Indira Gandhi – 1917 – 1984

Indira Priyadarshini Gandhi - Prime Minister

October 31st, came and went quietly, this year. The paper reminded me about the gruesome assassination that took place exactly 25 years ago. 31st Oct 1984, would have been just another day in history, but for the actions of two body guards, who though sworn to fulfill their duty to protect, chose to kill instead. She had a choice, she was warned, she also knew that there were several who wanted her dead. True to her spirit, or could be considered foolhardy in today’s world, she chose to keep her body guards even though, several followers of the Sikh faith were most unhappy with her decision to bombard the Golden Temple.

I still remember knowing about her death, late in the afternoon. The only television channel and radio service, both of them, then controlled by the government, had not put out any information. But before noon, it was quite clear that she was dead, the BBC radio service available but feeble in parts, were reporting about the assassination. The phones were ringing off the hook at our house, from friends and relatives, rumours and news spreading from far and wide. In far away Madras (now Chennai), reverberation were being felt. I was home, my early morning classes were done by 9, and my classes at the college were only in the evening. I rode my bike to a local market place (aminjikarai) to see if i could get the evening newspaper, with limited luck. By evening official news was being delivered by Doordharshan, about her death. The country was in mourning.

She was liked by thousands, many looked to her as goddess or mother, just as there were many who hated the ground she walked on and wouldnt shed a tear at this loss. She was killed because she chose to act, to cleanse a situation that she had fostered for a long time, but when she chose to do it, she was firm and also brutal. What started as political infighting, now was war, within the nation, and amongst its own people. Irrespective of all her faults, she truly believed that the Indians were unstoppable and helped instill a sense of pride in our minds. She also ruled the country during the most torturous times and many of her decisions good and bad are still having an impact on us today.

I believe there will never be another Indira Gandhi in India for a long time. There never was, even then, a person of this stature, who was able to bring the entire country together. She made stupid mistakes that most politicians make, thinking that power is endless and that people will never realize. But she also knew very clearly that her best rapport were with the same people. She won everytime she stood close to them and helped them, and lost when she moved away and let a coterie intervene.

To me, she remains a great person, the first politician i ever looked upto. The first images and realization of this person started with the 1971 war, but i was too small to associate her and victory. But it was during the period of emergency that she started to build on the impression. I guess all the hatred many people were spewing around, only endeared her closer to me. Defending her and the emergency became a constant part of my day to day life. In Madras, the impact of any emergency was minimal, but the positive effects of it numerous. The fiasco of a coalition, that began in 1977, proved that India at this time needed a strong leader like Indira. She did come back to power, voted in by the same people who rebelled against her, fed up with bickering and infighting at the highest office and seats of government. I mourned her death, unable to think what would happen to the country and its people. Looking back, it seemed we, India and Indians were poised for greater glory, to be build on a foundation laid by Indira Gandhi.