandhi announced the lifting of the emergency and called for fresh elections, underestimating the public's resentment. The opposition, led by Morarji Desai, united under the Janata Party, capitalizing on widespread anger over the emergency's excesses, including forced sterilizations and brutal suppression of dissent.
🔙 Indira Gandhi's Attempted Comeback and Political Arrest
Indira Gandhi's political instincts led her on a campaign trail to regain public support, notably with a dramatic visit to the flood-hit village of Belchi, Bihar, which revitalized her image. Her growing popularity alarmed the Janata government, leading to her arrest on October 3, 1977. The arrest was intended to discredit her but backfired as it garnered public sympathy. Gandhi's defiant behavior during the arrest and her strategic engagement with supporters underscored her resilience. The government's mishandling of the arrest further damaged its credibility, setting the stage for Gandhi's political resurgence.
👩⚖️ Indira Gandhi's Resurgence and Sanjay Gandhi's Influence
Indira Gandhi's political acumen allowed her to navigate the aftermath of the emergency and regain power. By 1980, she returned as Prime Minister, with Sanjay Gandhi and his loyalists exerting significant influence over the Congress Party. Sanjay's controversial initiatives during the emergency, including media censorship and mass sterilizations, left a lasting impact on Indian politics. Despite public backlash and legal challenges, Sanjay's role in shaping the party's direction became more pronounced. Indira Gandhi's return marked a shift in Indian politics, dominated by the younger Gandhi's authoritarian style and policies.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Bangladesh War
💡Indira Gandhi
💡Emergency
💡Electoral Malpractice
💡Sanjay Gandhi
💡Censorship
💡Opposition
💡Janata Party
💡Mass Sterilization
💡Political Resurgence
💡Sha Commission
Highlights
The 1971 Bangladesh War and the Indian army's victory elevated Prime Minister Indira Gandhi to a deity-like status, drawing comparisons to the goddess Durga.
Following the victory, the Congress party swept the 1972 assembly elections, reflecting Indira Gandhi's strong influence on the party.
Indira Gandhi faced a serious political challenge in 1975 when Raj Narayan, a socialist candidate, contested election irregularities against her.
Justice Jagmohan Sinha delivered a historic judgment on June 12, 1975, finding Indira Gandhi guilty of electoral malpractices and barring her from office for six years.
The opposition accused the Gandhi government of corruption and launched a major campaign against her, leading to widespread protests.
During a political crisis, Indira Gandhi turned to her son Sanjay for support, who helped arrange demonstrations of support and loyalty.
The declaration of a state of emergency on June 25, 1975, by Indira Gandhi marked the suspension of fundamental rights and effectively made her a dictator.
Leading opposition figures were arrested during the emergency, including JP, Morarji Desai, and LK Advani.
Censorship was imposed on the press, with the Times of India office experiencing pandemonium due to the sudden restrictions.
Sanjay Gandhi and his cohorts were seen as aggressive and unruly, with Sanjay being groomed for higher political roles.
Forced sterilization campaigns under the guise of family planning gave the emergency its most notorious stigma.
The arrest of George Fernandez, who had gone underground, showcased the ruthlessness of the regime.
Indira Gandhi surprised the world by ending the 19-month-long emergency and announcing fresh elections in 1977.
The Janata Party, led by Morarji Desai, won the 1977 elections, marking a stunning defeat for Indira Gandhi.
Indira Gandhi's return to strength after her electoral defeat was marked by her visit to the village of Belchi, where she walked several kilometers to meet the survivors of a massacre.
The arrest of Indira Gandhi in 1977 and the subsequent court case, which dismissed the charges against her, demonstrated her enduring political influence.
The Sha Commission's inquiry into the emergency's excesses put Sanjay Gandhi in the spotlight, with allegations of his involvement in mass arrests and censorship.
Indira Gandhi made a strong comeback in the 1980 elections, leading a new Congress party influenced by Sanjay and his cronies.
