short essay on indira gandhi

Indira Gandhi Essay for Students and Children

500+ words essay on indira gandhi.

Indira Gandhi in India is known as the ‘Iron lady of India’. After the Lal Bahadur Shastri died, Indira Gandhi became the prime minister if India. Also, she established her worth and became the strongest prime as well as president of the Congress party. When she became the prime minister of India, the congress party was divided. Thus, she overcame all the hurdles and proved her to be the strongest prime minister of India. The Indira Gandhi essay will give you a glimpse of what Indira Gandhi the strongest prime minister of India. 

Shrimati Indira Gandhi was born on 19th November 1917 at Anand Bhawan in Uttar Pradesh. Indira Gandhi received education in different places because her parents were constantly moving. She received her primary education at Allahabad only. Besides this, she also studied various subjects at Oxford and Shanti Niketan. In 1942, she was married to a Parsi youth by the name of Feroz Gandhi. Her husband died in 1960 and both of them had two sons, Rajiv and Sanjay. 

From her early life only, Indira Gandhi has been a member of the Indian national congress . Also, in 1959, she was elected as the party president of Indian national congress. It was only after her father Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru died she became the minister of information and broadcasting. After the untimely death of then prime minister Lal Bahadur Shastri, Indira Gandhi became the prime minister of India in 1966. She held on to the prime minister office for 17 years. 

Get the huge list of more than 500 Essay Topics and Ideas

When she was prime minister of India, she led the country to greater heights. Under her leadership in 1971, India defeated Pakistan in the war and broke its back. Additionally, she also nationalized the banks in 1970 and abolished all the privy purses. These two bold steps defined her time as a prime minister of India.

One major decision of her tenure was yet to come when in 1975, opposition parties revolted against the historical judgment of justice Sinha. Thus, to neutralize the effect of the opposition of the country she declared the state of internal emergency. So, this resulted in a defeat for her in 1977. After this, for two and a half years she remained in hot water and it was in January 1980 that she came back to her position in the midterm poll. 

Indira Gandhi – Second Term

After she returned to the office, she had to face many more challenges. The demand of ‘Khalistan’ was on the rise and it made her restless. This resulted in the attack on the golden temple. Thus, she ordered the army to rescue the Operation and free the temple from terrorists. On 31st October 1984, she was shot dead at her residence by two of her own security guards. 

She was a woman of courage, vision, and foresight. Also, her 20 point program was a bold way in order to bring the prosperity of the poor. She was a woman who made history as a prime minister of India. 

Customize your course in 30 seconds

Which class are you in.

• Travelling Essay
• Picnic Essay
• Our Country Essay
• My Parents Essay
• Essay on Favourite Personality
• Essay on Memorable Day of My Life
• Essay on Knowledge is Power
• Essay on Gurpurab
• Essay on My Favourite Season
• Essay on Types of Sports

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Download the App

• Skip to main content
• Skip to secondary menu
• Skip to primary sidebar
• Skip to footer

A Plus Topper

Improve your Grades

Indira Gandhi Essay | Essay on Indira Gandhi for Students and Children in English

February 12, 2024 by Prasanna

Indira Gandhi Essay: Indira Gandhi, the first and the only women Prime Minister of India till date, is also considered as one of the boldest and dynamic leaders in the world. Indira Gandhi fought all odds against her to fight terrorism and undemocratic values in the country. She sacrificed her own life for the sake of the nation.

In this Indira Gandhi Essay, we shall be talking about her personality and the landmark decisions she took as the topmost leader of the country which has an impact even in the 21st century. We shall also be talking about what her elevation to the prime Minster’s office to the women empowerment and the movement of feminism around the world means.

You can read more  Essay Writing  about articles, events, people, sports, technology many more.

Long and Short Essays on Indira Gandhi for Students and Kids in English

If you are searching for Indira Gandhi essay, then we have provided two types of essays here. A long 600-word Indira Gandhi Essay and a short 200-word Indira Gandhi Essay for students of class 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10. Both essays can be used for an essay writing competition, test, assignment, holiday homework, and exam.

Long Essay on Indira Gandhi 600 Words in English

Indira Gandhi Essay is usually given to classes 7, 8, 9, and 10.

Indira Gandhi, born on 19th November 1917 in Uttar Pradesh, was the daughter of the former and the first Prime Minister of India, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru. Indira Gandhi, during her childhood, was one of the brightest and most intelligent students in the school. She was considered to have taken up leadership roles right from school and college days. And the things she learnt as a kid helped grow as one of the greatest leaders the world has ever seen. After the untimely death of former Prime Minister of India, Lal Bahadhur Shastri, Indira Gandhi took the responsibility of running the country as the third Prime Minister of India on 24th January 1966. Having born in a family of freedom fighters and seasoned politicians, the political game of Mrs Indira Gandhi was strong as ever. Before becoming the Prime Minister, she was Information and Broadcasting minister as well.

Her tenure as Prime Minister of India was filled with ups and downs. It was under her visionary leadership that India won the war against Pakistan in 1970. She played a pivotal role in creating the country of Bangladesh and freed it from the control of Pakistan (formerly known as East Pakistan). In the year 1970, she nationalized all the banks in India. This move provided a strong economic forum for the country. The impact of the nationalization of banks is seen even in the 21st century.

For today’s youth, given the changing power dynamics in the country, know very less about the legend of Indira Gandhi. She is most popularly known in the country for imposing emergency upon the nation in the year 1977. While many people criticise her for this move because of the breakdown of law and order and creating a state of authoritarianism in a democratic country, Indira Gandhi imposed emergency to curtail the anti-democratic and anti-national elements. Even though she knew that it would affect her election prospects, she went ahead and imposed the National Emergency Act, because, for a leader like Indira Gandhi, the country is a higher priority than herself.

In this Indira Gandhi Essay, we shall also be talking about what her Prime Ministerialship represents for women in the world and not just talk about what she has done for the country. Being the first and the only women to hold the most powerful position in the country, former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi was the first to break the glass ceiling in a country where women are discriminated in all spheres of life. Till today, the United States of America could not break the glass ceiling and all the presidents of the USA are male till date. But Indians, long back in the 1970s, put their trust in a female leader and the results can be seen. India was among the fastest-growing economies in her regime. Her elevation to power pushed and gave confidence to hundreds and thousands of women around the world to break the stereotype and succeed in their lives.

The most tragic aspect of Mrs Indira Gandhi’s life was that she was assassinated by her own bodyguard while she was serving for the country selflessly. After the emergency was lifted, as expected, she lost elections. But in her second term of the office, she got back into the leadership role at a time when the Khalistan movement was at its peak. The demand for a separate sovereign country for Sikhs in Punjab was growing older and uglier by the day. There was intelligence information that terrorists were hiding in the golden temple at Amritsar with hoards of arms and ammunition.

To prevent violence and terror activities from being unleashed on the country, Indira Gandhi approved Operation Blue Star, to eliminate these terrorists from inside the temple. Ths decision was seen as anti-Sikh movement and turned into a religious fight against Indira Gandhi. Things took a tragic turn on 31st October 1984 when she was killed in cold blood. Indira Gandhi, from being one the most loved and respected leader in the world succumbed to hatred and politics of India.

Short Essay on Indira Gandhi 200 Words in English

Indira Gandhi Essay is usually given to classes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6.

Indira Gandhi was the first and the only women Prime Minister of India till date. She is considered to be the most courageous and bold leader not just in India, but in the whole world. Being the first female Prime Minister of India, she gained massive respect amongst the world community and especially the women empowerment organisation across the world.

Besides being someone who broke the gender stereotype and made it to the top echelons of our country, she is known for her bold and cold decisions that she took during her tenure that stabilised the democratic values of our country. She declared a national emergency to curtail the anti-national and anti-democratic activities from the opposition party. Many critics refer to the emergency as the black and dark days of our country. She lost the elections thereafter but soon in the 1980s, she gained back the popularity for the second term in office. As much as the first term was a roller coaster ride, the second term was filled with anger and hatred by the Khalistan movement.

Mrs Indira Gandhi was assassinated in cold blood on the 31st of October, 1984 due to anti-Sikh movements against her because the decisions she took to eliminated terrorist activities inside the golden temple in Amritsar through Operation Bluestar.

10 Lines on Indira Gandhi Essay in English

• Indira Gandhi was the first and the only female Prime Minister of India
• Indira Gandhi was the daughter of first Prime Minister of India, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru
• Indira Gandhi was born in Uttar Pradesh on 19th November 1917.
• She became the first female Prime Minister of India in the year 1966.
• Her elevation to the top position gave inspiration to lakhs of women across the world to break gender stereotypes.
• She declared an emergency in the year 1977.
• Indira Gandhi was assassinated due to anti-Sikh sentiments across the country in the year 1984.
• Indira Gandhi was responsible for the complete nationalisation of banks in India.
• She is popularly known for her bold and brave decision during her first and second term as Prime Mister of India.
• Indira Gandhi gave a facelift for the feminist and women empowerment movements across the world.

FAQ’s on Indira Gandhi Essay

Question 1. Who was Indira Gandhi?

Answer: Indira Gandhi was the first female Prime minister of India. She was also the daughter of the first Prime minister of India Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru

Question 2. How was Indira Gandhi killed?

Answer: Indira Gandhi was shot dead by her Sikh bodyguards in the year 1984  after the completion of Operation Bluestar

Question 3. Was Indira Gandhi related to Mahatma Gandhi?

Answer: No, Indira Gandhi was not related to Mahatma Gandhi. Her husband Feroz Gandhi took the name of the father of the nation after being inspired by his freedom movement.

Question 4. Why did Indira Gandhi declare an emergency?

