Biography

The Biography of Famous Personalities of India will tell you about the controversies, the dark sides of a person that you may have never heard of.

Indira Gandhi’s Declaration of Emergency

Declaration of Emergency

Indira Gandhi always gave priority to national interest and when this was involved, she never compromised. So in June 1975, Indira Gandhi was forced to declare a state of internal emergency in India which she thought would be beneficial to the national cause. It was all due to the opposition which was teaming up against Indira because of her growing popularity and these opponents were hurting the sentiments of people and had no thought for the country’s welfare.

At this juncture, Indira had no choice but to declare Emergency. She wanted to defeat the “forces of disintegration”….”Communal passions” that threatened the country. She told people in a broadcast that it was time for “unity and discipline” and she hoped that “people in towns and village will give us their full support so that the country will be strengthened.” During this period, fundamental rights were curtailed and the press was censored as Indira felt that the country needed a “dose of bitter medicine” to recover its health.

But she was wrong and her actions were not completely right. Although she declared emergency for the welfare of nation but it was misused and at lower level, the police did so much wrong to the people that the nation retaliated. Many opposition leaders including Jai Prakash Narain were arrested during this period. People were stunned by the action but due to strictness, their shouts reduced to mere whispers. The nation was in a state of shock as people thought that their freedom was curtailed.

On July 1, 1975, Indira announced the 20-point programme which laid stress on the Govt’s programme of assistance to landless, labourers, small and marginal farmers, artisans, slum- dwellers. Many policies of this programme were very useful for the good of the nation and Indira Gandhi designed this comprehensive programme so as to benefit the middle class and the unemployed; tax evaders, smugglers and law- offenders were subjected to punishment and bonded labour was declared illegal.

The first few days of the launching of this programmed proved very beneficial to people of the nation as corruption decreased, crimes against women declined, communal riots almost became negligible and prices came down. Every person became disciplined because of the fear of the police and the office-goers became punctual. All smugglers were put behind the bars and the general overall economic condition improved.

But the misuse of this programme led to her downfall. People slowly moved away from her and the ruthless treatment of the Govt, decreased her popularity among people and she became friendless, aloof and withdrawn. All her friends who were supportive of her, stamped her as being dictatorial.

Things didn’t work quite the way Indira Gandhi had intended. Done for the good of the people, her actions reversed and she was blamed by the people for being ruthless. Threatened by the people belonging to fanatic factions, she became fearful but she never disclosed her fears. Her confidence and moral strength stood by her throughout her life- during her Vanar Sean days and 1947 partition riots days and also during this period of emergency when some people were believed to have pledged to finish her off.

In this desperate time, she turned to her second son, Sanjay Gandhi for advice and support as her elder son Rajiv Gandhi was not interested in politics but depending on Sanjay was a big mistake as it is believed that Sanjay was behind the excesses done during Emergency.

Although from childhood, Sanjay Gandhi had shown the potential of an active person but his energy got diverted into wrong direction and as he grew up, he developed an aggrassive passion for getting things done. He would get restless, over enthusiastic to achieve his goal and the path which he used to take, was of no consequence. From Jan. 1976, Sanjay launched a 5-point programme tackling the issues of family planning, dowry and casteism but the biggest mistake of Indira Gandhi was to have blind faith in his immature ways.

She thought that she would tame him but she was wrong and sadly she realised, too late, that his destructive energy had become uncontrollable. Sanjay was President of the Youth Congress and taking advantage of his position, he enforced family planning measures so strictly that people were afraid of his high-handedness and this eventually led to Indira Gandhi’s defeat in 1977 elections.

The Biography of Famous Personalities of India will tell you about the controversies, the dark sides of a person that you may have never heard of.

Indira As Prime Minister After Elections Using Nuclear Power For Peace

As Prime Minister After Elections

Between 1971 and 1977 two important happenings marked her term as the Prime Minister. One was the birth of Bangladesh and the other was imposition of National Emergency. In Aug.1971, Indira signed a 20-year treaty of peace, friendship and co-operation with U.S.S.R. After this to clarify her stand, she toured U.S.A. and a few European countries to explain the horroble condition of the refugees who had fled from East Pakistan and had flooded Eastern India.

Indira made U.S.A. and other countries understand the “tragic and agonizing plight” of the refugees. At a speech delivered in Calcutta on Dec.3, she clarified, “I do not want war. I earnestly desire peace. I will be the last person to start a war. But if a war is thrust upon us, we are prepared to fight in defence of our freedom and our ideals. Even Prime Minister Nehru, who was a passionate believer in peace, knew that a nation has sometimes to use force to defend what it cherishes most.”

