Mrs. Indira Gandhi was the beloved leader of the people of India After her downfall in 1977, the people had again placed the country in her hands in 1980.
She was born on Nov. 19,1917. She was brought up in a family full of political activities and love of country. So the family atmosphere had a great influence on her mind. She got her education at Allahabad, Oxford and Shanti Niketan. In 1942 she was married to Mr. Feroz Gandhi, a Parasi youth. He died in 1960, she had two sons-Rajiv and Sanjay.
Indira Gandhi was the worthy daughter of a worthy father. She was a born politician. After the death of her mother she had a very difficult time. In her early life she jumped into politics. She had been the member of Indian National Congress. In 1950 she was elected
President of N. Congress. It was only after the death of her father that she became Minister of Information and Broadcasting. After the untimely death of Sh. Lal Bahadur Shastri in 1966 she was elected Prime Minister of India.
She held the great office for about 17 years. During her period of reign she led the country to a place of honour. It was under his leadership in 1971, that India defeated Pakistan and broke its back for ever. She nationalised all the major banks and abolished privy purses. These were her two bold steps.
In 1975 the opposition parties revolted after the historical judgment of Justice Sinha. To put all opposition down she declared a state of Internal Emergency. This brought her defeat in the general election of 1977. She was in hot water for a period of two and a half years. In the mid-term poll, held in January 1980 she won back her lost position.
Now she had to face many challenges. The demand of 'Khalistan' made her restless. The whole of Punjab came in the grip of terrorism. These two things turned the Golden Temple into a fortress. The Akalis presented a great challenge to her. As a custodian of country's unity she had to order the army to enter into Golden Temple. It freed the temple complex of terrorists.
On the black Wednesday morning of 31st October. 1984 at 9-18 A.M. she was shot dead at her residence by two of her own security guards named Beant Singh and Satwant Singh. She died after few hours. The nation mourned her death. In her death the nation lost a worthy maker of India.