Answer: Indira Gandhi declared an emergency in 1977 to keep law and order in the country stable because of the massive protests and riots instigated by the opposition party

• Picture Dictionary
• English Speech
• English Slogans
• English Letter Writing
• English Essay Writing
• English Textbook Answers
• Types of Certificates
• ICSE Solutions
• Selina ICSE Solutions
• ML Aggarwal Solutions
• HSSLive Plus One
• HSSLive Plus Two
• Kerala SSLC
• Distance Education

Essay On Indira Gandhi

Table of Contents

Short Essay On Indira Gandhi

Indira Gandhi was the Prime Minister of India from 1966 to 1977 and again from 1980 until her assassination in 1984. She was the daughter of Jawaharlal Nehru, India’s first Prime Minister.

Gandhi rose to power during a time of political and economic turmoil in India. She implemented a number of socialist-inspired policies aimed at improving the lives of the country’s poor and reducing inequality. This included nationalizing key industries, launching a series of rural development programs, and introducing land reforms.

Gandhi was known for her strong personality and leadership style, often relying on her own instincts rather than seeking advice from others. She declared a state of emergency in 1975, during which civil liberties were suspended and political opposition was suppressed. This period of authoritarian rule tarnished her image and led to her electoral defeat in 1977.

However, Gandhi staged a political comeback in 1980 and was reelected as Prime Minister. During her second term, she was faced with increasing ethnic and religious tensions, including the Sikh separatist movement in the state of Punjab. This culminated in her assassination by two of her Sikh bodyguards in 1984.

Indira Gandhi’s legacy remains mixed, with some hailing her as a charismatic leader who brought about much-needed reforms, while others view her as a power-hungry autocrat who undermined democracy. Nevertheless, she remains one of India’s most famous and influential leaders, known for her determination and leadership during a challenging time in the country’s history.

Long Essay On Indira Gandhi

Indira Gandhi was the first female Prime Minister of India and one of the most influential stateswomen of the twentieth century. She was an inspirational leader who transformed India into a strong, independent, and prosperous nation. In this essay, we explore Indira Gandhi’s life and legacy, her unique leadership style and her accomplishments as Prime Minister.

Introduction to Indira Gandhi

Indira Gandhi was the only child of Jawaharlal Nehru, the first prime minister of India. She spent much of her childhood in his company and was deeply influenced by his idealism. As a young woman, she married Feroze Gandhi, with whom she had two sons, Sanjay and Rajiv.

After her husband’s death in 1960, Indira Gandhi took on the responsibility of raising her sons and running the household. In 1966, when her father died, she was elected to lead the Congress party. Two years later, she became prime minister.

During her time in office, Indira Gandhi faced many challenges, including economic difficulties and separatist movements. She responded to these challenges with strength and determination. In 1971, she led India to victory in a war against Pakistan that resulted in the creation of Bangladesh.

In 1975, Indira Gandhi declared a state of emergency in response to rising political unrest. This decision was controversial and led to her defeat in the 1977 elections. However, she regained power in 1980 and continued to serve as prime minister until her assassination in 1984.

Early Life of Indira Gandhi

Indira Gandhi was born on November 19, 1917 in Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh, India. Her father, Jawaharlal Nehru, was a prominent leader of the Indian National Congress and would later serve as India’s first Prime Minister. Her mother, Kamala Nehru, was a freedom fighter who was highly influential in the independence movement. Indira was educated at home by private tutors until she was sent to England in 1934 to study at Somerville College, Oxford. She returned to India in 1941 and married Feroze Gandhi (not related to Mahatma Gandhi) in 1942. The couple had two sons: Rajiv (born 1944) and Sanjay (born 1946).

In 1947, after the British withdrawal from India, Jawaharlal Nehru became Prime Minister and Indira became his political secretary. She quickly became an important part of her father’s inner circle and played a significant role in shaping his policies. When Nehru died in 1964, Indira Gandhi succeeded him as Prime Minister. She would go on to rule for the next 15 years, until she was assassinated by her own bodyguards in 1984.

Political Career of Indira Gandhi

Indira Gandhi is one of the most controversial political figures in India’s history. She was the country’s first female Prime Minister, and she served for almost two decades. Her time in office was marked by economic turbulence and social unrest. She was also accused of authoritarianism and corruption.

Despite her controversial legacy, Indira Gandhi is still revered by many Indians. She is seen as a strong leader who fought for the country’s independence and modernisation. She is also credited with helping to improve the status of women in India.

Indira Gandhi was born in 1917 into a wealthy family. Her father, Jawaharlal Nehru, was a leading figure in the Indian independence movement. After studying in England, she returned to India and married Feroze Gandhi, a politician from Uttar Pradesh.

The couple had two sons, Rahul and Sanjay. Rahul would go on to become a member of parliament, while Sanjay would serve as an MP before dying in an airplane crash in 1980.

Indira Gandhi entered politics after her husband’s death in 1960. She was elected to the Lok Sabha, the lower house of parliament, in 1967. Two years later, she became Prime Minister after her party won a landslide victory in the general election.

As Prime Minister, Indira Gandhi implemented a series of ambitious economic reforms known as the “Green Revolution”. The programme increased food production and helped to alleviate poverty in India.

However, she also faced controversy. In 1975, she declared a state of emergency, suspending civil liberties and making it easier for her to rule. This period was marked by widespread human rights abuses and allegations of corruption.

The emergency was lifted in 1977, and Indira Gandhi’s party lost the general election that year. She returned to power after winning the 1980 election, but her second term was marred by growing economic problems and social unrest.

In 1984, a Sikh separatist movement known as the Khalistan movement began to gain momentum in Punjab. In response, Indira Gandhi ordered a military operation against the separatists which resulted in thousands of deaths and a huge loss of property. The incident severely damaged her reputation.

She was assassinated by two of her bodyguards on 31 October 1984 at her residence in New Delhi. After her death, Indira Gandhi became an iconic figure for many Indians who saw her as a symbol of strength and resilience in the face of adversity.

Achievements and Contributions of Indira Gandhi

Indira Gandhi was the first and only female Prime Minister of India. She was born in 1917 to parents Jawaharlal Nehru and Kamala Nehru. After her father’s death in 1964, she took over as the leader of the Congress party and was elected Prime Minister in 1966. She served as Prime Minister until 1977, when she was ousted by the Janata Party. She returned to power in 1980 and served until her assassination in 1984.

Under Indira Gandhi’s leadership, India made great strides in economic development and social reform. She nationalized banks and major industries, promoted agricultural self-sufficiency, launched programs to improve education and healthcare, and advocated for the rights of women and minorities. Her policies helped reduce poverty and propel India onto the path of becoming a leading global power. Indira Gandhi was also a key figure in international politics, playing a pivotal role in shaping the Non-Aligned Movement.

Indira Gandhi’s legacy continues to be felt in India and around the world. She is remembered as a strong leader who worked tirelessly for her country and its people. Her vision and determination helped make India into the thriving nation it is today.

Challenges Faced by Indira Gandhi

Indira Gandhi was one of the most influential political leaders of her time. She faced many challenges during her tenure as Prime Minister of India. The following are some of the challenges faced by Indira Gandhi:

1) Economic Challenges: India was a developing country and Indira Gandhi had to face many economic challenges. She introduced several economic reforms, but the results were not always successful. Inflation and unemployment were high during her time in office.

2) Political Challenges: Indira Gandhi’s rule was not always popular. She declared a state of emergency in 1975, which led to human rights violations. She also faced opposition from within her own party.

3) Social Challenges: India is a very diverse country and Indira Gandhi had to deal with many social issues. caste system, religious conflicts, and gender inequality were some of the problems she faced.

Conclusion: Legacy of Indira Gandhi

Indira Gandhi was one of the most controversial and influential political leaders of India. She was the daughter of Jawaharlal Nehru, the first Prime Minister of India. She served as Prime Minister from 1966 to 1977 and again from 1980 until her assassination in 1984. During her time in office, she faced many challenges, including the 1971 war with Pakistan and the 1975 Emergency. She is remembered as a strong leader who made significant changes to India’s economy and politics. Her legacy continues to be debated by scholars and politicians today.

Manisha Dubey Jha is a skilled educational content writer with 5 years of experience. Specializing in essays and paragraphs, she’s dedicated to crafting engaging and informative content that enriches learning experiences.

Related Posts

Essay on importance of yoga, essay on cow, climate change essay, essay on slaver, leave a comment cancel reply.

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

45,000+ students realised their study abroad dream with us. Take the first step today

Meet top uk universities from the comfort of your home, here’s your new year gift, one app for all your, study abroad needs, start your journey, track your progress, grow with the community and so much more.

Verification Code

An OTP has been sent to your registered mobile no. Please verify

Thanks for your comment !

Our team will review it before it's shown to our readers.

• School Education /

Essay on Indira Gandhi: Sample for Students in 100, 200, and 350 words

• Updated on  
• Jan 18, 2024

India has been ruled by several leaders who have been chosen by its citizens because it is a Democracy. A lot of Prime Ministers have served the Republic of India since its independence. The third Prime Minister was Indira Gandhi. She was the first female Prime Minister of India and came from a family with a strong political background. There are a lot of things she did for the country. We have included all of those things and more in the form of samples of essay on Indira Gandhi in 100, 200, and 350 words. Let’s have a look at them. 

Table of Contents

• 1 Essay on Indira Gandhi in 100 Words
• 2 Essay on Indira Gandhi in 200 Words
• 3.1 Indira Gandhi And The National Emergency In India
• 3.2 Indira Gandhi- A Leader
• 3.3 Death of Indira Gandhi

Also Read:- Essay on My Hobby

Essay on Indira Gandhi in 100 Words

Indira Gandhi’s full name was “Indira Priyadarshini Gandhi”. She was a prominent Indian politician and a member of the National Congress. In 1966, she became the Prime Minister of India. Indira Gandhi was the first and only female Prime Minister of India. She was the daughter of Jawahar Lal Nehru who was the first prime minister of India. Indira Gandhi was the second longest-serving Prime Minister of India. She was present in office from January 1966 to March 1977 and again came into power from January 1980 until her assassination in October 1984. As a result of her victory in the Congress Party’s legislative leadership against Morarji Desai in the elections in early 1966, she succeeded Shastri as India’s Prime Minister after his passing. 