In this way Indira defended herself in supporting East Pakistan and fighting a war against West Pakistan for a free Bangladesh. The war lasted for an entire year and in the end although being helped by U.S.A. and China, Pakistan declared cease-fire and Bangladesh emerged a free nation. Although the war was won by India, but Indira Gandhi was in favour of peace, so she tried to maintain amicable relationship with Pakistan.

Thus Indira kept her priorities by upgrading India’s defence technology and this came to the fore when she dealt with the Pakistan War- she gave India a great military victory. Indira was conferred with “Bharat Ratna” by the President V. V. Giri. In March 1972, Prime Minister Sheikh Mujibur Rahman signed a joint treaty to safeguard peace, security and integrity of the subcontinent through joint efforts.

Using Nuclear Power For Peace

The Pakistan war proved that the strength of country depended upon advancement in science and technology. Thus Indira Gandhi gave much importance to science and technology and used it in upgrading the defence machinery. She was in favour of peaceful use of nuclear energy and was against the misuse of science-“Science is very important and it has brought a better life ………….. But we are using it for destruction. And those countries which have more money,
India successfully demonstrated her first peaceful nuclear explosion at Pokhran in Rajasthan on May 18,1974. But Indira Gandhi clarified, “We have no intention to make nuclear weapon we want to make the desert bloom and not to make the world a desert.”

One of the most important achievements in the field of nuclear science was launching of India’s first space satellite “Aryabhatta” with the help of Soviet carrier system and was designed by the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO). It was launched on April 19,1975.

In August, India launched the SITE-SatelIite Instructional Television Experiment- Programme which helped in taking television to the villages through Satellite. In Feb. 1977, India’s second Earth Satellite Communication Station was inaugrated by Indira Gandhi at Dehradun which felicitated Overseas Communication. On July 18, 1980, the second experimental satellite launch vehicle SLV-3, putthe35-Kg. Rohini satellite into a 90-minute orbit around the earth which was a very great achievement.

Indira Gandhi dedicated this national satellite system to peace and service of the people. Thus she imaginatively and spiritedly improved India’s Nuclear Science department and although using nuclear power for peace purposes, she went on to strengthen the nation’s defence declaring that “the people of India, no doubt are peace-lovers, but will meet aggression with fortitude and determination, and with discipline and utmost unity.”

The Biography of Famous Personalities of India will tell you about the controversies, the dark sides of a person that you may have never heard of.

Indira Emerging As A Winner In 1971 Election

Indira Emerging As A Winner In 1971 Election

Indira’s growing popularity and her fearless functioning caused uneasiness among the opposition and they were determined to remove her. All other parties- the business community, right-wing politicians-joined hands with Congress (O). They started questioning her motives and her decisions but Indira did not falter. She possessed the qualities of bravery and fearlessness and these qualities made her a determined person, faced wide criticism but she did what she believed to be right.

Being an observant person, she realised the crisis and understood her weakness. She belonged to minority government which was dependent on the support of Left parties, so she decided to link herself directly to people. She led people to believe that national interest reigned supreme with her and her dictates and fearless actions as the Prime Minister made people sure that she was the only “man” in the cabinet.

She clearly told the people of India that “Congress is very dear to me….because I was born in the Congress. There was no time when my home was not the centre of all the major political movements.”

When she was quite sure that the people were with her, she directed the President to dissolve the Lok Sabha and to announce fresh elections to be held in February, 1971. The opposition fiercely campaigned against Indira and urged people to remove her. She was called ‘dictator” or a “rebel” by opposition. Yet Indira faced these charges with complete calm and “Fear” was a word that had no place in her scheme of things.

She told people that she had an intense feeling for her country and welfare of its people always remained deep down in her mind. She made it clear that to remove poverty would be her priority after winning the elections. The masses were touched by her simplicity and humility and as a result she won the elections by a two-third of majority. Thus Indira Gandhi became more confident, gracious and dynamic after elections.

The Biography of Famous Personalities of India will tell you about the controversies, the dark sides of a person that you may have never heard of.

Nehru’s Death & Indira’s Development In Politics As Prime Minister

Nehru’s Death & Indira’s Development In Politics

On May 27, 1964, Jawaharlal Nehru passed away leaving the nation and Indira stunned and full of grief. His death created a vacuum in India and also caused a sense of deep loss in other countries of the world that supported Nehru’s way of working. Indira was now left only with her two sons and no immediate relative whom she could call her own. Her father who had been her close friend, philosopher, and guide, was no more but still as “great minds don’t get disheartened easily”, Indira also went ahead to serve her country and also to bring up her children with full dedication.

