The story of Indira Gandhi's Emergency; the beginning

India Today

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In 1975, Indira Gandhi's Emergency reshaped democracy's fate. This series revisits the drama, defiance, and legacy of a crisis that pushed India to the brink, testing its resolve.Part One: Caged Tigress and a Wounded NationJune 12, 1975 was an extremely hot day, even by Allahabad's searing, humid standards. The courtroom of Justice Jagmohanlal Sinha sizzled with tension, like a pressure cooker ready to burst.advertisementOutside, the streets churned with whispers as a throng of humans waited for the arrival of the most powerful woman in India, Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. Inside, Raj Narain, the greying socialist who had challenged her, sat with a glint of defiance.
Questions crackled in the cauldron like spicy rumours: Is this her end? Will the Iron Lady be demolished by a stern, unwavering judge who forbade lawyers to rise even when the Prime Minister arrived in the court? If yes, will the rivals pounce on her? India held its breath for answers. Indira Gandhi's fate hung midair with the judge's gavel, which was ready to strike.The Showdown in GujaratIndia was already simmering with dissent and defiance. In January 1974, the Navnirman Andolan erupted in Gujarat. Sparked by a hike in hostel food prices at an engineering college in Ahmedabad, it channelled widespread anger over inflation and food shortages. Corruption charges against Chief Minister Chimanbhai Patel's Congress government fueled the rage. Students boycotted classes, organised strikes, and clashed with police, chanting 'Chiman chor!' (Chiman, the thief!). Protests escalated into riots. Buses were burned, public property damaged and government offices were attacked. By February, over 100 deaths and 1,000 arrests marked the chaos.advertisementIndira Gandhi, the PM who had not wilted under threats from the US and China, defied powerful men like Richard Nixon and Henry Kissinger, blinked in the staredown with students. The movement's intensity forced Patel's resignation on February 9, 1974, and President's Rule was imposed.The Opposition got a whiff of victory. It was soon on Indira Gandhi's trail.Return of the RevolutionaryMarch 1974, Patna. Enter Jayaprakash Narayan, JP, a 72-year old revolutionary with fire in his eyes. In post-Independence politics, Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru reportedly wanted JP in his Cabinet, seeing him as an able deputy. But the austere leader had refused, preferring renunciation over power. But the fast-moving circle of politics brought him back to the fore, pitting him against Nehru's daughter.In Bihar, students mirrored Gujarat's fury, protesting corruption and unemployment. JP, revered for his Gandhian past, saw a nation revolting against Indira's rule, a reminder of the freedom movement but against their own rulers. On April 8, he joined their cause, christening it the Total Revolution.'We must cleanse the system,' he declared at a Patna rally, his voice rising over the hum of an excited crowd. Indira dismissed him as a relic, but the people hailed him as Loknayak.advertisementWith a confrontation building up, Indira Gandhi resorted to the tested technique of diversion through patriotism.Tremors in the DesertMeanwhile, on May 18, 1974, Pokhran: A desert tremor shook the world as the Buddha Smiled, India's first nuclear test at Pokhran in Rajasthan. Politically, it was a triumph for Indira Gandhi, boosting her image as a decisive leader. It rallied national pride, temporarily deflecting criticism amid rising unrest from the Navnirman Andolan and JP's Total Revolution. However, the euphoria was short-lived, as opposition parties, including Jan Sangh, accused Indira of using the test to distract from domestic failures.Economically, the test strained an already fragile economy grappling with inflation. Global sanctions followed, with the US and Canada halting nuclear cooperation, limiting access to technology and foreign aid, which deepened economic woes.As inflation soared past 25%, food shortages hit harder. In villages, people queued for hours for rationed grain. In cities, housewives protested empty markets. The nuclear glow couldn't mask the hunger in the