(Indira Gandhi) was born on November 19, 1917 in Allahabad (Uttar Pradesh state in northern India) into a family that actively participated in the struggle for Indian independence. Her father Jawaharlal Nehru was the leader of the Indian National Congress (INC) party and the first prime minister (1947-1964) of independent India. Her grandfather Gandhi Motilal Nehru was one of the pioneers of the independence movement and a close associate of Mohandas (“Mahatma”) Gandhi.
Indira Gandhi was educated in India, Switzerland, and Great Britain. In 1937 she entered Somerville College, Oxford University, but did not graduate.
Since 1938 - member of the Indian National Congress (INC) party. Participant in the liberation struggle.
In 1942, she married Parsi lawyer Feruz Gandhi (1912-1960; namesake of Mahatma Gandhi).
In 1942, Indira Gandhi was arrested by the colonial authorities.
After the declaration of Indian independence (1947), she became a member of her father's cabinet and accompanied Jawaharlal Nehru on all his foreign trips.
Since 1958, Indira Gandhi has been a member of the Working Committee and a member of the Central Election Commission of the INC, the chairman of the women's organization of this party and a member of the Central Parliamentary Council of the All India Committee of the INC.
In 1959, Gandhi was elected chairman of the INC.
In 1960, she left this post, but remained her father’s assistant. In the years leading up to his death, she became an intermediary between the ailing prime minister and his cabinet and party functionaries.
In 1964, after the death of her father, she took up the post of Minister of Information and Broadcasting in the cabinet of Lal Bahadur Shastri.
In January 1966, after Shastri's death, Indira Gandhi became Prime Minister. In this position she faced strong opposition. In 1969, after her government nationalized 14 of India's largest banks, conservative INC leaders tried to expel her from the party. They failed to do this, the faction of the right left the INC, which led to a split in the party.
Much attention was paid to strengthening the defense capability of India and expanding its influence in the Indian Ocean zone and in the international arena. Actively developed relations with the USSR. In 1971, after the victory of India in the war with Pakistan, she contributed to the formation of the independent state of Bangladesh in East Pakistan.
In the special parliamentary elections in 1971, Indira Gandhi's party won a landslide victory, collecting more than two-thirds of the vote.
Political opponents accused Indira Gandhi of violating the electoral law. In June 1975, the Allahabad High Court found her guilty of electoral violations and ordered her to resign and be banned from political activities for six years. In response, Gandhi declared a state of emergency in India.
At this time, there was an increase in authoritarian tendencies in the methods of government used by Gandhi: the restriction of freedom of the press, the conduct of a number of anti-democratic campaigns, including the demolition of urban slums, as well as the forced sterilization of the population in order to solve the demographic problem.
While serving as Prime Minister, Indira Gandhi simultaneously held other posts: from September 1967 to March 1977 - Minister of Atomic Energy; from September 1967 to February 1969 - Minister of Foreign Affairs; from June 1970 to November 1973 - Minister of Internal Affairs; from June 1972 to March 1977 - Minister of Space.
The ongoing reforms caused discontent among the population; in 1977, Indira Gandhi was defeated in the parliamentary elections.
Twice, in October 1977 and December 1978, she was subjected to short-term arrests on charges of corruption.
In 1978, announcing the creation of her own party INC (I), Gandhi was again elected to parliament, after the 1980 elections she returned to the post of prime minister.
Soon after returning to power, Gandhi suffered a heavy loss: her youngest son and chief political adviser, Sanjay, died in a plane crash. Since the early 1970s, Sanjay Gandhi, popular among urban youth, was Indira Gandhi's closest political aide and was widely considered to be the prime minister's successor. After Sanjay's death, Indira Gandhi convinced her eldest son Rajiv to enter politics and become her chief aide.
In the early 1980s, Indira Gandhi faced threats to India's political integrity. She fought against separatist movements in the states of Jammu and Kashmir, Assam, Tamil Nadu, and Punjab.
In June 1984, Gandhi carried out Operation Blue Star, associated with the storming of the Golden Temple in Amritsar, which was occupied by supporters of the creation of an independent Sikh state of Khalistan in Punjab.
