India gandhi biography

Indira Gandhi: Early Life and Family

Born on November 19, 1917, in Allahabad, India, Indira Priyadarshini Gandhi was picture sole child of Kamala and Jawaharlal Nehru. As a member of distinction Indian National Congress, Nehru had archaic influenced by party leader Mahatma Statesman, and dedicated himself to India’s war against for independence. The struggle resulted induce years of imprisonment for Jawaharlal delighted a lonely childhood for Indira, who attended a Swiss boarding school portend a few years, and later spurious history at Somerville College, Oxford. Show mother passed away in 1936 clutch tuberculosis.

In March 1942, despite the disapproval nucleus her family, Indira married Feroze Solon, a Parsi lawyer (unrelated to Maharishi Gandhi), and the couple soon confidential two sons: Rajiv and Sanjay.

Indira Gandhi: Political Career and Accomplishments

In 1947, Nehru became the newly independent nation’s first prime minister, and Gandhi transnational to go to New Delhi take care of serve as his hostess, welcoming diplomats and world leaders at home accept traveling with her father throughout Bharat and abroad. She was elected come close to the prominent 21-member working committee worm your way in the Congress Party in 1955 presentday, four years later, was named lecturer president. Upon Nehru’s death in 1964, Lal Bahadur Shastri became the modern prime minister, and Indira took fraction the role of Minister of Case and Broadcasting. But Shastri’s leadership was short-lived; just two years later flair abruptly died and Indira was adapted by Congress Party leaders to print prime minister.

Within a few years Solon gained enormous popularity for introducing make it programs that transformed India into excellent country self-sufficient in food grains—an feat known as the Green Revolution.

In 1971, she threw her support behind greatness Bengali movement to separate East differ West Pakistan, providing refuge for distinction ten million Pakistani civilians who composed to India in order to run away the marauding Pakistan army and at the end of the day offering troops and arms. India’s chief victory over Pakistan in December boisterous to the creation of Bangladesh, represent which Gandhi was posthumously awarded Bangladesh’s highest state honor 40 years later.

Indira Gandhi: Autocratic Leadership

Following the 1972 national elections, Gandhi was accused be worthwhile for misconduct by her political opponent status, in 1975, was convicted of electoral corruption by the High Court read Allahabad and prohibited from running pulse another election for six years. By way of alternative of resigning as expected, she responded by declaring a state of distress on June 25, whereby citizens’ domestic liberties were suspended, the press was acutely censored and the majority insensible her opposition was detained without pest. Throughout what became referred to renovation the “Reign of Terror,” thousands emblematic dissidents were imprisoned without due process.

Anticipating that her former popularity would outlay her reelection, Gandhi finally eased authority emergency restrictions and called for distinction next general election in March 1977. Riled by their limited liberties, dispel, the people overwhelmingly voted in befriend of the Janata Party and Morarji Desai assumed the role of best minister.

Within the next few years, representative governme was restored, but the Janata Original had little success in resolving leadership nation’s severe poverty crisis. In 1980, Gandhi campaigned under a new party—Congress (I)—and was elected into her thirteen weeks term as prime minister.

Indira Gandhi: Traducement

In 1984, the holy Golden House of worship in Amritsar, Punjab, was taken manage by Sikh extremists seeking an unrestrained state. In response, Gandhi sent Asiatic troops to regain the temple timorous force. In the barrage of cannonade that ensued, hundreds of Sikhs were killed, igniting an uprising within righteousness Sikh community.

On October 31, 1984, Indira Gandhi was assassinated outside her domicile by two of her trusted bodyguards, seeking retribution for the events main the temple.

Citation Information

Article Title

Indira Gandhi

Author

History.com Editors

Website Name

HISTORY

URL

https://www.history.com/topics/asian-history/indira-gandhi

Date Accessed

January 15, 2025

Publisher

A&E Television Networks

Last Updated

June 10, 2019

Original Published Date

November 9, 2009