Also Read:- Essay on Waste Management

Essay on Indira Gandhi in 200 Words

In 1959, Indira Gandhi was elected as the President of the Congress Party. Later, after the sudden demise of Lal Bahadur Shastri, in 1966, she held the position of Prime Minister of India, hence becoming the first female Prime Minister of the country. She served as the Prime Minister of India twice, from January 1966 to March 1977, and then from January 1980 until her assassination in 1984. As the Prime Minister of the country, she played a very significant role. 

Because of her parents’ frequent moves, she had to travel to a lot of colleges. She pursued her primary education in Allahabad, then pursued her education in subjects such as History, Economics, Political Science, and Latin at Oxford and Shanti Niketan. In the year 1964, she was appointed as the Minister of Knowledge and Broadcasting. On January 24, 1966, Sri Lal Bahadur Shastri who was India’s second Prime Minister passed away unexpectedly. Hence, Indira Gandhi was appointed as the Prime Minister making her country’s third Prime Minister overall, and the first female Prime Minister of India. During her tenure as the Prime Minister, she had to go through a lot of challenges ranging from agricultural and economic crises to the Indo-Pak war in 1971 and the Nationalisation of Banks. She played a very significant role in the overall development of the Nation. 

Also Read:- Essay on Subhash Chandra Bose for Students

Also Read: How to Prepare for UPSC in 6 Months?

Essay on Indira Gandhi in 350 words

“Iron Lady of India” is another name by which Indira Gandhi is known in India. She succeeded as the Prime Minister of India after Lal Bahadur Shastri’s death in the year 1966. She showed her worth and rose to the position of President of the Congress Party and became the strongest Prime Minister. Inside the Congress Party, her appointment as the Prime Minister of India provoked controversy. However, she demonstrated that she is India’s strongest Prime Minister by overcoming all the obstacles.

Indira Gandhi And The National Emergency In India

In the war of 1971, India defeated Pakistan, which was the result of the independence movement and the same led to the creation of Bangladesh which was known as East Pakistan earlier. In 1972, Indira Gandhi’s new Congress Party won the legislative election after the war. 

However, she was blamed for breaking electoral regulations and hence, opposing parties brought legal action against her.

Indira Gandhi- A Leader

Indira Gandhi excelled in all aspects as a leader. In 1975-1977, she implemented a state of emergency. As the PM, the whole system of India’s Government evolved and developed during her tenure. She faced a lot of criticism for events like the emergency and the 1984 Sikh riots. Those events led to her assassination. 

Death of Indira Gandhi

Indira Gandhi passed away on Wednesday, October 31st, 1984. She was assassinated by Satwant Singh and Beant Singh who were two of her own Sikh bodyguards, She was 62 years old at the time of her assassination. She was soon rushed to the hospital but she passed away while she was there. Indira Gandhi was assassinated as a result of the attack she ordered on the Golden Temple to drive out the terrorists. 

Indira Gandhi made a significant impact on the politics as well as the overall development of the country. She serves as a symbol of feminism in Asian Countries. She showed concern for the betterment of the rural people, and hence, as a result of all her efforts, levels of food Production, and achievement of India, all increased. To this day, she continues to be a great source of inspiration for many people. 

Ans: She was the first female Prime Minister of India.

Ans: Indira Gandhi’s full name was “Indira Priyadarshini Gandhi”. She was a prominent Indian politician and a member of the National Congress. In 1966, she became the first and only female Prime Minister of India. She was the daughter of India’s First Prime Minister, Jawahar Lal Nehru. Indira Gandhi was the second longest-serving Prime Minister of India. She was present in office from January 1966 to March 1977 and again came into power from January 1980 until her assassination in October 1984. As a result of her victory in the Congress Party’s legislative leadership against Morarji Desai in the elections in early 1966, she succeeded Shastri as India’s Prime Minister after his passing. 

Ans: Indira Gandhi passed away on Wednesday, October 31st, 1984. She was assassinated by two of her own Sikh bodyguards, Satwant Singh and Beant Singh. She was 62 years old at the time of her assassination. She was assassinated as a result of the attack she ordered on the Golden Temple to drive out the terrorists.

Related Reads:-

This brings us to the end of our blog on Essay on Indira Gandhi. Hope you find this information useful. For more information on such informative topics for your school, visit our essay writing and follow Leverage Edu.

Deepansh Gautam

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Contact no. *

Connect With Us

45,000+ students realised their study abroad dream with us. take the first step today..

Resend OTP in

Need help with?

Study abroad.

UK, Canada, US & More

IELTS, GRE, GMAT & More

Scholarship, Loans & Forex

Country Preference

New Zealand

Which English test are you planning to take?

Which academic test are you planning to take.

Not Sure yet

When are you planning to take the exam?

Already booked my exam slot

Within 2 Months

Want to learn about the test

Which Degree do you wish to pursue?

When do you want to start studying abroad.

January 2024

September 2024

What is your budget to study abroad?

How would you describe this article ?

Please rate this article

We would like to hear more.

Have something on your mind?

Make your study abroad dream a reality in January 2022 with

India's Biggest Virtual University Fair

Essex Direct Admission Day

Why attend .

Don't Miss Out

Talk to our experts

1800-120-456-456

• Indira Gandhi Essay

Essay on Indira Gandhi

Indira Gandhi was an inspiring woman in India. Her leadership was nothing short of her being considered as an icon by crores of people in India. She was the 3rd Prime Minister of India overall and the 1st woman to become a Prime Minister in India.

Her journey to becoming the Iron Lady of India is one that is still given as an example after many decades. With her excellent background, she is someone that people of the country look up to to this day. Her journey surely has had its own hurdles but she overcame all of those pretty fearlessly.

She also faced discrimination from people of opposition and her own who did not believe that a woman could lead. But it was she who broke the social stigma of gender inequality and thrived with her work for the people of the country.

Her example is one that every student must not only learn but also know in-depth about. This is the one reason that almost every school has an Indira Gandhi Essay for Students in English. These can help the students do their own research based on how she became the great lady that she is. It is not only the fact that she was a woman, but also that she became this powerful force that created a lot of changes in the country.

It was even her smallest decisions that made such a great impact in our country and brought a new era that advantaged a countless number of people of India. She inevitably went on to become the greatest Prime Ministers of India.

For an essay on a personality as great as Indira Gandhi, it is a must that it is delivered with poise and an English vocabulary that is undeniably good. Her strong regime can only be showcased with the help of words that are carefully picked. Read the following to understand how to write an essay on this personality.

Indira Gandhi, one of the iconic prime ministers of India, took the seat after the untimely death of Lal Bahadur Shashtri, the previous prime minister. She was a stalwart politician and is also known as the ‘Iron lady of India’.

She has an excellent background in terms of academics and politics. For this, she was considered as one of the strongest characters that built our nation and made it stronger. She faced a lot of discrimination when it came to politics as India back then was not free from the social stigmas of gender.

She was the president of the Indian National Congress, the major party that had played a commendable role in freeing India from the shackles of the British Rule. When she became the Prime Minister of India, the mother party broke into two halves. The situation was under huge turmoil but she showed her iron determination and constructed a strong platform for our country, as well as, the party.

Shrimati Indira Gandhi was born on November 19, 1917, in Uttar Pradesh. Her parents were always travelling. She got the idea of multicultural traditions and received an excellent education. She studied in Oxford and Shanti Niketan and gathered immense knowledge in different subjects. She married Feroz Gandhi in the year 1942 and had two sons, Sanjay Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi. She was widowed when her husband passed away in 1960.

In her early adulthood, she witnessed the destructive effect of World War I on India. She witnessed how the Colonial Rule absorbed the treasures and resources of India to fuel the war. She was part of the Indian National Congress and worked alongside Mahatma Gandhi. She learned a lot from the top politicians back then.

She earned her position as a formidable member of the same party. She was chosen by the rest of the members as the president of the Indian National Congress in 1959. Her father Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru was the beacon whom she followed to become a politician. After he died in 1964, she was elected as the Minister of Information and Broadcasting in the same year.

She was then chosen as the Prime Minister of India after the demise of Lal Bahadur Shashtri. It was then her knowledge of holding such a responsible position came in very handy. Her father was the first prime minister of India. She witnessed how her father took the decisions. She then used her experience to run our country for 17 years. Her prime ministerial regime is divided into two phases.

Under her regime, the entire political scenario of India became more constructive and united. She showed the entire world what a woman is capable of. During her ministerial span, Pakistan was defeated in the war of 1971. India then established the stepping stone to becoming a superpower in the entire world.

She also nationalized all the existing banks back then so that common people can enjoy more convenience. Her decision regarding Justice Sinha compelled her to bring an internal emergency that led to her defeat in 1977. She regained her position within 2.5 years and became the Prime Minister in 1980.

In her second term, she faced even more challenges. The rise in Khalistani activities made her worried and restless. She attacked the Golden Temple to rescue the temple from the terrorists. This fuelled rage among the Sikhs. On 31 st October 1984, she was assassinated by her own security guards in her compound.

She was the epitome of women’s power that the entire world realized during her strong regime. She brought prosperity to the common and made India stronger by emerging as a formidable power. She is referred to as the Iron Lady of India.

Focus on the points mentioned in this essay and formulate on your own. Find the important points by researching this topic and compile an essay on this topic easily.

FAQs on Indira Gandhi Essay

1. What was Indira Gandhi’s Foundation for Politics?

Indira Gandhi was the daughter of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru and Kamala Nehru. Both the parents were highly educated and strong-willed. They travelled India and the world along with their daughter. She witnessed the diversity of Indian culture and saw how India needs to be rebuilt from scratch.