streets. Nationalism went out of the window as hunger knocked at the door.Another crisis was waiting to tap the anger.Anger on the RailsIn June 1974, trains stopped chugging, and engines fell silent. George Fernandes, a socialist maverick who was known to be so busy that he didn't even comb his hair, unleashed a railway strike that paralysed India. As president of the All India Railwaymen's Federation, he rallied millions of workers to halt trains for 20 days, demanding better wages amid crushing inflation. Stations emptied, goods rotted, and the economy staggered.advertisementThe government struck back with arrests. Fernandes went underground, turning into a fugitive hero. The momentum was building up, India was on the cusp of an uprising.In Bihar, JP's movement gained steam. He formed the Bihar Chhatra Sangharsh Samiti, uniting students and activists. His rallies drew thousands. In his speeches, he called for a revolution: 'This government is corrupt, immoral. Rise against it!'In Delhi, Indira's son was rising. Sanjay Gandhi, her brash heir, scoffed at the protests. But the crowds told a different story.JP toured India, his frail frame rising in defiance. 'This is a fight for democracy,' he roared in Bombay, drawing cheers from students and workers alike.On March 6, 1975, JP led a massive march to Parliament, a sea of protesters demanding Indira's resignation. He urged police and bureaucrats to defy 'immoral' orders, a direct challenge to the state. Indira, watching from her office, felt the walls closing in.advertisementA Resounding DefeatApril 1975, Gujarat: The Janata Front, backed by JP, swept Gujarat's state elections. The Congress, led by Indira Gandhi, won 75 of 182 seats, losing 65 from 1972. The Janata Front, a coalition of Congress (O) –the rebel faction– Bharatiya Jana Sangh, Bharatiya Lok Dal, and Socialist Party, secured 86 seats, forming the government with support from Kisan Mazdoor Lok Paksha. Babubhai Patel became Chief Minister on June 15. It was a humiliating blow, a sign of the nation's anger and mood for change. Indira's grip was slipping. The template for the future was set.A Legal TangleIn Allahabad High Court, Raj Narain's case against Indira was waiting for the climax. In the 1971 General Elections, Indira Gandhi won from the Rae Bareli Constituency in Uttar Pradesh by a margin of 1,11,810 votes over her nearest rival Raj Narain, backed by the Samyukta Socialist Party. Raj Narain challenged the outcome, citing misuse of official machinery and corrupt electoral practices.His lawyer, Shanti Bhushan, argued Indira's campaign had used government resources, including her aide Yashpal Kapoor, who hadn't properly resigned as a gazetted officer before campaigning. Some called it a minor oversight, but the challenger stuck to his guns, demanding the election be declared null and void.advertisementAll Rise: Indira FallsJune 12, 1975, Allahabad: Justice Sinha's verdict landed like a guillotine: challenge upheld, election is void. As the crowd stared in disbelief, Justice Sinha delivered the killer blow. Finding Indira Gandhi guilty of electoral malpractices, he barred her from contesting for six years. With one stroke of the pen, he had dislodged Indira Gandhi, and ordered her into political hibernation for six years.The news spread like wildfire. In Patna, JP called it 'a triumph of justice.' In Delhi, opposition leaders planned their next move. Indira called it a conspiracy. Sanjay urged decisive action. Outside, protests swelled. In retaliation, crowds gathered to support Indira Gandhi. The nation shivered in fear of turbulence and conflict.The Countdown Begins in DelhiOn June 15, JP demanded Indira's resignation at a Delhi rally. On June 20, Indira rallied her supporters at the Boat Club, vowing to fight. On June 24, the Supreme Court granted a partial stay. Indira Gandhi could remain PM but not vote in Parliament. JP upped the ante, announcing a nationwide agitation. He thundered, 'Singhasan khali karo.' (Vacate the throne).Indira Gandhi was being pushed deeper into a cage. No one expected the Iron Lady to yield without a fight. On June 25, India was to learn about Indira Gandhi's resolve to push the boundaries of the battle with chilling consequences.Next: Indira Strikes Back: The Dawn of EmergencyTrending Reel