Lai Bahadur Shastri became the next Prime Minister of India on June 9. He was a sincere statesman with the right political instincts. Indira became the Minister of Information and Broadcasting in his Cabinet. Indira continued to perform her duties with sincerity and determination.

In 1965, September, Pakistan attacked India and the war lasted for 22 days. Lai Bahadur Shastri faced the enemy with courage and taking a major decision, he gave the army a free hand. Due to timely intervention by U. Thant, the Secretary General of UNO, and the Security Council, a cease fire was declared on September 23, 1965. Shastriji signed the Tashkent Agreement with President Ayub Khan of Pakistan on Jan. 10.

Indira Gandhi, during war, served wounded soldiers with full devotion. While the people of India were eager to welcome. Shastriji from Tashkent, the worst happened—the news of his sudden death came. The nation was again grief-stricken. The history of India took another turn and the Congressmen realised that Indira was the only choice after Shastriji and so she was elected leader of the Congress Parliamentary Party.

Indira Gandhi’s Tenure As Prime Minister of India

On Jan. 24, 1966, Indira Gandhi was sworn in as the Prime Minister of India. Indira accepted her new role with dignity and optimism. She was the first woman Prime Minister of India. Although she was accepted wholeheartedly by politicians, diplomats, laymen but she faced opposition also. Still she did not falter and her will power kept her going.

Her confidence and moral strength stood by her through out her life. Indira had a tremendous energy that seemed to flow from within her. When she became Prime Minister, she made her role very clear that, “I don’t think myself as a woman when I do my job. According to the Indian Constitution all citizens are equal, without distinction regarding sex, language or state. I am just an Indian and first servant of the country, “desh-sevika.”

After becoming Prime Minister, she made it very clear that every individual had to work hard in building a dynamic India and peace and stability were foundations upon which the nation’s progress rested. At that time, although India had completed twenty years of Independence, there was much to be done. India was going through a crucial phase.

Power generation, irrigation, agriculture, education-there was no improvement in any field. The economic crisis was the biggest issue. Indira ardently promoted the Green Revolution and helped agriculture with many inputs. Those included modern agricultural machinery, tested scientific techniques of farming, better seeds, fertilizers and more improved cropping patterns.

This transformation in agriculture was very important for India’s economic growth. Indira had deep concern for the minorities and deprived groups. In order to benefit the masses, she changed the basic strategies and favoured massive investment in the public sector. According to her, poverty could be removed only by making the economy self-reliant and self-generating.

On July 19, she took an important decision of nationalizing the fourteen commercial banks. She explained her move as a necessity at that time as she wanted banking to reach the doorstep of the masses. By this decision, the small farmers, the cottage industries, the small entrepreneurs and self-employed persons were greatly benefitted.

Indira Gandhi faced polls in 1967 and following the success in the general elections to the Lok Sabha in Feb., she became the Prime Minister on March 12, 1967. Dr. Zakir Hussain became the President of India. When it came to the manner of functioning, she was very determined and quick in taking decisions. She was firm while tackling matters related to national interests and she would not compromise at any cost. She divided Punjab into two separate states-Punjab and Haryana which delighted Sikhs but Hindi speaking people revolted. Ignoring this outburst, she went ahead boldly and confidently.

She also granted statehood to Himachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Manipur and Tripura, and Mizoram was given independent power after being separated from Assam. She took many more daring decisions proving the opposition people wrong who called him “goongi gudiya” (dumb doll).

Soon after becoming the Prime Minister, she travelled widely to many countries like France, U.S.A., U.K. and U.S.S.R., Yugoslavia, U.A.E. (United Arab Emirates). These trips were very effective in making India’s position clear. India started emerging not as a poor nation unable to feed its millions, but as a proud and self-reliant nation whose people were very hard-working.

Indira always supported the cause of the poor and developing nations. In late 1967, she toured Sri Lanka and attended Golden Jubilee Celebrations of the October Revolution in Moscow. She also visited Brazil, Chile, Argentina and Venezuela. On Oct.14, she addressed the General Assembly of the United Nations. She liked the working of U.N.O., as she felt that it was a good platform for meeting of the different countries to tackle their problems.

