“I have never turned to anybody for advice and counsel. Even when I was a child, I had to stand on my own feet because of circumstances of those times and somehow the circumstances, remained more or less the same. I have to take my own decisions”, she said.
Indira Gandhi’s bold and fierce response to the challenges she faced during her time, made her one of the most admired and successful leader.
Early life
Indira Priyadarshini Gandhi, who is also known as the Iron lady of India was born on November 19, 1917 in Uttar Pradesh’s Allahabad (Prayagraj) in a Kashmiri Pandit family. She is also the first and only female individual in our country to head the government. Indira Gandhi has remained the longest serving Prime Minister of our coutry after her father and first Prime Minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru.
A brief political background
Indira Gandhi’s life was steeped in politics ever since her childhood. She became an eminent political figure in 1955 and elected the President of Indian National Congress party in the year 1959. Later, she was appointed as a Rajya Sabha member and inducted into the cabinet of Lal Bahadur Shastri as the Minister of Information and Broadcasting. And finally in 1966, she was sworn-in as the Prime Minister of India.
Bangladesh Liberation war 1971
Indira Gandhi was the lady who pulled off victory and brought Pakistan to the knees during Bangladesh liberation war in 1971. She won the war by splitting Pakistan into two, with the new country Bangladesh (then East Pakistan). During the time of Indo-Pak war, Indira received utmost support from the opposition parties. She also received standing ovation in the parliament after the unconditional surrender by Pakistan.
Her assassination
Indira Gandhi was assassinated on October 31, 1984 by her sikh bodyguards. Her death sparked riots that lasted for four days and left over 8,000 Indian Sikhs dead in the revenge attack. Her assassination is still considered as the aftermath of operation Blue Star (The raid on Golden Temple by Indian Army that ended in a disaster)