Transcripts
in
1971 Bangladesh War and the decisive
Victory by the Indian army transformed
prime minister indraa Gandhi into a
deity she was compared to the goddess
Durga in the Euphoria Victory the
Congress swept the polls in the 1972
assembly elections both in the center
and the states it was preeminent the
Congress by now had been shaped to
reflect her personality and preferences
yet just 2 years later indraa Gandhi was
to face her most serious political
challenge one that would force the
daughter of India's first prime minister
javal La Nero to jeopardize the very
fate and future of Indian democracy
itself Raj Nar the Socialist candidate
who stood against indera from ryber in
the 1971 election
launched a case against her over
election
irregularities 4 years later at the
alahabad high court justice jahon sin
was ready to deliver his judgment on the
12th of June
1975 I treat every judgment and every
case alike I never thought that it was a
historic judgment because if I if a
judge thinks that there is a very
important case then it can s
judgment it was a historic judgment
nonetheless one that found Inda Gandhi
guilty on two counts of electoral
malpractice it invalidated indra's
election and dispar her from office for
6 years Raj Naran stood Triumph in front
of the World
Press people to and reaffirm their faith
in the Democratic institutions of India
I accept the judgment with
humility this judgment came at a time
when the opposition had launched a major
campaign against indraa Gandhi accusing
her government of rampant
corruption it was led by the Aging
patriarch jash n the student based Santi
movement had been gathering strength
fors
every day in cities across the country
opposition parties had been staging
protest rallies against Mrs Gandhi's
rule the country was coming to a
standstill sensing the moment was right
the opposition went in for the
kill at the time of her Supreme
political crisis Mrs Gandhi turned to
her younger son Sanjay for support and
advice
Justice senner had granted a stay order
for 20 days to give the government time
to appoint a new prime minister Sanjay
Gandhi and his supporters used this time
to arrange demonstrations of support and
loyalty they convinced IND to fight
back by one judge in a high court
pronouncing a judgment and the
opposition of that time saying that uh
that is the end of the matter and we
won't wait and Mrs Gandhi must
go uh was what we were agitating
against on the 20th of June 1975 indraa
Gandhi's lawyers filed an appeal in the
Supreme Court while Mrs Gandhi defiantly
addressed a massive gathering at the
boat club in the country it is my duty
to see that nothing is done anywhere in
any corner of the world which can cast
any reflection on this character of the
Indian people
on the evening of 25th June the
opposition parties announced Countrywide
protests to force Mrs Gandhi's
resignation the call was given to
commence an agitation in every part of
India which
government could possibly
tolerate a situation of this kind when
not only the people have been asked to
revolt but it is said that the army and
the police should treat this as their
own
struggle sidat Shankar R helped IND
draft a
proclamation he declared that a grave
emergency exists whereby the security of
India is threatened by internal
disturbances then she said then we
should go to the presid I said yes then
she said you come with me we were with
the president maybe about 2 hours 1 and
a half hours she explained the facts to
the president showed him the reports and
everything to what the position was and
what the latest uh appeal was to the
people what do we do about it and then I
took over I explained the law and that
emergency for internal disturbance can
be
declared if the danger was
imminent the president fakin Ali Ahmed
signed it just before midnight and for
the first time since Independence the
state of emergency was declared
fundamental rights of the citizen was
suspended and Mrs Gandhi in effect
became a
dictator leading opposition figures had
been rounded up in the dead of night JP
was
arrested 600 other opposition leaders
including moraji Desai and Elk advani
were also arrested J prash G has been
arrested murai has been
arrested and then we consulted wajp and
myself and we decided to await the
police arrival and to leave so they came
at about 7:30 or so and picked us
up back in Delhi just after mid night
members of Indira Gandhi's cabinet were
woken up by a phone call they were told
to attend a meeting at 6:00 in the
morning the state of emergency declared
in the country was to be retrospectively
endorsed by the
cabinet she called her cabinet and
informed her about this and cabinet
approved wholly without any objection
nobody
objected she pointed out everything
threadbear as to why this was
n so this is how it happened
that night pal was cut off from bahadur
Sha zafur mag the Fleet Street of India
where the offices of almost all the
major national dailies are
located censorship was imposed on the
press the emergency was declared and
there's complete pandemonium in the