On October 31, 1984, Indira Gandhi was assassinated by her Sikh guards, avenging the death of their fellow community members.
After the death of Indira Gandhi, the INC and the government were headed by her eldest son Rajiv. In 1991, he was killed in a terrorist attack organized by Tamil separatists.
Indira Gandhi went down in history as a consistent fighter against terrorism and separatism, a supporter of a united and indivisible India.
Indira Gandhi's work was recognized with many awards, including the highest order of India, the Bharat Ratna (Pearl of India, 1972) and the international Lenin Prize (1985, posthumously).
The material was prepared on the basis of information from open sources
GANDHI, INDIR(Gandhi, Indira) (1917–1984), Prime Minister of India. She was born on November 19, 1917 in Allahabad. Daughter of Jawaharlal Nehru, the first Prime Minister of India. She was educated in India and Switzerland and studied at Oxford University. Returning to India in 1941, she married Parsi lawyer Feruz Gandhi. After the declaration of independence, she became her father’s official employee, responsible for receiving foreign delegations. In 1959 she was elected chairman of the ruling Indian National Congress (INC) party. After the death of her husband in 1960, she left this post. In the years leading up to his death, she became an intermediary between the ailing prime minister and his cabinet and party functionaries. In 1964 she was appointed Minister of Information, and in 1966, after the death of Lal Bahadur Shastri, she became the leader of the INC and Prime Minister.
In 1969, after the government nationalized 14 of India's largest banks, conservative Congress leaders tried to expel Gandhi from the party. The party split into the ruling Congress (P) and the opposition Congress (U). Having lost her majority in parliament, Gandhi called elections a year ahead of schedule, and in March 1971 Gandhi's supporters won, receiving more than two-thirds of the vote.
As the economic situation worsened and internal tensions grew, Gandhi's popularity also declined. In 1975, she was indicted by the court for violating the 1971 election law. In response, Gandhi declared a state of emergency and made changes to the constitution that allowed her to concentrate power in her hands. Widespread popular dissatisfaction with the Emergency and the government's insistence on implementing family planning programs (including forced sterilization) led to Gandhi's defeat in the 1977 elections. In January 1978, Gandhi initiated another split in the Congress. Congress-I (for Indira) was successful in the state elections for local legislatures, and in November Gandhi was elected to parliament. In January 1980, after the Janata Party government collapsed, Gandhi again took over as prime minister.
Soon after returning to power, Gandhi suffered a severe personal loss - her youngest son and chief political adviser Sanjay died in a plane crash. After Sanjay's death, Indira Gandhi convinced her eldest son Rajiv to enter politics.
In the early 1980s, Indira faced a series of religious and ethnic conflicts. The leaders of the terrorist group, along with their supporters, occupied part of the main shrine of the Sikh religion - the Golden Temple in Amritsar. In June 1984, Indira Gandhi ordered the army units to enter the Golden Temple. About a thousand people died in the shootout, including the leaders of the terrorists. Less than five months later, on October 31, 1984, Indira Gandhi was assassinated by two Sikhs from her bodyguard. Rajiv Gandhi took over as Prime Minister and Congress leader.
The world knows several women political leaders who managed to change the worldview of a large number of people and really change the course of history. One of the few who left an indelible mark on the life of India is the amazingly strong-willed, strong-willed Indira Gandhi.
The biography of this woman, and part-time influential politician, is amazing. Her life and career path cannot leave indifferent either supporters or opponents of her political views.
Let's see why she became famous all over the world, what results her government managed to achieve, why she is compared with the "Iron Lady" Margaret Thatcher, and what merits she was able to win among her people the unspoken status of the "mother of all India". We will find out all this in short biography Indira Gandhi.
Indira Gandhi. Photo source: NewIndianExpress Indira Gandhi's childhood
The years of Indira Gandhi's life are 1917-1984. First of all, she is known as the Prime Minister of India from 1966-1977 and 1980-1984.