She studied many subjects in Oxford and Shanti Niketan. She also served as a party member alongside her father when he was the prime minister. She also stayed alongside Mahatma Gandhi and participated in our country’s movement to gain independence. This made the foundation of her political career.

2. What happened in 1977 during Indira Gandhi’s rule?

Indira Gandhi took a very monumental decision in 1977. It was regarding the case of Justice Sinha, from where she went on to make history. But the decision was not short of challenges of its own with the common people of India being enraged. The entire nation was in turmoil. Imposing an emergency lockdown was the one thing she was forced towards. We can say that it only took an abrupt decision and her Justice Sinha case verdict that had the consequences resulting in her defeat.

Despite this fact, she was able to bounce back after 2.5 years during the midterm poll sessions. This made her a Prime Minister of India again, for the second time.

3. Why was Indira Gandhi Killed by Her Own Guards?

Indira Gandhi’s ministerial regime started in the year 1980 for the second time. She faced many grave challenges back in those times. The northern part of our country was then suffering from the terroristic activities of the Khalistanis. She ordered the army to break into the Golden Temple under the codename Operation Blue Star in June 1984. This was not accepted by the Sikhs. She was shot in her compound by her own guards and killed on October 31, 1984.

4. What is the importance of an Indira Gandhi Essay?

School students are, in many of their classes, required to write an essay on personalities as inspirational as Indira Gandhi. It is a must in most of the schools these days. Such essays are really the need of the time as the students are required to not only write an essay about them but also know about their great work. As considered to be the Iron Lady of India, Indira Gandhi has a legacy to inspire the younger generations of India.

5. What type of impact did Indira Gandhi leave on the country?

Under her regime, Indira Gandhi made a great impact on India. Her entire political career was based on a more constructive and united approach. She was the epitome of showing the world a woman’s capability. It is only during her ministerial span that India defeated Pakistan in the 1971 war.

It is due to her that India was established at the time as an up-and-coming superpower in the world. She also provided convenience to the country’s people by nationalizing all the existing banks. She regained her position for the second time in 1980, after 2.5 years as the Prime Minister of India.

Essay on Indira Gandhi for Students and Children in 1000 Words

In this article, you will read an essay on Indira Gandhi for students and children in 1000 words. Also, their early life, education, political career, death, and personal life.

Table of Contents

Indira Gandhi was one of the most influential individuals in Indian political history. He was the first and till now the only female Prime Minister of India.

Her one of the most mentionable action was the war against Pakistan, which helped Bangladesh to gain freedom. She also imposed Emergency Rule in India, which was described as the reason for her downfall.

Early Life and Education

Indira Gandhi started her education at Modern School in Delhi, St. Cecilia and St Mary’s Convent schools, the international school of Geneva and Pupils’ school in Poona and Bombay. She moved to Belur Math and studied under Swami Vivekananda . She studied at Shantiniketan University in Bolpur, West Bengal.

Political Career and Major Works

First term as Prime Minister: In 1966, Indian politics faced a significant blow after the sudden demise of Lal Bahadur Shastri. Under this circumstance, Indira Gandhi was nominated as the Prime Ministerial candidate with a compromise between the party’s left and right wings.

Despite the above, the tension continued to build up inside the party. Indira Gandhi has taken an abrupt decision of the nationalisation of banks without discussion with the Finance Minister. The party was unhappy for her undisciplined actions. She was expelled by the conservative group of the party led by Morarji Desai.

National Emergency in India and Indira Gandhi

In 1972, ridden on her success against Pakistan in the war, her party New Congress Party group swept the victory in state legislative election. Although, the opponent party filed a charge sheet against her by accusing Indira Gandhi for violating the elections laws.

Fall from Power and Return to the Office

Many believed that Indira Gandhi’s decision to imposing the Emergency was the initiation of her downfall. She hugely lost popularity across the country. The people showed an outrage against her out of irritation.

But after the death of Sanjay in a plane crash, the party was looking for her successor. She groomed Rajiv for the role. She built a close relationship with Russia to get help in the war against Pakistan.

Death of Indira Gandhi

Reader interactions, leave a reply cancel reply, copyright protection, important links.

Essay on Indira Gandhi

Introduction

Indira Gandhi was the female prime minister of India. She was a woman who dominated not only Indian politics but the whole world.

Indira Gandhi had born on 19 November 1917 in Allahabad. She was the daughter of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, the first Prime Minister of independent India. She studied at Shanti Niketan, founded by Mr. Rabindranath Tagore, and subsequently in Switzerland, England.

She took an active part in the freedom struggle and became the President of the Congress Party. She was married to Mr. Feroze Gandhi. She had two sons – Rajiv and Sanjay.

Feroze Gandhi died on 8 September 1960. On 24 January 1966, Mrs. Indira Gandhi became the third and first woman Prime Minister of India after the untimely death of Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri, the second Prime Minister of India.

After this, she became the Prime Minister of the country for three consecutive times. Indira Gandhi had to face heavy protests and sharp criticisms on several issues such as the Sikh riot in 1984, the 1984 Emergency.

On 31 October 1984, she was shot by her bodyguard and she died on the spot.

Indira Gandhi was an inspiration for Indian women. He awakened the women of the society in which women were considered inferior to men.

Related Posts

Money essay, music essay, importance of education essay, education essay, newspaper essay, my hobby essay.

• IAS Preparation
• UPSC Preparation Strategy
• Indira Gandhi

Indira Gandhi Biography for UPSC

Indira Priyadarshini Gandhi is an Indian Politician and the first female Prime Minister of India. A descendant of Jawaharlal Nehru, she is the second longest-serving Prime Minister of India and the only female Prime Minister to date. She became the Prime Minister of India thrice between the years 1960 to 1980.

Known for resoluteness, absolute centralisation of power, imperious personality, and iron will, she has helped India sail through the tensions and turmoils of the post-independence period. This article helps us understand her political career and contributions to the development of India in the post-independence period.

This topic has a high chance of being asked as a UPSC Prelims History Question from Modern India.

Ace your UPSC Preparation with UPSC Current Affairs by BYJU’s

Indira Gandhi- Download PDF Here

Early Life of Indira Gandhi

• Indira Gandhi was born into a Kashmiri Pandit family on November 19, 1917. She was the daughter of Jawaharlal Nehru, the first Prime Minister of India, and Kamala Nehru. She was actively involved in the freedom struggle from childhood. As a child, she founded the children’s ‘Bal Charkha Sangh’ and the ‘Vanar Sena’ to support the Congress party during the non-cooperation movement.
• She did her early schooling at Modern School Delhi, the International School of Geneva, and higher studies at the University of Oxford. Owing to her excellent academic background, she received the Citation of Distinction from Columbia University.
• She married Feroze Gandhi in 1942, and the couple had two children, Sanjay and Rajiv.

Indian National Congress

• In 1955, Indira Gandhi became a Working Committee member of the Congress party. She assisted Jawaharlal Nehru during his Prime Ministership and became the President of the Indian National Congress in 1959.
• After the demise of Jawaharlal Nehru in 1964, Lal Bahadur Shastri became the Prime Minister of India. Indira Gandhi got elected as a member of the Rajya Sabha and the Information and Broadcasting Minister of the Lal Bahadur Shastri government.
• After the unexpected demise of Lal Bahadur Shastri, Indira Gandhi was elected the leader of the Congress party.
• Amidst continued challenges within the right-wing section of the party, led by Moraji Desai, she defeated him and became the Prime Minister of India. In the initial phase of her tenure, she received criticism for being a mere puppet in the hands of senior leaders of the party.
• In the 1967 elections, Indira was elected from the Rae Bareli constituency. However, rising tensions within the party culminated in her removal from the party. She managed to retain the majority of Congress MPs by her side and formed a separate faction called the “New Congress”.

Read about the Establishment of the Indian National Congress from the linked article.

Nationalisation of Banks

• On July 19, 1969, Indira Gandhi announced the Nationalisation of 14 commercial banks in India. She implemented Nationalisation, based on the Banking Regulation Act of 1949 . This crucial economic policy decision was implemented as the initial step in adopting a socialist pattern in the Indian Economy.
• Another important reason for this decision, which altered the banking sector in India, was the inaccessibility of banking services and credit facilities to the farmers of India and the rural population.
• The poor fiscal condition of India after wars with Pakistan and China, droughts, and lack of public investment also lead to the nationalisation of banks. The banks that were nationalised in 1969 included:

1. Allahabad Bank

2. Bank of India

3. Bank of Maharashtra

4. Central Bank of India

5. Dena Bank

6. Indian Overseas Bank

7. Syndicate Bank,

8. Punjab National Bank,

9. UCO Bank

10. Union Bank,

11. United Bank of India

12. Canara Bank

13. Indian Bank

14. Bank of Baroda

• The advantages of bank nationalisation were;

1. It promoted priority sector lending

2. Reduced regional inequalities and access to banking facilities

3. Reduced poverty in rural areas and aided the green revolution.

Check the answer for What is the Nationalised Bank from here:

Abolition of Privy Purse

• The rulers of the Princely states received payments of ‘privy purse’ under Art.291 and Art.362 of the Indian Constitution. According to Indira Gandhi, the ‘privy purse’ violated equal rights for citizens of India. According to her, it was also necessary to reduce the revenue deficit of the government.
• In 1971, the 26th amendment of the Indian Constitution abolished Privy Purse. Articles 291 and 362 got removed from the constitution. Thus, the special privileges and entitlements enjoyed by rulers that were totally against the ideals of equality and social justice came to an end.

Garibi Hatao

• The political opponents of Indira Gandhi campaigned against her with the slogan “Indira Hatao”.She reverted with “Garibi Hatao”, or removal of poverty. It was a part of the Fifth Five-Year Plan, which stressed poverty alleviation, generation of employment opportunities, and increasing agricultural production.
• Garibi Hatao has been the central theme of election campaigns by Indira Gandhi and helped her reach out to poor and disadvantaged sections. The Indian National Congress supervised the programme, and the Central government provided funding for the same.