times of India office people didn't know
what to do we were not used to
censorship of the press and this has
been we were given notices that nothing
was to publish unless it been advisor
sensor when I discussed it with great
length and she wouldn't agree with me at
all she said there can be no uh
emergency no press Freedom with
emergency they have to tow the line but
the emergency placed extraordinary power
in the hands of an extra-constitutional
authority a man largely seen as Reckless
and arrogant Sanjay Gandhi had gathered
around him a bunch of aggressive cohorts
who to many people were nothing more
than unruly undisciplined muscle
men it was obvious that Mrs Gandhi's
youngest son was being groomed for
higher
things he was the star attraction in the
mammoth youth congress rally held in New
delhi's prati Maan in 1976
in the GTI all India Congress committee
meet Mrs Gandhi went a step further she
declared the youth congress has stolen
our Thunder at that time the youth
congress was playing a very active role
we had a very concrete program and it
was a new generation of Youth coming in
so it was a new Resurgence in the poity
of the country in
guati a it was youth congress for the
first time you saw so many youth
congress banners you saw so many youth
congress workers from all over the
country and many of the very older
leaders looked alien there they started
looking that what is this
happening her official blessings on sanj
as an alternative Power Center was the
signal for the youth congress Brigade to
unleash what turned out to be a reign of
terror inevitable stories of excesses
began to surface in the name of
beautification the capital's turkman
gate area was
bulldozed its occupants
relocated but it was the force
sterilization campaign in the name of
Family Planning which gave the emergency
its overriding
stigma sanj's meteoric rise was helped
by the fact that the opposition was
silenced its leaders under arrest and
strict censorship in force
the ruthlessness of the regime came out
when George Fernandez who had gone
underground was finally arrested and
produced in court in handcuffs it's not
just a handcuff those handcuffs and
chains used to be every day when I used
to be brought to the
court I and my colleagues used to be
brought to the court we were 22 of us
and as we
were every morning we had to be brought
to the court when the trial began or
earlier in the when when dates were
taken at that time plus a
chain with which two policemen chained
themselves to me and similarly to other
colleagues that was Mrs Gandhi's way of
telling you that you know how I can
Crush
you on the 18th of January 1977 Mrs
Gandhi with her Instinct for the
dramatic surprised the World by making
an unscheduled broadcast to the nation
announcing an end to the 19mon long
emergency fresh elections were
announced insulated from the public mood
indraa Gandhi had underestimated hatred
of the emergency and the opposition
strategy jagan Ram the powerful dalit
leader in indra's cabinet was the first
to revolt he was joined by hn bahuguna
former up chief minister who had for
fallen out with Sanjay Gandhi his
resignation from the congress party
electrified the political atmosphere
four non-communist parties merged with
the janatha party under the atic moraji
Desai though JP remained its load
star 2 months later in a stunning
election outcome Mrs Gandhi was swept
out of
pal well uh well she got a terrible
driving from no one less than a buffoon
I think
rajar and San lost two and I came to see
them when she was now in a different
house and very W beone looked very sad
and I
asked she said
feedback she' been told the feedback she
got was that she was very popular and
would sweep the poles this is her own
own government information agencies so I
said to her Mr Gandhi
feedback muraji Desai heading a mly
collection of opposition parties was
sworn in as prime minister the janta
party already Riven by dissension took
yet another vow at rajar the Samari of
Mahatma
Gandhi Mrs Gandhi's humiliating defeat
was clearly more to do with the excesses
of the emergency than popular support
for the janta party the flood of
exposures in the media had laid the
blame for those excesses on the
so-called gang of four Sanjay architect
and the chief enforcer of the mass
sterilization program bual defense
minister and Sanjay's Hatchet Man
minister of State for home Oma who on
sanj's orders orchestrated the mass
arrests of politicians in journalists
and VC Shukla the Arrogant Minister for
information and broadcasting who
enforced censorship rules with an iron
hand everything was done according to
law even press censorship was done
according to law the law may be B
emergency was prated that much B but
there were under certain provisions of
the Constitution which were later on
deleted but they were under law of the
land at that particular moment that time
were not illegal Acts or they were not
high-handed acts against the
law within months however the Juna party
was in crisis indraa Gandhi began to
attract supporters
again in July 1977 in Bel a remote
Village in Bear local landlords had