On the death of Zakir Hussain on May 3, 1969, Neelam Sanjeeva Reddy was nominated by Congress as its official candidate in the Presidential election but Indira Gandhi supported V. V. Giri as an alternative. She wanted a person who would always give her a free hand. The Presidential election took place and V. V. Giri won and emerged as the fourth President of the Republic of India in Aug., 1969. This caused split in Congress-one old Congress and the other New or the Ruling Congress. This proved a turning point for Indira Gandhi which again strengthened her position.

Earlier before independence, our nation was divided into 500 and more native states, but due to the sincere efforts of Sardar Patel, whole India was integrated but the ex-rulers enjoyed the same privileges and privy purses provided by the government. Indira Gandhi was fiercely against this as it caused great rift between rich and poor people and as our constitution had given equal status to all, she envinced a deep concern for the minorities and the down trodden people.

After getting two-third support in the Parliament, she introduced the Bill abolishing this practice and in Aug.1970, the Bill was passed by the Lok Sabha but it failed in Rajya Sabha. But determined as she was, she got a Presidential acceptance of this Bill and V. V. Giri issued a proclamation of de-recognisation of privy purses.

The Biography of Famous Personalities of India will tell you about the controversies, the dark sides of a person that you may have never heard of.

Indira Actively Taking Part In Politics and Hostess To Father

Indira Actively Taking Part In Politics

On January 30, 1948, Mahatma Gandhi was shot dead, Indira Gandhi was greatly moved as she was quite close to him and had followed him in her earlier days in politics.

India became a sovereign democratic republic and the constitution was adopted on Jan. 26, 1950. Vallabh Bhai Patel who used to help Jawaharlal in controlling and handling the government died in 1950. It was a great setback for Jawaharlal Nehru but Nehru controlled the government with much authority and diligence. Indira Gandhi assisted him and accompanied him on foreign tours. She was a member of the executive board of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO).

This was a great exposure for her as she used to meet foreign visitors on her own and used to deal with them intelligently. She was very much interested in politics, “I was passionately interested in politics from early childhood.” She said and her whole life was shaped amidst political influences-Motilal, Gandhiji, Jawaharlal. She had been absorbed by politics although she had been warned by her father that it was hard life and something that one would not wish for one’s child. But Feroze encouraged her to participate in politics actively.

Hostess To Father

Initially Indira used to spent half the days of the month in Lucknow and half in Delhi but the situation was quite demanding and she felt miserable to see her father, Jawaharlal Nehru, the Prime Minister of India, lonely and dependent on servants. Luckily, Feroze was elected a member of the Constituent Assembly and he also moved to Delhi. She took charge of the Prime Minister’s house and she performed her duties diligently-preparing of menus for the guests, giving the wages to the servants and looking after the pets.

All kinds of people used to come to Teen Murti Bhawan, it was open house to one and all and Indira used to deal with all types of people. It was physically impossible for Jawaharlal to meet and talk to each of them, so Indira used to meet many of the persistent visitors and tried to sort out their problems. Every day she listened to the woes of the refugees and Indira’s listening to them gave it hope and peace of mind to the helpless, who felt that there was someone who cared for them.

In dealing with staff, she showed an unmistakable human touch. She provided them decent accommodation and also got a classroom built on the grounds of Teen Murti Bhawan for their children. In early 1950, when people were told to take interest in harvesting and the campaigns of “grow more food” and “grow your own vegetables” were launched, Indira also converted front and back lawns into vegetable gardens and with lot of care and love, she grew vegetables and wheat which was later distributed among the servant and staff.

This reflected her love for nature and her quality of caring and concern. She also organised a group of social workers and gradually got involved in the activities of Social Welfare Board. In September 1954, she founded the Bal Bhawan and the Children’s National Museum at Teen Murti Bhawan.

She inherited quite a few qualities from her father-one being a quality of being a visionary. She also like her father “had a vision that this is the sort of India that has to be built” and then she tried to lay the foundation of that India. She also learnt the habit of taking down notes from her father. This made her way of working very systematic.

Indira As Mother

Indira Gandhi was very fond of her sons. Although she had little time for them but she firmly believed that quality time was much more important than quantity time. She gave her sons guidance and sense of security. She was of the opinion that,” Much of the burden falls on the mother, who must help the child develop self discipline and strengthen his character.

Real love is not that which gives in to the child’s whims but which can also discipline and teach whenever necessary.” Rajiv and Sanjay were widely different in their personalities. While Rajiv was shy and introvert, Sanjay was bold, demanding and extrovert. Indira knew that each child had different personality and he had to be dealt in specific manner. As her own childhood was lonely, she was determined to attend to her children and give them her affection and company. She was iittle free only when both her sons, as they grew older, were sent to boarding at Dehradun.