Bangladesh Liberation War

• Indira Gandhi took a firm stand and stood with the people of Bangladesh during the Liberation War. She let the refugees from East Pakistan take shelter in India. She extended financial aid, diplomatic assistance, and military support to the people of East Pakistan on 27th March 1971.
• The India-Pakistan war started with the Pakistani attack on an Indian Air station. However, the war ended with the victory of India over Pakistan in 1971. Her pivotal role in the formation of Bangladesh as an Independent nation and success in the India-Pakistan war gained huge popularity.

Read about India-Bangladesh Relations from the linked article

State of Emergency

• In 1975, Allahabad High Court declared the 1971 elections void on the grounds of dishonest election practices, including immoderate spending for elections, and illegal usage of Government machinery and officials for election campaigns. The Supreme Court of India banned Indira Gandhi from holding any government office for 6 years and took away her parliamentary position.
• The then President of India, Fakruddin Ali Ahmad, on the recommendation of Indira Gandhi and her cabinet, declared an Emergency in India. The chaos and disorder, following the Allahabad Court Judgement, were quoted as the reason for the same. Thus, according to article 352 of the Indian Constitution , an Emergency was imposed on June 25, 1975.
• Apart from that, strict censorship was imposed on the media by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. Police imposed curfews and incarcerated citizens. States ruled by opposition parties were under the President’s rule. Leaders of opposition parties were arrested, electricity got disconnected, public protests and agitations were banned, and compulsory sterilisation was imposed on the population. After a period of 21 months, the government withdrew the Emergency on March 21, 1977.
• In the 1977 elections, the Congress party under Indira Gandhi got defeated by the Janata Alliance in opposition. Indira Gandhi and Sanjay Gandhi faced defeat in their respective constituencies. In November 1978, Indira Gandhi won the by-elections from the Chikmanglur constituency. However, Chaudhary Charan Singh ordered the arrest of Indira Gandhi and Sanjay Gandhi on various grounds.
• In the 1980 elections, the Congress party secured a landslide victory, and Indira Gandhi got reelected to power. She got elected from the Medak constituency in Telangana. In 1980, post the death of her son, Sanjay Gandhi, she nationalised his car company, Maruti Udyog. She revived the company with the partnership of Suzuki in Japan and launched the first Indian-manufactured car in 1984.

Twenty-Point Programme

• The Twenty Point Programme was launched by Indira Gandhi in 1975, with the intent to eradicate poverty and improve the quality of life of underprivileged sections in the country. The objectives of the programme were aligned with United Nations Millennium Development Goals and National Common Minimum Programme. After its launch, the programme was restructured in 1982 and 1986. Finally, it was reintroduced in 2006 with the inclusion of new schemes and programmes.
• The programme comprises different aspects of socio-economic development, including education, health, agriculture, irrigation, drinking water, environment, etc. Some of the important points of this programme were:
• Poverty eradication
• Support to farmers
• Food Security
• Farmer Welfare
• Clean drinking water
• The welfare of Women
• Youth Development
• Environmental Protection
• Child Welfare

10. Social Security

• The programme has been implemented by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation.

Operation Blue Star

• Conducted by the Indian Army in June 1984, Operation Bluestar targeted Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, an orthodox Sikh, and member of the Akali Dal party. He demanded the creation of a sovereign state or ‘Khalistan’ for Sikhs. After joining Akali Dal, he organised campaigns for the implementation of the Anandpur Resolution.
• In 1982, Bhindranwale and a few supporters entered the Guru Nanak Niwas near the Golden temple. In 1983, the temple complex got surrounded by militants, and the Punjab Deputy Commissioner was shot dead in the temple complex.
• After negotiations, Indira Gandhi permitted the Indian Army to enter the Golden Temple and remove the militants, including Bhindranwale. The operation involved the usage of heavy artillery-like tanks and caused severe damage to the temple complex. Several innocent pilgrims and Sikh fighters were dead in the operation. However, Indira Gandhi received fierce criticism from the Sikh community and political opponents. Sikh mutinies were organised by Sikh soldiers after the operation.

Assassination

• Indira Gandhi was assassinated by two of her bodyguards, namely Satwant Singh and Beant Singh, on October 31, 1984. This place in New Delhi, where she got cremated, is known as ‘Shakti Sthal’. Her son, Rajiv Gandhi, succeeded her as the Prime Minister of India.

Awards and achievements

• She has had many accomplishments. She won the Bharat Ratna Award in 1972, the Mexican Academy Award for her initiatives in the Liberation of Bangladesh in 1972, the FAO 2nd Annual Medal (1973), and the Sahitya Vachaspati Nagari Pracharini Sabha in 1976.
• Gandhi also received the 1953 Mother’s Award (US), Italy’s Isabella d’Este Award for her achievements in diplomacy), and Yale University’s Howland Memorial Award. For two years in a row, in 1967 and 1968, she was the most admired woman in France, according to polls by the French polling agency.
• According to a special Gallup poll conducted in the United States in 1971, she was the most admired person in the world. In 1971, she was awarded her honorary diploma by the Argentine Animal Conservation Society for animal protection.

Popular Publications

Popular publications of Indira Gandhi include;

• ‘The Years of Challenge’ (1966-69)
• ‘The Years of Endeavour’ (1969-72)
• ‘India’ (London) in 1975
• ‘Inde’ (Lausanne) in 1979

Frequently Asked Questions about Indira Gandhi

What was Indira Gandhi famous for?

Indira Gandhi is the daughter of Jawaharlal Nehru and the first female Prime Minister of India. She served as the Prime Minister for three terms between January 1966 and October 1984 and is the second longest-serving Prime Minister of India.

When did Indira Gandhi receive Bharat Ratna?

The then President of India, V V Giri conferred Bharatratna to her for directing India to victory over Pakistan during Bangladesh Liberation War.

What were the contributions of Indira Gandhi to the nation?

Indira Gandhi, with her iron will and determination, guided India to success during the Indo-Pak war in 1965.Her economic,diplomatic,and military support to Bangladesh Liberation War in 1971 led to the formation of Bangladesh. Her poverty alleviation schemes like ‘Garibi Hatao’ and the Twenty-point programme were beneficial for the underprivileged sections of society.

What is Operation Bluestar?

Operation Bluestar refers to the operation of the Indian Army, under the command of Indira Gandhi, to eliminate Sikh militants from the Golden Temple Complex in Amritsar. The operation lasted 10 days between June 1, 1984, and June 10, 1984.

National Emergency was declared under the recommendation of whom?

Indira Gandhi recommended the declaration of National Emergency to Fakruddin Ali Ahmad, the then President of India. “Internal disturbances” were quoted as a primary reason for the declaration of Emergency. However, it was declared immediately following a verdict from Allahabad High Court convicting Indira Gandhi of malpractices during elections.

When did the Nationalisation of banks take place?

14 commercial banks were nationalised on July 19, 1969, by Indira Gandhi by passing an ordinance. Later, in 1980, six commercial banks were also nationalised.

Note: You may get all the History Questions for the UPSC Mains exam by visiting the linked article.

Related Links:

Leave a Comment Cancel reply

Your Mobile number and Email id will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Request OTP on Voice Call

Post My Comment

IAS 2024 - Your dream can come true!

Download the ultimate guide to upsc cse preparation, register with byju's & download free pdfs, register with byju's & watch live videos.

• History & Society
• Science & Tech
• Biographies
• Animals & Nature
• Geography & Travel
• Arts & Culture
• Games & Quizzes
• On This Day
• One Good Fact
• New Articles
• Lifestyles & Social Issues
• Philosophy & Religion
• Politics, Law & Government
• World History
• Health & Medicine
• Browse Biographies
• Birds, Reptiles & Other Vertebrates
• Bugs, Mollusks & Other Invertebrates
• Environment
• Fossils & Geologic Time
• Entertainment & Pop Culture
• Sports & Recreation
• Visual Arts
• Demystified
• Image Galleries
• Infographics
• Top Questions
• Britannica Kids
• Saving Earth
• Space Next 50
• Student Center
• Introduction

Early life and rise to prominence

First period as prime minister, the emergency, fall from power and return to office.

• What role did the Indian National Congress play in the Indian independence movement?
• What policies have historically been supported by the Indian National Congress?
• Is the Indian National Congress’s Gandhi family related to Mahatma Gandhi?
• What is Jawaharlal Nehru known for?
• What were Jawaharlal Nehru’s accomplishments?

Indira Gandhi

Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article.

• PMIndia - Smt. Indira Gandhi
• Cultural India - Leaders - Biography of Indira Gandhi
• IndiaNetzone - Biography of Indira Gandhi
• GlobalSecurity.org - Indira Gandhi
• Indira Gandhi - Children's Encyclopedia (Ages 8-11)
• Indira Gandhi - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up)
• Table Of Contents

Recent News

Indira Gandhi (born November 19, 1917, Allahabad, India—died October 31, 1984, New Delhi) was an Indian politician who was the first female prime minister of India , serving for three consecutive terms (1966–77) and a fourth term from 1980 until she was assassinated in 1984.

(Read Indira Gandhi’s 1975 Britannica essay on global underprivilege.)

Indira Nehru was the only child of Jawaharlal Nehru , who was one of the chief figures in India’s struggle to achieve independence from Britain , was a top leader of the powerful and long-dominant Indian National Congress (Congress Party), and was the first prime minister (1947–64) of independent India. Her grandfather Motilal Nehru was one of the pioneers of the independence movement and was a close associate of Mohandas (“Mahatma”) Gandhi . She attended , for one year each, Visva-Bharati University in Shantiniketan (now in Bolpur, West Bengal state) and then the University of Oxford in England . She joined the Congress Party in 1938.

