History · Spectrum Books A Brief History of Modern India
Chapter 40 : Indira Gandhi: the First Phase (January 1966-March 1977)
Table of contents37 sections
- 1.Indira Gandhi: the First Phase (January 1966-March 1977)
- 2.Early Life and Political Journey
- 3.Key Terms
- 4.📌 Exam Tidbits
- 5.Prime Minister, Congress Split, and Minority Government
- 6.The Congress Split (1969)
- 7.The 1971 Elections: Indira Triumphant
- 8.Key Terms
- 9.📌 Exam Tidbits
- 10.Problems, The JP Movement, and the Emergency
- 11.The Protest Movements
- 12.The Allahabad High Court Decision
- 13.Imposition of the Emergency (1975-1977)
- 14.Key Terms
- 15.📌 Exam Tidbits
- 16.Elections of 1977 and Political Developments
- 17.The 1977 Historic Election
- 18.Developments in the Political System and States
- 19.Key Terms
- 20.📌 Exam Tidbits
- 21.Centralisation of Power and the Socialistic Path
- 22.Clipping the Wings of the Judiciary
- 23.The 42nd Amendment Act (1976): "Mini Constitution"
- 24.Socio-Economic Policies
- 25.Tackling Economic Problems
- 26.Key Terms
- 27.📌 Exam Tidbits
- 28.The Indo-Pak War of 1971 and the Birth of Bangladesh
- 29.The Simla Agreement (July 2, 1972)
- 30.Key Terms
- 31.📌 Exam Tidbits
- 32.Foreign Policy and The Smiling Buddha
- 33.Relations with Other Countries
- 34.The Smiling Buddha (May 18, 1974)
- 35.Key Terms
- 36.📌 Exam Tidbits
- 37.Quick-Recall Box
Chapter preview
Indira Gandhi: the First Phase (January 1966-March 1977)
Early Life and Political Journey
Following the sudden death of Lal Bahadur Shastri in January 1966, Gulzarilal Nanda was appointed interim prime minister. In the parliamentary leadership election, Indira Gandhi defeated Morarji Desai. It is opined by some that senior Congressmen (the Syndicate) supported her thinking she was weak enough to be manipulated as they wanted.
- Birth and Childhood: Born Indira Priyadarshini on November 19, 1917, in Allahabad to Jawaharlal Nehru and Kamala Nehru.
- It is reported that when bonfires of foreign goods were made during the freedom movement, Indira, then a child, gave up an English-made doll to be thrown into the fire.
- At age 12, she led the Vanar Sena (a group of children who addressed envelopes, made flags, helped put up notices, and carried messages for freedom fighters).
- Education: Attended several schools and colleges, including Ecole de Bex (Switzerland), Visva-Bharati (Rabindranath Tagore's institution), and Somerville College (Oxford, UK).
- Entry into Politics: Joined the Indian National Congress (INC) in 1936 and the India League in 1938 (while in England).
- Marriage and Freedom Struggle: Met Feroze Jehangir Ghandy (a Parsi, later changed to Gandhi) in London. Returned to India in 1941, married in 1942. Both participated in the Quit India Movement; Indira was imprisoned in Naini Central Jail.
- Post-Independence Role: Acted as PM Nehru's hostess. Managed Feroze's successful 1951-52 Lok Sabha campaign from Rae Bareilly (Uttar Pradesh).
- Feroze Gandhi's role: Became a major critic of government corruption. Exposed an insurance scam involving Nehru's finance minister, T.T. Krishnamachari. Feroze died in September 1960.
- Rise in Congress: Joined the Congress Working Committee in 1955; elected Party President in 1959. After Nehru's death (1964), became a Rajya Sabha member and was inducted as Information and Broadcasting Minister by Lal Bahadur Shastri.
Key Terms
📌 Exam Tidbits
- Indira Gandhi became the third PM (and first woman PM) of India on January 19, 1966.
- Feroze Gandhi exposed the corruption scam involving Finance Minister T.T. Krishnamachari.
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View plans Chapter 41 : The Janata Party Years (March 1977-January 1980)