Indira Gandhi
Indira Gandhi was the daughter of Jawaharlal Nehru. She was the first woman Prime Minister of India. She was born on 19th November 1917.
Her family members participated in the Freedom Movement. She also took a pail in it. As her father and grandfather were frequently sent to jails, Indira spent her days alone. She was the only child of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru. The name Indira was chosen by her grandfather. Another name “Priyadarshani” was added to that name by her parents.
Indira’s schooling began in St. Cecilia School in Allahabad. In March, 1926, she went to Europe along with her parents and was educated at a school in Switzerland for some time. She came back to India and obtained an education in St. Mary Convent of Allahabad. After her matriculation, she was sent to Tagore’s Shantiniketan for the intermediate course. With her talents she impressed Rabindranath Tagore.
Indira accompanied her ailing mother Kamala Nehru to Switzerland for treatment. Kamala died there. Indira then went to Somerville College, Oxford. Unfortunately, she discontinued the course as she became ill for long. She came back to India in 1941. Her father was released from jail the same year. Indira married Feroz Gandhi in 1942. Feroz was a highly educated young boy of an aristocratic Parsi family in Allahabad.
Indira had a close involvement in the Freedom Movement. She had organised the Vanar Sena with a few thousand children of her own age. She also participated in the Non-co-operation Movement of Mahatma Gandhi in 1930. By 1946, she has become the mother of two sons Rajiv and Sanjay.
Indira became the President of the Indian National Congress in 1959 and continued it till her death. Feroz Gandhi died in 1960. After Jawaharlal’s death Lai Bahadur Sastri became the second Prime Minister of India. Indira became the Information and Broadcasting Minister, in Lai Bahadur’s Cabinet. Soon after Lai Bahadur Shastri’s death, Indira Gandhi, became the Prime Minister of India on 24th January, 1966.
Indira’s life was full of tragic events. Her mother died. Her husband died. Then her father died. She also lost her younger son Sanjay who died in a plane crash on June 23, 1980. In spite of her personal sufferings, she gave an efficient leadership to our country. India progressed in all spheres of life and acquired an international fame. In 1969, she moved to nationalise 14 major commercial banks.
During her term as the Prime Minister, many important events had happened. Our country became victorious in the Indo-Pak war in 1971. Indira Gandhi signed the historic Simila Pact with Pakistan. She sent them to Indian Expedition to the South Pole.
She was the leader of the Third World. She gave order for “Operation Blue Star” to liberate the famous golden Temple of Amritsar from the clutches of the terrorists. She became controversial after the Operation Blue Star. She was brutally killed by her own body guard on October 31, 1984. She became a martyr for her country. The whole world mourned her death.