In 1942 she married Feroze Gandhi (died 1960), a fellow member of the party. The couple had two children, Sanjay and Rajiv Gandhi . However, the two parents were estranged from each other for much of their marriage. Indira Gandhi’s mother, Kamala Nehru, had died in the mid-1930s, and thereafter the Nehrus’ daughter often acted as her father’s hostess for events and accompanied him on his travels.

The Congress Party came to power when her father took office in 1947, and Gandhi became a member of its working committee in 1955. In 1959 she was elected to the largely honorary post of party president. She was made a member of the Rajya Sabha (upper chamber of the Indian parliament) in 1964, and that same year Lal Bahadur Shastri —who had succeeded Nehru as prime minister—named her minister of information and broadcasting in his government.

On Shastri’s sudden death in January 1966, Gandhi was named leader of the Congress Party—and thus also became prime minister—in a compromise between the party’s right and left wings. Her leadership, however, came under continual challenge from the right wing of the party, led by former minister of finance Morarji Desai . She won a seat in the 1967 elections to the Lok Sabha (lower chamber of the Indian parliament), but the Congress Party managed to win only a slim majority of seats, and Gandhi had to accept Desai as deputy prime minister.

Tensions grew within the party, however, and in 1969 she was expelled from it by Desai and other members of the old guard. Undaunted, Gandhi, joined by a majority of party members, formed a new faction around her called the “New” Congress Party. In the 1971 Lok Sabha elections the New Congress group won a sweeping electoral victory over a coalition of conservative parties. Gandhi strongly supported East Pakistan (now Bangladesh ) in its secessionist conflict with Pakistan in late 1971, and India’s armed forces achieved a swift and decisive victory over Pakistan that led to the creation of Bangladesh. She became the first government leader to recognize the new country .

In March 1972, buoyed by the country’s success against Pakistan, Gandhi again led her New Congress Party group to landslide victories in a large number of elections to state legislative assemblies. Shortly afterward, however, Raj Narain, her defeated Socialist Party opponent from the 1971 national election, charged that she had violated the election laws in that contest. In June 1975 the High Court of Allahabad ruled against her, which meant that she would be deprived of her seat in the parliament and would be required to stay out of politics for six years. She appealed the ruling to the Supreme Court but did not receive a satisfactory response: she would be allowed to continue as prime minister, but the privileges she received as a member of parliament would be discontinued, and she would not be allowed to vote.

On June 25, 1975 Indian Pres. Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed declared a state of emergency throughout the country on Gandhi’s advice. A state of emergency had been declared on two previous occasions, both in times of war—during the 1962 war with China and the 1971 war that created Bangladesh. “The Emergency,” as the third occasion is referred to in India, lasted 21 months, during which Gandhi imprisoned her political opponents and assumed emergency powers . Many new laws were enacted that limited personal freedoms. Preventive detention laws were used to jail political figures such as Desai and Raj Narain and leaders such as Jayaprakash Narayan and George Fernandes, who had organized student movements and labor strikes. During that period, Gandhi also implemented several unpopular policies, including large-scale sterilization as a form of birth control . There was a widespread government crackdown on trade unions and workers’ rights, and a demolition drive in New Delhi displaced thousands. Police fired on civilian crowds on two occasions—a demolition at Delhi’s Turkman Gate in April 1976 and an anti-sterilization protest in Muzaffarnagar , Uttar Pradesh , in October that year; the death toll is disputed, but it is clear that many were killed.

• Aandhi (banned after release in 1975, cleared later)
• Kissa Kursi Ka (prints burnt, reshot and released in 1977)
• Nasbandi (banned after release, cleared later)
• Yamagola (1977)
• Yathra (1985)
• Hazaaron Khwaishein Aisi (2004)
• Midnight’s Children (banned after release in 2012)
• Indu Sarkar (2017, released with edits)
• Emergency (2024, unreleased, edits ordered)

The period was characterized by severe censorship of the press, which was largely critical of Gandhi’s assumption of emergency powers and the policies she implemented. Censorship extended to cultural depictions of the Emergency, and many films on the subject made at the time were banned by the government, including Aandhi (1975; “Storm”), Kissa Kursi Ka (1977; “Tale of a Throne”), and Nasbandi (1978; “Vasectomy”). The bans were revoked by later changes in regime. Some contemporary films have become controversial for their portrayals of the Emergency, including a 2012 adaptation of Salman Rushdie ’s book Midnight’s Children , which was banned after its release; Indu Sarkar (2017; “Indira’s Government”), which was released with edits and deletions ordered by the national film censor; and the 2024 film Emergency , which was to be released only after ordered edits had been made.

Public opposition to Gandhi’s two years of emergency rule was vehement and widespread, and, after it ended in early 1977, the released political rivals were determined to oust her and the New Congress Party from power. When long-postponed national parliamentary elections were held later in 1977, she and her party were soundly defeated, whereupon she left office. The Janata Party (precursor to the Bharatiya Janata Party ) took over the reins of government, with newly recruited member Desai as prime minister.

In early 1978 Gandhi and her supporters completed the split from the Congress Party by forming the Congress (I) Party—the “I” signifying Indira. She was briefly imprisoned (October 1977 and December 1978) on charges of official corruption. Despite those setbacks , she won a new seat in the Lok Sabha in November 1978, and her Congress (I) Party began to gather strength. Dissension within the ruling Janata Party led to the fall of its government in August 1979. When new elections for the Lok Sabha were held in January 1980, Gandhi and Congress (I) were swept back into power in a landslide victory. Her son Sanjay Gandhi, who had become her chief political adviser, also won a seat in the Lok Sabha. All legal cases against mother and son were withdrawn.

Sanjay Gandhi’s death in an airplane crash in June 1980 eliminated Indira Gandhi’s chosen successor from the political leadership of India. After his death, Indira Gandhi groomed her other son, Rajiv Gandhi , for the leadership of her party. She adhered to the quasi-socialist policies of industrial development begun by her father. In addition, she established closer relations with the Soviet Union , which she depended on for support in India’s long-standing conflict with Pakistan.

During the early 1980s Indira Gandhi was faced with threats to the political integrity of India. Several states sought a larger measure of independence from the central government, and Sikh separatists in Punjab state used violence to assert their demands for an autonomous state. In 1982 a large number of Sikhs, led by Sant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale , occupied and fortified the Harmandir Sahib (Golden Temple) complex at Amritsar , the Sikhs’ holiest shrine. Tensions between the government and the Sikhs escalated, and in June 1984 Gandhi ordered Operation Blue Star in which the Indian army attacked and ousted the separatists from the complex. Some buildings in the shrine were badly damaged in the fighting, and more than 80 soldiers and hundreds of pilgrims died, according to government officials. However, Sikh estimates of the death toll were considerably higher, suggesting that the number of soldiers and civilians killed may have been in the thousands. Five months later Gandhi was killed in her garden in New Delhi in a fusillade of bullets fired by two of her own Sikh bodyguards in revenge for the attack in Amritsar. She was succeeded as prime minister by her son Rajiv Gandhi, who served until 1989.

CBSE Digital Education

Essay on Indira Gandhi in English for Students 1000 Words

This long essay on Indira Gandhi in English is suitable for students of classes 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10, 11, 12, and also for competitive exam aspirants. Read and enjoy the complete essay about Indira Gandhi.

Essay on Indira Gandhi 1000+ Words

Introduction.

Indira Gandhi Essay – If we want to point out the name of a woman who more than anybody else thought of her motherland, of the poor and laboring classes, of both urban and rural people, and world peace and environmental purity, we cannot ignore the claim of Indira Gandhi, the third Prime Minister of India and the only woman Prime Minister of India till now.

Indira Gandhi was born on 19 November 1917 at Anand Bhawan, Allahabad (Prayagraj).She was the illustrious daughter of the renowned Indian leader and freedom fighter, Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru who became the first Prime Minister of India after she gained freedom on 15 th August 1947. Her mother’s name was Kamala Nehru.

Indira Gandhi was born during a period of great political upheavals and her childhood was spent in a period of turmoil. her grandfather Pandit Motilal Nehru was an affluent lawyer. Thus, it can be said of her as it is said of Jawaharlal Nehru that she was born with a silver spoon in her mouth.

At that time, Anand Bhawan at Allahabad was the hub of all political activities in India. It was the central Place to meet great Indian National Congress leaders. Even Mahatma Gandhi often stayed here.

Education of Indira Gandhi

Indira Gandhi got her primary education in Allahabad. After this, she lived in Poona from the years 1931 to 1933 and completed her high school education. After this, she was sent to Shanti Niketan to study with Rabindranath Thakur, where she remained until 1934-35.

While living there, she studied Manipuri dance and left his studies incomplete due to his mother’s illness and she had to go to Switzerland for his service and care in the year 1935-36. Later, she also studied in Switzerland and at Oxford in England.

When Indira Gandhi returned from Switzerland, she expressed the desire to marry Feroze Gandhi. Feroze Gandhi was at that time the Editor of the National Herald, a newspaper having a good reading public then, and he rose to be a second Congress leader letter. She married Feroze Gandhi on 26 March 1942.

Indira Gandhi got the full benefit of being active in politics since childhood and emerged as one of the country’s most powerful leaders. After India’s independence on August 15, 1947, his father Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru became the first Prime Minister of the country. During this time Indira Gandhi supported her father as an active worker of the Congress.

In 1959, she was elected President of Congress. After the death of Jawaharlal Nehru in the year 1964, Lal Bahadur Shastri became the second Prime Minister of the country. After the death of Lal Bahadur Shastri on 11 January 1966, she was unanimously elected the first woman Prime Minister of the country.