Indira Priyadarshini Gandhi was born on November 19, 1917 in the city of Allahabad, which is located in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. The family into which she was born consisted of famous politicians, so she was destined by fate to follow the same path as her influential relatives. Her grandfather was Gandhi Motilal Nehru, who is known as the veteran leader of the Indian National Congress. And Indira Gandhi's father himself Jawaharlal Nehru , which was first Prime Minister of India and previously engaged in legal practice. At the time when his daughter Indira was born, he had just set out on the ornate path of a political career.
Note that even Indira Swarip's grandmother Rani Nehru and mother Kamala are also known for being political figures. At one time they had to endure severe repressions.
Childhood little Indira was unusual for a child. From birth she was surrounded by a large number of people who were famous in one way or another in India. For example, at the age of 2, without even realizing it then, she met an amazing man who could either be extolled by his comrades or vehemently hated by his enemies - the “father of the nation” himself. By the way, to the question of whether Indira Gandhi and Mahatma Gandhi are relatives, the answer is short and simple - no. The subsequently famous Indian “Iron Lady” received her surname from a man who was also not a relative of the Mahatma. The Mahatma himself was called Mohandas Karamchanda in the world. He became an ideological leader for a huge number of followers thanks to his philosophy and the inculcation of the policy of “non-violence” throughout the world. But you can learn about this great man in another article dedicated to his life and work.
Just on the advice of the “father of the nation”, eight-year-old ambitious Indira organizes a labor union, which managed to unite many colleagues as young as her. In their grandfather’s house (his mansion was called the “Abode of Joy”) they were engaged in weaving. At one time, the headquarters of Indian nationalists was located in this same place.
Well, even then it became clear to Indira’s family and those around her that this girl would not go unnoticed by the general public. And the future “Iron Lady” of the Indian people herself tried as best she could to imitate her famous grandfather and father. From a very young age, she practiced public speaking, delivering inspiring speeches to children and then to young people.
The parents tried to give the girl everything they considered necessary, since she was their only daughter. They never forbade her to listen to the political conversations of adults, and her father, after serving a long time in prison, sent letters to his daughter in which he described his emotional experiences, ideological views and sincere hopes for a bright future for the country. All this influenced Indira so much that she simply could not choose the path of a woman exclusively engaged in housekeeping and raising children.
Getting an education and difficult life trials
Indira Gandhi in her youth Such an unusual woman as Indira had an amazing education. Entering the People's University in 1934, she studied a wide range of subjects. But the most important thing that she was able to learn for herself was how developing personality during this period of his life - long informal conversations with the Mentor himself, a famous Indian. On the right are photographs of Indira Gandhi in her youth, taken during that and later periods.
Unfortunately, after a short time, the girl was forced to leave school due to her mother’s worsening tuberculosis. They went to Switzerland together, but nothing helped: in 1935, Kamala dies.
Indira did not immediately return home, as circumstances related to the death of her grandparents, as well as her father’s imprisonment, forced her to remain in Europe. But at that moment, not only sad events occurred. During such a difficult period of her life, she became close to Feroz Gandhi.
Personal life of Indira Gandhi
Feroz Gandhi, a politician and journalist, was friends with Indira's father and helped care for her sick mother. By the way, he was not related to the great “father of the nation.” Feroz supported the girl so much during this very difficult period for her that she was imbued with gratitude and romantic feelings for him.
The father did not approve of their relationship and desire to get married, since Feroz belonged to the Parsi caste - religious fire worshipers, and Indira Gandhi's family, belonging to the Indian elite, disdainfully treated the Parsis. But since Jawaharlal Nehru, due to his political convictions and democratic views, could not openly express his negative opinion about their union, he could not do anything. In turn, Kamala strongly supported the union of young people and even before her death managed to bless them for a sacred marriage.
Indira Gandhi and her father Jawaharlal Nehru. Photo source: DELHI PRESS ARCHIVES Feroz managed to enroll in Somerwell College, Oxford. Indira also arrived there a little later.
Despite the fact that Indira’s father was known as a politician who became the “engine of progress” in society, the Indian people still could not accept the unequal marriage of Indira and Feroz, throwing away thousands of years of tradition. And only thanks to Mahatma Gandhi and his all-encompassing authority, the wedding of young people took place in 1942. However, they were arrested that same year. After spending about eight months in prison, the great woman was released.
