Indira Gandhi (1917-1984) was the first female Prime Minister of India, serving from 1966 to 1977 and again from 1980 to 1984. The daughter of Jawaharlal Nehru, she left a lasting mark on history through her nationalization policies, her leadership during the 1971 war, and her authoritarian rule during the state of emergency. She was assassinated by her own bodyguards in 1984.
Indira Gandhi(1917 — 1984)
Indira Gandhi
Inde, Raj britannique, Union indienne
8 min read
Frequently asked questions
Famous Quotes
« You cannot shake hands with a clenched fist.»
« Forgiveness is a virtue of the brave.»
Key Facts
- 1966: becomes the first female Prime Minister of India, succeeding Lal Bahadur Shastri
- 1971: wins the war against Pakistan, leading to the creation of Bangladesh
- 1975-1977: declares a state of emergency, suspending civil liberties and ruling by decree
- 1974: oversees India's first nuclear test, Operation “Smiling Buddha”
- 1984: assassinated by her Sikh bodyguards following Operation Blue Star at the Golden Temple in Amritsar
Works & Achievements
Indira Gandhi nationalised 14 major private banks, a populist measure that strengthened her grip on Congress and radically transformed the Indian economy by giving poor rural populations access to credit.
Under Indira Gandhi's leadership, the Indian army won a decisive victory against Pakistan in two weeks, enabling the creation of Bangladesh. She was hailed as 'Durga' (the warrior goddess) even by the opposition itself.
India's first nuclear test, conducted secretly under her leadership, making India the sixth nuclear power in the world. This strategic decision aimed to assert India's sovereignty and power.
Indira Gandhi actively supported the introduction of new high-yield wheat varieties and agricultural modernisation, enabling India to achieve food self-sufficiency and break free from dependence on American food aid.
A collection of interviews and personal reflections by Indira Gandhi, in which she looks back on her political life, her vision of Indian democracy, and her relations with the world's major powers.
Under her impetus, India launched its first artificial satellite, Aryabhata, laying the foundations of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and the nation's space ambitions.
Anecdotes
As a child, Indira Gandhi burned her cotton foreign dolls to support Gandhi's swadeshi movement. Her father Nehru had raised her in the spirit of Indian nationalism, and she understood early on that even toys could become a political act.
During Operation Bluestar in June 1984, Indira Gandhi ordered the Indian army to enter the Golden Temple in Amritsar to flush out armed Sikh militants. This decision, one of the most controversial of her career, cost her her life a few months later.
Indira Gandhi was the first woman to lead a democratic government in a Third World country. Upon her election in 1966, many opponents nicknamed her 'goongi gudiya' ('dumb doll'), thinking they could easily manipulate her — they were sorely mistaken.
During the state of emergency she declared in 1975, Indira Gandhi had thousands of political opponents arrested and suspended civil liberties. Paradoxically, after her electoral defeat in 1977, she accepted the verdict of the ballot box and left power without resistance.
Indira Gandhi had been passionate about astronomy since childhood. She maintained a lengthy correspondence with her father Nehru, imprisoned by the British, in which he explained the history of the world and sciences from his cell — these letters were published under the title 'Glimpses of World History'.
Primary Sources
I am personally convinced that the Emergency is in the interest of the nation. Democracy can only survive if order is maintained.
Poverty is the worst form of violence. We cannot afford to ignore the millions of men and women living in misery.
I don't mind if I live or die. I have lived a long life and I am proud that I have devoted my entire life to the service of my people.
You asked me to write to you. And there is no better subject than the history of the world, for it is the history of us all.
India has successfully conducted an underground nuclear test of a nuclear device for peaceful purposes.
Key Places
Family home of the Nehrus, now a national museum. It was here that Indira Gandhi was born in 1917 and grew up in a household at the heart of the Indian independence movement.
Seat of the Indian Prime Minister's office, where Indira Gandhi governed India for more than fifteen years in total. This colonial-style building is the nerve center of Indian executive power.
The holiest site in Sikhism, scene of Operation Bluestar in June 1984, ordered by Indira Gandhi against armed militants. This event, deeply traumatic for the Sikh community, precipitated her assassination.
Indira Gandhi's official residence as Prime Minister, where she was assassinated on October 31, 1984 by her own bodyguards. The site has since been transformed into a national memorial.
Desert site where India's first nuclear test was conducted in May 1974, codenamed 'Smiling Buddha'. This decision by Indira Gandhi made India a nuclear power and altered the geopolitical balance in Asia.
Liens externes & ressources
Références
Œuvres
Nationalisation des banques indiennes
1969
Victoire dans la guerre indo-pakistanaise et création du Bangladesh
1971
Programme Pokhran I — 'Bouddha souriant'
1974
Révolution verte en Inde
1966-1971
My Truth (autobiographie)
1981
Programme ISRO — lancement du satellite Aryabhata
1975
