Study On Indira Gandhi History Essay

Defining women would be the most arduous task for anyone in this world and for men it’s next to impossible. Sometimes, women themselves do not know how creative and unpredictable they can be. Their brilliance makes life easy, their smiles are a harbinger of joy and they are blessed with the power to create life.  The women of this world no matter where they are born or how they are raised have the power of change.  A great example would be Indira Nehru Gandhi. She is one of the strong women of South Asia who has done a number of extraordinary things with the power she held.

Indira Nehru Gandhi was born on November 19, 1917 in the very powerful and influential family of Jawaharal and Kamala Nehru. Her family was very politically influenced. Her grandfather was an Indian nationalist leader, and her father was independent India’s first Prime Minister. Along with most of their family, her father was a prisoner many times due to supporting Mohandas Gandhi’s nationalist movement and because of this Indira’s early schooling was not constant. Since British ran institutions would not let her attend she was taught at home at times and then later she attended an academy ran by a poet-philosopher. Her mother, Kamala was affected by tuberculosis so was often bed-ridden. This terrible disease affects the lungs and bones, so her mother was very weak most of the time and unable to do everyday tasks. Indira had to help pick up on what Kamala could not do. She was the only child and being influenced and inspired by her parents, Indira Gandhi went onto rising to power in India and eventually became the Prime Minister India. She dedicated her life to the growth and progress to the country despite the many overwhelming problems and challenges she continuously encountered.

In 1936, Indira went onto attending Santiniketan University and Somerville College, Oxford University, in England where she met Feroze Gandhi. In 1942, she got married to Feroze Gandhi even though both of their families did not accept. Feroze was of Iranian descent, and they both did not share the same religion or social status which was the reason to why their families objected. He became an independent Member of Parliament, as well as lawyer and newspaper executive. Not too long after their marriage they were both imprisoned. For thirteen months they were in jail for taking part in a national political demonstration against British rule. Two sons were born to them- Rajiv Gandhi and Sanjay Gandhi.

On August 15, 1947, Great Britain released their control over India and the Indian Empire was quickly separated into two countries, by what we today know as India and Pakistan. Since India was no longer under British control, India erupted into violence. Thousands of members of rival religious groups, the Hindus and the Muslims, were killed during these riots. During this time Indira served as her father’s hostess and housekeeper. Since her father had never remarried after his wife’s death in 1936, Indira took charge of her father’s large mansion and began helping him with many political matters. Together they worked towards peace, arranging a meeting of Hindu and Muslim religious leaders in New Delhi, India. Throughout the period of Indira Gandhi’s political association with her father, she focused mainly on social welfare work, particularly children’s welfare.

She was an extremely intelligent individual. During 1959 and 1960, Indira Gandhi ran for and was elected the President of the Indian National Congress. She was only the fourth woman to be duly elected. During this time she also acted as her father’s chief of staff. Interestingly, Jawaharal was known as a vocal opponent of nepotism even though his daughter often served either officially or unofficially as a part of his staff. Indira did not pursue a seat in the 1962 elections. She was one of the most efficient Prime Ministers of India and is credited with great achievements. Noteworthy among them are nationalization of banks, liberation of Bangladesh and twenty point program for the strengthening the poor. She was honored with ‘Bharat Ratna’ in 1971. Indira Gandhi instituted major reforms, including a strict population-control program. In 1971 she mobilized Indian forces against Pakistan in the cause of East Bengal’s secession. She oversaw the incorporation of Sikkim in 1974. Convicted in 1975 of violating election laws, she declared a state of emergency, jailing opponents and passing many laws limiting personal freedoms.

Indira Gandhi is a strong, intelligent, and influential woman to many people around the world. The day Indira Gandhi was assassinated on October 31, 1984; all of India shed tears and was mourning her death. She was killed by two of her Sikh bodyguards, Satwant Singh and Beant Singh, at age sixty-two. They assassination was in response to revenge the military attack on Operation Blue Star where the Indian army went in and shot a number of Sikh militants. They shot her as she was walking through her garden with their service weapons. She was quickly rushed to the hospital, but died on her way there. Both mean were later sentenced to death. Gandhi’s death was followed by three days of riots by party sympathizers in which more than three thousand Sikhs were massacred in Delhi and, according to unofficial estimates, another four thousand in other towns around the country.

Though Indira Gandhi made a huge difference in the country of India, she is also a leader to all people nationwide. Indira remains a progressive and idealistic figure today. Her legacy remains for she is a symbol in feminism in India. This is very important because she happened to be the first female Prime Minister in a male dominant country. She is reverently remembered in many parts of rural India as Indira-Amma and is also known as the “Empress of India.” The bungalow in Delhi where she lived and died has been turned into a memorial and draws up to nearly 10,000 visitors a day at times. I admire her for the numerous political and social works she has done in her life. Her devotion of serving others and doing well for her country makes me respect her as a person. Indira was all for the goodwill of rural populations and due to her substantial work India’s poverty, food production, and literacy rate increased drastically.