Indira Gandhi with family. Photo source: DELHI PRESS ARCHIVES Political career and achievements of the Indian “Iron Lady”
Although Indira and Feroz had two sons in their marriage, when Jawaharlal Nehru became the first Prime Minister of India, his daughter began to integrally accompany him at all meetings, completely forgetting about her family. She even became her father's personal secretary.
In those difficult years, there were bloody feuds between representatives of different castes . It was not easy for Jawaharlal and Indira to overcome these proceedings, which led to thousands of victims. They say that Nehru's daughter could inexplicably stop a knife raised over a man thanks to her ability to persuade. For a long time he worked in zones of national conflicts. You can learn more about the caste system from the article ““.
Indira Gandhi signs the India-Bangladesh Treaty in 1972. In 1960, Feroz Gandhi died, which is why Indira withdrew from politics for some time. Two years after the death of her father, in 1966, this strong and strong-willed woman became the Prime Minister of India. She held this high position only twice. She held this position for the second time before her death.
Indira Gandhi was able to do a lot for her state. The most significant achievements of her reign:
- Introduction of programs aimed at overcoming poverty.
- Active development of industrial sectors.
- Implementation of nationalization of banks.
- Reorganization of the health care system.
- Development of agriculture.
- Valuable contribution to the development of science and technology.
She managed to establish diplomatic relations with various countries, including the powerful state - the USSR. But there were also people dissatisfied with her rule.
Photo session with reporters. Photo source: Homai Vyarawalla Archive Introduction of a nationwide family planning program in India
Since the birth rate in India was already too high, which led to an increase in poverty in the country, Indira Gandhi introduced forced sterilization of the population. It all started with the fact that spouses were asked to prevent pregnancy through the use of contraceptives, and volunteers were found among men who wanted to undergo sterilization, for which a bonus was paid or a transistor radio was given.
Further, the government decided that men who already have three children are subject to forced sterilization, and women who are pregnant with a fourth child are sent to have their pregnancies terminated. Because of such government actions, the number of people dissatisfied with Indira Gandhi's policies grew. Later, she somewhat softened her categorical views regarding birth control methods.
The tragic end of life and political journey
The life of the “Iron Lady” of India ended extremely tragically. The assassination of Indira Gandhi was carried out by the Sith, with whom the politician was in serious conflict. Moreover, she died at the hands of her own guards.
In what year was Indira Gandhi assassinated and where did it happen?? This terrible event happened in 1984, on October 31, in front of her house in Delhi. Her death was terrible. The Great Indira died from 31 bullets lodged in her body as a result of being shot at.
Today, the path where this woman took her last step is covered with a layer of crystal. This posthumous sign of respect was shown to her by the former Czechoslovakia, which admired the outstanding Indira Gandhi.
Indira Gandhi's legacy
And today the Indian “Iron Lady” has followers. There's even Indira Gandhi Square in Moscow . There are two monuments on it - one dedicated directly to Indira Gandhi, and the second to Mahatma Gandhi.
All over the world, including in India, the memory of this woman is still honored. Exists Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi, which is the center of the country's civil aviation.
This year, the Indian statesman, Prime Minister of India from 1966-1977 and 1980-1984, Indira Gandhi, would have turned 99 years old.
For the common people, Indira Gandhi became a symbol of supreme power, “the mother of all India.” Skillfully and flexibly implementing her views, she achieved respect not only in her native country, but also far beyond its borders.
Path to Prime Minister
Indira Gandhi was born on November 19, 1917 in Allahabad (Uttar Pradesh state in northern India) into a family that actively participated in the struggle for Indian independence.
Indira Gandhi's father, Jawaharlal Nehru, who later became the first Prime Minister of India after the country's independence in 1947, was at that time taking his first steps in the political arena in the Indian National Congress (INC) party. Gandhi's grandfather Motilal Nehru, one of the veterans and leaders of the "old guard" of the INC, enjoyed great fame.