Indira Gandhi as Prime Minister

During her prime ministership, she faced many problems but with her firm intention, courage, and patience, she faced every problem firmly. Famine problem of 1966, the presidential election of 1969, or the general election of 1971 – Indira Gandhi faced all the crises and succeeded in them. Indira showed her ability and courage by creating Bangladesh after the severe defeat of Pakistan in the 1971 war.

Without worrying about the world’s big nations, on May 18, 1974, she conducted the country’s first successful nuclear test at a place called Pokharan in Rajasthan. After this, she faced opposition from many countries of the world, but no opposition could be an obstacle in her intention.

Later, in 1975, Indira Gandhi had to impose an internal emergency, which many political thinkers and especially ordinary people thought of and still consider to be a major mistake. At first, it seemed that the situation would improve with the introduction of an internal emergency.

Even some enlightened people, intellectuals, and others praised the Emergency. Vinoba Bhave called it a “discipline festival” (Anushasan Parva), but, as soon as there emerged misuse and abuse of emergency by police and bureaucrats came to the fore, the emergency came to be considered disgusting. Thousands of political leaders of opposing parties were put behind bars and life became difficult for the common man.

One of the most enlightened and respected political leaders of the time, Jai Prakash Narayan launched a peaceful but vigorous movement against Indira Gandhi, and within a short period of time, the public felt a sense of hatred towards his government. The result was that she lost the election in 1977 and formed the Janata Party government at the Center.

In fact, the Allahabad High Court’s decision in one case went against him. Soon, infighting broke out in the Janata Party and people soon got fed up with it. The result was that Indira Gandhi again came to power in the 1980 election.

Became the Prime Minister of this Second Term, she gave the slogan of “ Garibi Hatao ”. On the morning of 23 June 1980, Indira Gandhi Ji received the sad news of the death of her young son Sanjay Gandhi in a plane crash that shook her heart. After the premature death of Sanjay, she put his eldest son Rajiv Gandhi in the service of the country.

Achievements of India Gandhi

One of the most remarkable achievements of India during the period of Indira Gandhi is the commissioning of the Indian National Satellite (INSA) system in 1983. On April 17, 1983, the Rohini Satellite was launched into space with the SLV-III vehicle. Later, INSAT-1B was launched on February 1, 1984. Since then India has sent several spacecraft into space, which has helped in matters such as weather monitoring, TV, Computer connectivity, telecommunications, land and water resources, drought monitoring, flood mapping, etc.

Fourteen important banks were nationalized during his rule and the first Pay Commission was set up to determine the manner of pay scales and allowances of central government employees. During his period, India also made impressive growth in agriculture, industry, etc.

A great Indian and World leader as Indira Gandhi had to pay with her life when she fell victim to the bullets of her own security guard on October 31, 1984.

She was killed because of Operation Blue Star , which was run by her in the Golden Temple. Shortly before her death, in a meeting in Orissa, she said – Even if I died for the country, I would be proud and I am confident that one strand of my blood will strengthen the country.

Even though she may not be physically among us today, his works are still guiding the country, and that’s why people sing in his memory, “ Jab Tak Suraj Chand Rahega, Indira Tera Naam Rahega “.

Indira Gandhi was a great humanist and environmentalist and her speech in Stockholm delivered to safeguard the world environment will never be forgotten by lovers of mankind.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1. What is the full name of Indira Gandhi?

The full name of Indira Gandhi is Indira Priyadarshini Gandhi.

Q2. Who was Indira Gandhi Killed?

A great Indian and World leader as Indira Gandhi was, she had to pay with her life when she fell victim to the bullets of her own security guard on October 31, 1984.

Q3. Why did Indira Gandhi declare an emergency?

The final decision to impose an emergency was proposed by Indira Gandhi, agreed upon by the president of India, and thereafter ratified by the cabinet and the parliament, based on the rationale that there were imminent internal and external threats to the Indian state.

My Name is Mukesh Kumar. I am a Teacher, Blogger, Educational Content Writer, and Founder of CBSE Digital Education.

1 thought on “Essay on Indira Gandhi in English for Students 1000 Words”

All the best

Leave a Comment Cancel reply

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Short and Long Essay on Indira Gandhi for Children and Students

Introduction

Indira Gandhi was the female prime minister of India. She was a woman who dominated not only Indian politics but the whole world.

Fill Out the Form for Expert Academic Guidance!

Please indicate your interest Live Classes Books Test Series Self Learning

Verify OTP Code (required)

I agree to the terms and conditions and privacy policy .

Fill complete details

Target Exam ---

Indira Gandhi had born on 19 November 1917 in Allahabad. She was the daughter of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, the first Prime Minister of independent India. She studied at Shanti Niketan, founded by Mr. Rabindranath Tagore, and subsequently in Switzerland, England.

She took an active part in the freedom struggle and became the President of the Congress Party. She was married to Mr. Feroze Gandhi. She had two sons – Rajiv and Sanjay.

Feroze Gandhi died on 8 September 1960. On 24 January 1966, Mrs. Indira Gandhi became the third and first woman Prime Minister of India after the untimely death of Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri, the second Prime Minister of India.

After this, she became the Prime Minister of the country for three consecutive times. Indira Gandhi had to face heavy protests and sharp criticisms on several issues such as the Sikh riot in 1984, the 1984 Emergency.

On 31 October 1984, she was shot by her bodyguard and she died on the spot.

Indira Gandhi was an inspiration for Indian women. He awakened the women of the society in which women were considered inferior to men.

Related content

Get access to free Mock Test and Master Class

Register to Get Free Mock Test and Study Material

Offer Ends in 5:00

Select your Course

Please select class.

• Education Diary
• Advertising
• Privacy Policy

Class Notes NCERT Solutions for CBSE Students

• Indira Gandhi English Essay for Students

admin November 16, 2021 Essays in English 42,979 Views

Indira Gandhi English Essay: Priyadarshini Indira Gandhi was born in Allahabad on 19th November, 1917. She was the daughter of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru , the first Prime Minister of free India . As a child Indira Gandhi admired Gandhi Ji very much.

She did her studies at Shanti niketan, founded by Shri Rabindranath Tagore. She also studied at England and Switzerland. She married Feroze Gandhi later. Indiraji was drawn to the freedom struggle from a very early age. She even went to Naini Jail for taking part in the Quit India Movement.

Indiraji received a lot of political education from her father and other Congress leaders. After Panditji’s death in 1964, Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri succeeded him as the Prime Minister. Indira Gandhi took over the information and Broadcasting ministry under him. In January 1966, Shastriji suddenly died.

Thus Indira Gandhi became India ‘s Prime Minister, and held the post for four terms in all, except for three years between 1977 and 1980. She was a very strong and determined leader. No matter how busy she was, she always had ears for what the common people of India had to say. Indira progressed steadily under her.

Indira Gandhi was ruthlessly killed by her own body guards on October 31, 1984. A fearless leader for so many decades, she was brave even in death. The people of Indra still love and respect this great lady.

Learn More About Indira Gandhi

She got married to the Feroze Gandhi in 1942 and got an opportunity to become Congress Working Committee member in the 1955. Indira Gandhi was a great political leader and thus selected as President in the year 1959. She also became a Cabinet member of the Lal Bahadur Shastri as the Minister for Information. After the sudden death of the Shastri Ji in 1966 at Taskant, Russia, she was selected as the Prime Minister of India.

She played a major role in strengthening the Indian democratic structure and tradition. She handled the war of 1971 against Pakistan and win. She did hard towards the Indian economy to get the declared objectives. She worked a lot for the democratic socialism and weaker sections. Signing of the Shimla Pact with Pakistani Premier Z.A. Bhutto, Indo-Soviet Treaty of Peace, Friendship and Cooperation was done under her leadership. Under her leadership the first nuclear tests at Pokhran took place. First Asian Games in the New Delhi, first Astronaut Squadron Leader, Rakesh Sharma had went to the Space and the growth of the Indian Space Research and Peaceful Nuclear development gone under her proficient guidance.

• राष्ट्रीय एकता: महत्व और आवश्यकता पर निबंध
• राष्ट्रीय एकता दिवस पर जानकारी विद्यार्थियों के लिए
• Indira Gandhi Biography For Students, Children
• National Integration Day: Indira Gandhi’s Birthday
• Indira Gandhi Famous Quotes For Students
• राष्ट्रीय एकता पर निबंध विद्यार्थियों के लिए
• Presidents, Prime Ministers Images For Students
• इंदिरा गांधी के अनमोल वचन विद्यार्थियों के लिए
• Stumbleupon

Tags Easy English Essays English Essays for 5 Class Students English Essays for 6 Class Students English Essays for 7 Class Students English Essays for 8 Class Students English Essays for CBSE Students English Essays for NCERT Students English Essays in Easy Language Essays for NCERT Syllabus Essays in English Language Popular English Essays for CBSE Students Short English Essays

Related Articles

Janmashtami Essay in English for School Students and Children

3 weeks ago

National Space Day English Essay: 10 Lines, Short & Long Essay

Independence Day (15 August) English Essay for Children & Students

August 13, 2024

English Essay on Drug Abuse: Long & Short Essays on Drug Abuse

June 24, 2024

Eid ul-Adha / Bakrid: 2 Long & Short English Essay for School Children

June 17, 2024

My Father My Hero: 5 Long and Short English Essays For Students

June 16, 2024

Environment Essay in English For Students and Children

Environment Essay: All the natural things which makes life possible on the earth includes under …

I LEARNT A LOT ABOUT HER.

Very Helpful. She was really a great lady.

Indira Gandhi-The Iron Lady Essay, Paragraph for Students of Class 8, 9, and 10 Examination.

Essay on “indira gandhi-the iron lady”.

Indira Gandhi was the Prime Minister of India. She made India a strong country and worked towards peace in the world. She was born in Allahabad (U.P.) on 19th November 1917 and was the only child of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru and Kamala Nehru. She studied at Pune, Shantiniketan, Switzerland, and England.

