Iron lady who shaped modern India’s destiny

Indira Gandhi — born on November 19, 1917, in Allahabad (now Prayagraj) — was one of the most influential and polarising figures in the modern Indian history. She was the only child of Jawaharlal Nehru, India’s first Prime Minister, and Kamala Nehru. Raised in a politically active family, Indira was exposed to India's struggle for Independence from a young age. Her formative years were marked by political upheaval and a strong influence from her father whose role in the Indian National Congress (INC) and as a close associate of Mahatma Gandhi shaped her perspective on governance and leadership.

Educated at prominent institutions such as the Visva-Bharati University in West Bengal and the University of Oxford in England, Indira gained an eclectic understanding of world politics and the arts. However, her education was often interrupted due to her family’s political commitments and the health challenges of her mother. She married Feroze Gandhi in 1942, and the couple had two sons, Rajiv and Sanjay. Her involvement in politics deepened after India gained Independence in 1947, especially as her father ascended to the Prime Minister's office.

Indira Gandhi entered politics formally in the 1950s, initially as her father’s informal aide and later, as the president of the INC in 1959. Following her father's death and the brief tenure of Lal Bahadur Shastri, Indira was elected as the Prime Minister in 1966. Her tenure marked a shift in India’s political landscape as she adopted policies aimed at centralising power and reinforcing the authority of the Prime Minister’s Office.

One of Indira Gandhi’s most notable accomplishments was her role in the Green Revolution, which modernised India's agricultural sector and helped achieve food security. She also took a bold stance in the foreign policy, culminating in the liberation of Bangladesh in 1971 following the Indo-Pakistani War. Her leadership during this period established her reputation as a decisive and resilient leader on the world stage.

However, her tenure was not without controversy. In 1975, facing political opposition and allegations of the electoral malpractice, she declared a state of Emergency, which lasted until 1977. During this period, civil liberties were curtailed, political opponents were arrested and the press faced severe censorship. Although she justified the Emergency as necessary for the national stability, it remains one of the most criticised actions in Indian democracy. The Emergency eventually led to her temporary ousting from office in the 1977 elections.

Indira returned to power in 1980 but faced numerous challenges, particularly with growing religious and regional tensions. The most significant crisis was in Punjab, where separatist movements threatened national integrity. Her decision to launch Operation Blue Star to suppress insurgents in the Golden Temple at Amritsar sparked widespread outrage among Sikhs. This action eventually led to her assassination on October 31, 1984, by her Sikh bodyguards.

Indira’s legacy is complex and multi-dimensional. While she is celebrated for her contributions to India's self-sufficiency and assertive foreign policy, she is also critiqued for authoritarian measures that impacted democratic institutions. Her life remains a powerful narrative of political ambition, resilience and the intricate balance between leadership and power in a diverse democracy.