National Archives of Georgia
Since childhood, the child listened to conversations about colonialism, about acts of protest, about civil disobedience, and met Mahatma Gandhi with his own eyes. And when the girl turned 8 years old, she organized a children's union in Allahabad for the development of home weaving, whose members made handkerchiefs and national hats - topi. During her rest hours, she gave fiery speeches to boys and girls, imitating her great ancestors.
And when in her grandfather’s house the family carried out a “revenge” on the colonialist past, the girl put her favorite toy - a foreign doll - into the common fire. Since then, Indira wore only national dress and was a true patriot of her country.
The girl received an excellent education, which allowed her to enter the People's University, created by the famous writer Rabindranath Tagore, where, along with Indian philosophy and culture, the foundations of the European tradition were also taught. Students studied foreign languages, world history, national and world literature, a lot of time was devoted to soul-saving conversations with the founder-patriarch.
In 1936, Indira was forced to interrupt her studies due to her mother's illness. My father was in prison, my grandparents were no longer alive. She went with her parent to Switzerland for treatment, but tuberculosis had already affected the entire body, and the mother soon died.
Indira was supported by a young man, the namesake of the great Gandhi, who belonged to another religious community, despised by the Indian elite, which was considered the Nehru family.
Jawarharlal did not approve of his daughter's choice, but the mother had long blessed the children.
© photo: Sputnik / RIA Novosti
Indira did not want to return to her homeland, where no one was particularly expecting her, and she stayed in Europe. She entered Oxford, the university where her fiancé Feroz studied. And soon the Second began World War. Young people returned to India via the Atlantic and South Africa.
Having landed in Cape Town, the daughter of a political leader found her supporters. It was there that she made her first political speech.
Upon her return to India, she did not receive such a warm welcome - Jawaharlal continued to oppose his daughter’s marriage. And only the intervention of the great Mahatma Gandhi, who spoke out in defense of the unequal marital union, softened the father’s heart.
The wedding was held according to ancient Indian customs, and the young people began to build a family nest. In 1944, the first-born was born, and two years later the second boy.
After India achieved independence on August 15, 1947, the first national government was formed and Indira Gandhi's father became the first prime minister. His daughter became his personal secretary and accompanied him on all his trips abroad.
In 1959-1960, Gandhi was the chairman of the INC. In 1960, her husband died and she left politics for several months.
At the beginning of 1961, Gandhi became a member of the working committee of the INC and began to travel to hotbeds of national conflicts.
India's first female prime minister
After her father's death in 1964, Indira Gandhi did not seek the post of Prime Minister, but took the post of Minister of Information and Broadcasting in the government of Lal Bahadur Shastri.
In 1966, after the death of Shastri, Indira Gandhi became Prime Minister. In this position she faced strong opposition. In 1969, after her government nationalized 14 of India's largest banks, conservative INC leaders tried to expel her from the party. They failed to do this, and the right-wing faction left the INC, which led to a split in the party.
In 1971, war with Pakistan began. Under these conditions, Gandhi signed the Treaty of Peace, Friendship and Cooperation between India and the USSR.
© photo: Sputnik / M. Gankin
The consequences of the war caused a deterioration in the economic situation and increased internal tension, resulting in unrest in the country. In response, Gandhi declared a state of emergency in India in June 1975.
In 1978, having announced the creation of her party INC (I), Gandhi was again elected to parliament, and in the 1980 elections she returned to the post of prime minister.
Soon after returning to power, Gandhi suffered a severe personal loss - her youngest son and chief political adviser Sanjay died in a plane crash.
IN last years Gandhi's life paid great attention to activities on the world stage; in 1983, she was elected chairman of the Non-Aligned Movement.
Indira Gandhi's second term was marked by conflict with Sikh separatists in the state of Punjab. The military operation "Blue Star" to neutralize Sikh extremists, carried out on the orders of the Indian government, led to the death of Indira Gandhi.
After the death of Indira Gandhi, the INC and the government were headed by her eldest son Rajiv. In 1991, he was killed by a female terrorist from the Sri Lankan Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in retaliation for sending Indian troops to Sri Lanka in the mid-1980s.