Indira Entered Politics

She always remained in her father’s eternal shadow and accompanied her father to various countries and was impressed by her father’s crowning achievements. Going to different places gave Indira not only a good background of world affairs but an experience in dealing with varied subjects and situations. Slowly she became very much interested in politics and became a member of the Congress Working Committee in February 1955.

For Indira, this was only a beginning and there was no turning back. She, wholeheartedly, got involved in politics. On February 2, 1959, she was unanimously elected the President of the Indian National Congress. As the President, she showed courage and proved her worth. Se took initiative in dismissing Kerala Government because of its unpopularity among people.

Although Jawaharlal was a bit reluctant in imposing President rule in Kerala Indira Gandhi insisted and Namboodiripad Ministry in Kerala was dismissed and fresh general elections took place in 1960. She held the post only for 11 months but during this short span, her accomplishments brought her praise even from Jawaharlal who said, “I am proud of her good nature, proud of her energy and work, and proud of her integrity and truthfulness.”

Indira suffered a great loss in 1960 when her husband, Feroze Gandhi died. Her whole being was shaken as she was very much attached to her husband who always stood by her through thick and thin. But very effectively, she overcame her grief and got busier in politics which helped her to take her mind away from personal grief. In a letter to her friend she wrote, “I feel lost and empty and dead and yet life must go on” This shows her willpower and fearlessness, and confidence that the good would prevail in the end.

In the following years, she travelled to various countries and in 1961, she went to Yugoslavia with Jawaharlal to attend the first Non-Aligned Conference held at Belgrade. In October 1962, the Chinese attacked India. Jawaharlal along with Defence Minister Krishna Menon worked hard to boost the armed forces and also to bring about peace.

Indira showed rare courage during the month-long war and she travelled to Tezpur, Assam, alone in the end of 1962 to assure Assamese that they were not left uncared for. When she reached Tezpur, a cease-fire was declared and she supervised the cease-fire. The Chinese invasion shattered Jawaharlal’s confidence and slowly his health started declining. His popularity also suffered because of the China attack.

The Biography of Famous Personalities of India will tell you about the controversies, the dark sides of a person that you may have never heard of.

Indira Gandhi’s Marriage, First Arrest and India Attaining Independence

Marriage

After Kamala’s death, Indira went to London to learn the classics. Feroze was there too and here the friendship deepened to love. Indira went to Oxford to study Modern History and finally she said ‘yes’ to Feroze Gandhi but one of the stumbling blocks to this marriage was the fact that Feroze Gandhi was not a Hindu but a Parsi.

Jawaharlal Nehru was a bit reluctant in agreeing but Indira Gandhi was a confident and bold woman, one who did not make up her mind in a hurry but once she did, would rarely be swerved from her intentions. In the end, there was no way Jawaharlal was going to hurt the daughter he loved with so much intensity and Indira and Feroze were married on March 16, 1942 on Ramnavmi day.

Her First Arrest

On Aug 8, 1942 Mahatma Gandhi gave a call to the nation to “do or die” for freedom and Congress passed “Quit India” Resolution and almost all the national leaders were arrested. Nehru was arrested at the Fort at Ahmednagar in Maharashtra. Indira Gandhi’s teens were spent watching both her parents on the political trail, so she developed a sense of nationalism for her country.

From that very moment, it was not for Indira to lead the life of typical Indian bashful brides sheltered by the cloister of marriage. She and her husband were arrested in connection with the Quit India Movement. Indira Gandhi was treated badly during her stay in prison and this hardened her physically and mentally. She was released after thirteen months.

Birth of Children And India Attaining Independence

Her first son, Rajiv Gandhi was born on August 20,1944. At that time, Jawaharlal, as usual, was in jail and he was sent a list of about twenty options, from which he, as a head of the family, might choose the name of his first grandson. Jawaharlal chose Rajiv, a Sanskrit word for “Lotus”, Indira added another name: Ratna, meaning “Jewel”. The full name, then, was Rajiv Ratna Gandhi, popularly known only as Rajiv Gandhi.

The Second World War came to an end, and in 1945, the Labour party came to power in Britain. Prime Minister Clement Atlee proclaimed that a Cabinet Mission would visit India to workout proposals for complete freedom. Negotiations with the Cabinet Mission dragged and dragged and finally, by 1946, the British agreed to leave India.