massacred whole families of landless
hurrians
while the government dithered indraa
Gandhi decided to visit the village all
parts to belchi had been washed away by
The Monsoon rains and hardly had she
covered any distance when her Jeep got
stuck Mrs Gandhi then started her march
on foot she had walked a few kilometers
when morti the elephant came to her
rescue after 3 and 1/2 hours with the
sun setting behind her Inda Gandhi
reached
Bel the survivors of the massacre came
running out of the village to greet her
she was with them for a short while but
by the time her cavalcade started the
March back the enthusiastic response
from the crowds could mean only one
thing Mrs Gandhi was on the comeback
Trail indra's return to strength
infuriated the government this provoked
jri Charan Singh the home minister who
ordered the arrest of Mrs Gandhi on the
3rd of October 1977
when the CBI and the police arrived at
12 Willington Crescent she made them
wait for several hours then insisted on
being
handcuffed our first reaction even
sanj's reaction was that they come to
arrest
him but the police was in hundreds and
there was I think Mrs K there also with
them at the gate they had a net as if
you know they would fly off or
something
and then we I mean sanj went and talked
to the officers concerned and they said
they' have come to arrest Mrs Gandhi now
they didn't have a warrant of arrest so
Sanjay G I mean he said that you can't
arrest unless you have a warrant of
arrest for her and then in the meantime
he gave me a list of MPS and journalist
to
contact God because they cut the phones
in the
house her supporters soon moed the house
Mrs Gandhi's historyonics showed that
her legendary political instincts were
still intact it also gave Sanjay Gandhi
and his activists another opportunity to
flex their muscles when she eventually
left the house at 7:30 in the evening
she was showered with roast petals by
the cheering
crowd the police car headed towards
harana followed by Sanjay Gandhi and her
support
at luckwood
habit before the harana was crossed
there was a level crossing that was
closed and Railway train was going to go
but the whole thing had to stop
there realizing that she was being taken
outside the jurisdiction of a deli
warrant Mrs Gandhi got out of the car
and sat on the ground surrounded by her
lawyers and
supporters after the level crossing was
open
they were requesting her to uh come and
sit in the Jeep but she refused she she
wouldn't sit in the Jeep unless the jeep
was turned and she was taking back to
Delhi so this one Mr NK Singh he tried
to grab her wrist and her arm to take
her forcibly and she uh scolded him very
very strongly and everybody said that
we'll we'll kill you if you touch her
like this and all that the motorcade
turned back to
Delhi the janta government had committed
its first major political blunder and
its greatest administrative B the next
day indraa Gandhi was produced in
court outside the court Sanjay and his
gangs battled with the police and janta
party
supporters the case against Mrs Gandhi
was that she had entered into a criminal
conspiracy with industrial housing
to provide her and her son Sanjay with
Jeeps for their election
campaign inside the court the judge
dismissed the case Mrs Gandhi was
free meanwhile in another Court
Witnesses and depositions were piling up
as the Sha commission began its inquiry
into the excesses of the emergency
Sanjay was made to appear to hear the
allegations against him
accompanied him and Mana to the Sha
commission as sanj entered there was
free for it broke loose chairs tables
everything we H at each other uh I took
shelter behind uh Kiran B she asked
me and I saw this fight go on and fought
back I couldn't believe and they tore
his shirt and he hit back he's a very
powerful man he was short but he's very
very powerful and within 10 minutes sanj
of course had carried his goons with him
too they got the better of the others
and threw them out of the court and the
Charming incident was that while all
this was going on and jusa hadn't come
on this from his Chambers to the room
Mena left over the railing which
separated the courtroom from the judge's
chair and table and she picked up two of
his pens you know with from the holder
and gave them to me as motos I had them
for many years with me it was the
Supreme Court however which decided that
Sanjay Gandhi deserved to be in the same
place he had put hundreds of his
opponents in diar jail the case
notoriously called the Kissa Kura case
one in which a satirical film had been
banned and its negatives destroyed was
ironically one that had aroused the
least Publican media interest Sanjay was
eventually released amid high drama and
familiar disruptions by his
supporters 34 months after her worst
ever electoral defeat Mrs Gandhi stormed
back as prime minister in the 1980
elections
but this was a new congress party one
where Sanjay and his cronies called the
shots what effect San's power would have
on Indian politics would never be known
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