© photo: Sputnik / Yuri Abramochkin
Indira Gandhi in Georgia
Indira Gandhi visited Georgia twice. In 1955, she accompanied her father, Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru. Then she and her father visited the Transcaucasian Metallurgical Plant named after Stalin in the city of Rustavi and the Digomi Viticulture State Farm in Tbilisi.
They also visited the Tbilisi State Opera and Ballet Theater. Zakaria Paliashvili, where we watched the ballet “Gorda” to the music of David Toradze and staged by Vakhtang Chabukiani.
National Archives of Georgia
21 years later, on June 14, 1976, Indira Gandhi again came to Georgia, but already with the rank of Prime Minister of India. Then Gandhi, together with the Indian delegation, attended a rehearsal of the amateur artistic group “Tsisartkela” in the concert hall of the Georgian Philharmonic and attended a gala dinner in her honor.
Great things
During the period when Indira Gandhi headed the government, all banks in India were nationalized, the first nuclear power plant was built, and industrial development was launched.
Under Gandhi, India overcame its dependence on imports, they began to pay great attention to the development of small and medium-sized farms, and proclaimed a program
"Family Planning" established a clear price policy and determined the maximum for real estate.
At the same time, social programs in the field of health and education were improved, ties with the USSR and other world powers were strengthened, and India took a dominant position in the South Asian region.
Quotes by Indira Gandhi
The true path of life is the path of Truth, Non-violence and Love
History is the best teacher who has the worst students
You cannot shake hands with clenched fists
I am like a bird in a cage that is too small: wherever I go, my wings beat against the bars... The world is a cruel place for the chosen ones, especially for those who know how to feel
My grandfather once told me that people are divided into those who work and those who take credit for the results of their work. He advised me to get into the first group - there is less competition there
The material was prepared based on open sources
My grandfather once told me that there are two types of people: those who work and those who make excuses. He asked me to be in the first group: there is much less competition there.
If I see something dirty or unkempt, I just need to wash it.
Nobody is offering you opportunities. You have to break them out and work on them, it takes persistence... and courage.
About goals
You will soon realize that the peak you climbed was one of the lowest. That this mountain was part of a chain of mountains, that there are so many other mountains... And the higher you are, the more you want to rise even higher, despite your mortal fatigue.
Our actions today shape tomorrow.
What matters is what we achieve, not what we set out to do.
The outcome can be anything, but the means to achieve it must be based on the acceptance of man as the center of everything.
The journey of life is not about seeking power or wealth, but about intrinsic value.
About love
There is no love where there is no will.
The best contraceptive is wealth.
Peace between countries must be based on love between people.
Oh happiness
Happiness is a state of mind. But I don't think you can be happy all the time. You can be happy because of some things and unhappy because of some others.
About courage
Without courage it is impossible to practice any other virtue. You must have courage, and courage different types. Firstly, intellectually, to understand different values and form your own opinion about what is right for you. Secondly, morality, which you must adhere to no matter what happens on your way and what is an obstacle.
Forgiveness is the virtue of the brave.
About women
To free herself, a woman must simply be herself, and not compete with men.
In our cultural and religious tradition, a woman is a symbol of strength and energy. I think this gives us some advantage.
About education
Education is a liberating force and in our time it is also a democratic force that can overcome barriers of caste and class and level out inequalities.
About politics
India wants to avoid war at all costs, but it is not a one-sided affair: you cannot shake hands with a clenched fist.
We must beware of ministers who cannot do anything without money and want to achieve everything with money.
Victory or defeat in elections is not as important as strengthening the country.
I always played political games and, just like Joan of Arc, I was constantly burning at the stake.
After all, the strength of a nation lies in what it can do on its own, not in what it can borrow from others.
About death
Martyrdom is not the end, but only the beginning.
Even if Indira Gandhi dies, her blood from the earth will flow into thousands of other Indiras to serve the people. I say this because Indira Gandhi is not just a woman, but a philosophy that was created to serve people.
I'm not interested in long life. I'm not afraid of it. I don't mind giving my life for the good of the nation. If I die today, every drop of my blood will serve the people (said on the night before her murder, October 30, 1984. - Note website).
Photo: Laurent MAOUS/Contributor/Getty Images