She came from a family of fighters who did everything in their power to free India from the British rule. She married Feroz Gandhi. Her two sons, Rajiv, and Sanjay Gandhi also joined politics. Rajiv became Prime Minister of India, like his mother, while Sanjay Gandhi died young. Indira Gandhi was known as the ‘Iron Lady of Asia’ because she was courageous and feared none. She was killed by her own guards on 31st October 1984.

Related Posts

Absolute-Study

Hindi Essay, English Essay, Punjabi Essay, Biography, General Knowledge, Ielts Essay, Social Issues Essay, Letter Writing in Hindi, English and Punjabi, Moral Stories in Hindi, English and Punjabi.

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Essay on Mrs. Indira Gandhi

Essay on Indira Gandhi: Mrs. Indira Gandhi was the beloved leader of the people of India. After her downfall 1977 , the people has again placed the country in her hands in 1980. She was the first woman Prime Minister of India .

She was born on Nov. 19, 1917 . She got her education at Allahabad, Oxford and Shanti Niketan . After it, she had been a member of the India National Congress . In 1959 , she was elected President of N. Congress . It was only after the death of her father. That she became the Minister of Information and Broadcasting . After the untimely death of Sh. Lal Bahadur Shastri in 1966 she was elected Prime Minister of India . It was under her leadership in 1971 , that India defeated Pakistan and broke its back forever. She nationalised all the major banks and abolished privy purses. These were two bold steps.

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 the fortress . The Akalis presented a great challenge to her. As a custodian of the country’s unity, she had to order the army to enter into the Golden Temple. It freed the temple complex of terrorists .

On the black Wednesday morning of 31 st October 1984 , she was shot dead at her residence by two if her own security guards named Beant Singh and Satwant Singh . The national mourned her death. In her death, the nation lost a worthy maker of India .

Essay on Indira Gandhi PDF

(Essay on Indira Gandhi)

1 thought on “Write a short Essay on Mrs. Indira Gandhi 100-300 words.”

Thank you for taking the time to read our blog. We hope that you found it informative and that it helped you in some way. If you did, please share it with your friends and family on social media.

Leave a Comment Cancel Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Notify me of follow-up comments by email.

Notify me of new posts by email.

• History Classics
• Your Profile
• Find History on Facebook (Opens in a new window)
• Find History on Twitter (Opens in a new window)
• Find History on YouTube (Opens in a new window)
• Find History on Instagram (Opens in a new window)
• Find History on TikTok (Opens in a new window)
• This Day In History
• History Podcasts
• History Vault

Mahatma Gandhi

By: History.com Editors

Updated: June 6, 2019 | Original: July 30, 2010

Revered the world over for his nonviolent philosophy of passive resistance, Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi was known to his many followers as Mahatma, or “the great-souled one.” He began his activism as an Indian immigrant in South Africa in the early 1900s, and in the years following World War I became the leading figure in India’s struggle to gain independence from Great Britain. Known for his ascetic lifestyle–he often dressed only in a loincloth and shawl–and devout Hindu faith, Gandhi was imprisoned several times during his pursuit of non-cooperation, and undertook a number of hunger strikes to protest the oppression of India’s poorest classes, among other injustices. After Partition in 1947, he continued to work toward peace between Hindus and Muslims. Gandhi was shot to death in Delhi in January 1948 by a Hindu fundamentalist.

Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi was born on October 2, 1869, at Porbandar, in the present-day Indian state of Gujarat. His father was the dewan (chief minister) of Porbandar; his deeply religious mother was a devoted practitioner of Vaishnavism (worship of the Hindu god Vishnu), influenced by Jainism, an ascetic religion governed by tenets of self-discipline and nonviolence. At the age of 19, Mohandas left home to study law in London at the Inner Temple, one of the city’s four law colleges. Upon returning to India in mid-1891, he set up a law practice in Bombay, but met with little success. He soon accepted a position with an Indian firm that sent him to its office in South Africa. Along with his wife, Kasturbai, and their children, Gandhi remained in South Africa for nearly 20 years.

Did you know? In the famous Salt March of April-May 1930, thousands of Indians followed Gandhi from Ahmadabad to the Arabian Sea. The march resulted in the arrest of nearly 60,000 people, including Gandhi himself.

Gandhi was appalled by the discrimination he experienced as an Indian immigrant in South Africa. When a European magistrate in Durban asked him to take off his turban, he refused and left the courtroom. On a train voyage to Pretoria, he was thrown out of a first-class railway compartment and beaten up by a white stagecoach driver after refusing to give up his seat for a European passenger. That train journey served as a turning point for Gandhi, and he soon began developing and teaching the concept of satyagraha (“truth and firmness”), or passive resistance, as a way of non-cooperation with authorities.

The Birth of Passive Resistance

In 1906, after the Transvaal government passed an ordinance regarding the registration of its Indian population, Gandhi led a campaign of civil disobedience that would last for the next eight years. During its final phase in 1913, hundreds of Indians living in South Africa, including women, went to jail, and thousands of striking Indian miners were imprisoned, flogged and even shot. Finally, under pressure from the British and Indian governments, the government of South Africa accepted a compromise negotiated by Gandhi and General Jan Christian Smuts, which included important concessions such as the recognition of Indian marriages and the abolition of the existing poll tax for Indians.

In July 1914, Gandhi left South Africa to return to India. He supported the British war effort in World War I but remained critical of colonial authorities for measures he felt were unjust. In 1919, Gandhi launched an organized campaign of passive resistance in response to Parliament’s passage of the Rowlatt Acts, which gave colonial authorities emergency powers to suppress subversive activities. He backed off after violence broke out–including the massacre by British-led soldiers of some 400 Indians attending a meeting at Amritsar–but only temporarily, and by 1920 he was the most visible figure in the movement for Indian independence.

6 Things You Might Not Know About Gandhi

The iconic Indian activist, known for his principle of nonviolent resistance, had humble beginnings and left an outsized legacy.

When Gandhi’s Salt March Rattled British Colonial Rule

In March 1930, Mahatma Gandhi and his followers set off on a brisk 241‑mile march to the Arabian Sea town of Dandi to lay Indian claim to the nation's own salt.

Assassination of Gandhi

Passive Resistance For some 50 years, Gandhi, born on October 2, 1869, and called “Mahatma” (“great‑souled” in Sanskrit), fought for India’s independence from Britain, practicing civil disobedience and peaceful protests that included fasting, boycotts and marches. He was an adherent of satyagraha (“truth‑force”), a passive political resistance he defined as “a weapon of the strongest […]

Leader of a Movement

As part of his nonviolent non-cooperation campaign for home rule, Gandhi stressed the importance of economic independence for India. He particularly advocated the manufacture of khaddar, or homespun cloth, in order to replace imported textiles from Britain. Gandhi’s eloquence and embrace of an ascetic lifestyle based on prayer, fasting and meditation earned him the reverence of his followers, who called him Mahatma (Sanskrit for “the great-souled one”). Invested with all the authority of the Indian National Congress (INC or Congress Party), Gandhi turned the independence movement into a massive organization, leading boycotts of British manufacturers and institutions representing British influence in India, including legislatures and schools.

After sporadic violence broke out, Gandhi announced the end of the resistance movement, to the dismay of his followers. British authorities arrested Gandhi in March 1922 and tried him for sedition; he was sentenced to six years in prison but was released in 1924 after undergoing an operation for appendicitis. He refrained from active participation in politics for the next several years, but in 1930 launched a new civil disobedience campaign against the colonial government’s tax on salt, which greatly affected Indian’s poorest citizens.

A Divided Movement

In 1931, after British authorities made some concessions, Gandhi again called off the resistance movement and agreed to represent the Congress Party at the Round Table Conference in London. Meanwhile, some of his party colleagues–particularly Mohammed Ali Jinnah, a leading voice for India’s Muslim minority–grew frustrated with Gandhi’s methods, and what they saw as a lack of concrete gains. Arrested upon his return by a newly aggressive colonial government, Gandhi began a series of hunger strikes in protest of the treatment of India’s so-called “untouchables” (the poorer classes), whom he renamed Harijans, or “children of God.” The fasting caused an uproar among his followers and resulted in swift reforms by the Hindu community and the government.

In 1934, Gandhi announced his retirement from politics in, as well as his resignation from the Congress Party, in order to concentrate his efforts on working within rural communities. Drawn back into the political fray by the outbreak of World War II , Gandhi again took control of the INC, demanding a British withdrawal from India in return for Indian cooperation with the war effort. Instead, British forces imprisoned the entire Congress leadership, bringing Anglo-Indian relations to a new low point.

Partition and Death of Gandhi

After the Labor Party took power in Britain in 1947, negotiations over Indian home rule began between the British, the Congress Party and the Muslim League (now led by Jinnah). Later that year, Britain granted India its independence but split the country into two dominions: India and Pakistan. Gandhi strongly opposed Partition, but he agreed to it in hopes that after independence Hindus and Muslims could achieve peace internally. Amid the massive riots that followed Partition, Gandhi urged Hindus and Muslims to live peacefully together, and undertook a hunger strike until riots in Calcutta ceased.

In January 1948, Gandhi carried out yet another fast, this time to bring about peace in the city of Delhi. On January 30, 12 days after that fast ended, Gandhi was on his way to an evening prayer meeting in Delhi when he was shot to death by Nathuram Godse, a Hindu fanatic enraged by Mahatma’s efforts to negotiate with Jinnah and other Muslims. The next day, roughly 1 million people followed the procession as Gandhi’s body was carried in state through the streets of the city and cremated on the banks of the holy Jumna River.

Sign up for Inside History

Get HISTORY’s most fascinating stories delivered to your inbox three times a week.

By submitting your information, you agree to receive emails from HISTORY and A+E Networks. You can opt out at any time. You must be 16 years or older and a resident of the United States.

More details : Privacy Notice | Terms of Use | Contact Us