In March 1947, because of growing tensions between Hindu and Muslim communities, the transfer of power took place and Jawaharlal Nehru was installed as interim Prime Minister of India. Though no Congress leader was ready to accept the partitioning of the country, but on Aug.15,1947, India and Pakistan came into existence, San jay Gandhi, Indira’s second son, was born in Dec. 1946 and when India became independent, Mahatma Gandhi told Indira to move over to areas affected by communal riots, Indira did not say no.

She had a small baby with her and it was dangerous but being strong willed lady and very courageous, she moved to the worst hit areas and worked there from morning till evening. She was greatly influenced by Mahatma Gandhi’s ways of maintaining rapport with illiterate and simple people. She herself wanted to mingle with the masses of the country. From childhood, she was exposed to intellectuals, poets and powerful activists, but she had an innate desire to meet people, explore the arts and investigate a life of the mind.

This nature helped her in later life when she became leader of the masses as the Prime Minister of India. She worked hard with Gandhiji and other leaders for the restoration of peace after freedom. Speaking on freedom, Indira told in an interview with B.B.C., two decades later that: “It was such a powerful experience that I think I was numb. You know when you go to extreme of pleasure or pain, there is numbness. Freedom was just so big a thing that it could not register, it seemed to fill all of you and all your world.”

Feroze Gandhi and Indira were residing at Lucknow as Feroze was a member of Parliament but after Jawaharlal became Prime Minister of India, Indira Gandhi moved to Delhi to assist her father. She had to take care of her two children but being a strong willed lady, she managed to look after her husband and two children and also she worked hard as an assistant to the Prime Minister. In this scheme of things, she could even find time for social work. She worked hard for the child welfare and was connected to many committees.

The Biography of Famous Personalities of India will tell you about the controversies, the dark sides of a person that you may have never heard of.

Introduction, Childhood, Education and Important Incidents of Indira Gandhi

Introduction

Indira Gandhi was the first and so far the only woman Prime Minister of India. She was one of the greatest women of her time. Her life started with an unending quest to achieve something as is said by someone that “Great minds have purposes others have wishes”. She was indeed the most dedicated lady having a commendable personality and leadership qualities.

There are so many examples in this book which would reflect the different aspects of her nature and her individuality. Her daring attitude reflected the vigour that made her stand and excel in the Indian society which is generally dominated by male counterparts.

Childhood And Education

Indira Gandhi was born on November 19, 1917 at Allahabad in Ananda Bhavan. She was the only daughter of Jawaharlal Nehru and Kamala Nehru. She belonged to a very respected and highly qualified family.

Her grandfather, Motilal Nehru, was a famous advocate and was a well known figure of Northern India. Swaroop Rani was Indira’s grandmother and was a god-fearing lady. Her father, Jawaharlal Nehru was well-educated and was the member of Indian National Congress. Her mother also participated in the Nationalist Movement. When Indira Gandhi was born, she was loved by each and every member of Ananda Bhavan, being the only child in the family. Even Sarojini Naidu, the Nightingale of India and close friend of family, was very delighted and sent a telegram which read “new soul of India is born, congratulations!”

Indira Gandhi was nicknamed Indu by her father. She was brought up in a princely manner, dressing up expensively and playing with the most expensive toys. Her grandfather Motilal Nehru was at the peak of his legal career at that time so she was provided with the best education. But the state of India was pathetic. India was being ruled by Britishers, who came to India for trade but took hold of everything and started’ruling India. The people of India were suffering.

Under the tyrannical rule of Britishers, they were forced to lead a painful life and violence was inflicted upon them by the foreign rulers who were indifferent to their sorrows.

At that time, India was politically inactive. No one was able to rebel against authority. Lack of courage and fear made people timid and without any clear aim to free their country from the clutches of British people. There was no one to motivate people and guide them properly. At that time Mahatma Gandhi had just returned from South Africa where he had fought for poor people and succeeded.

He suffered at the hands of Britishers who humiliated him calling him “Black” and comparing him with the dogs. He decided to start freedom movement in India. Jawaharlal Nehru met Mahatma Gandhi in 1916 at the Lucknow session of the Indian National Congress and he was so much impressed by his power over mind and body, that he became his follower. Being a man of convictions, Jawaharlal Nehru believed in the power of Mahatma Gandhi to help India attain the freedom.

So he joined Congress which was the only mass-based organisation of India fighting for the cause of people. Motilal Nehru wanted his son to become barrister. It so happened that Rowlett Bill was passed that strengthened the government to arrest anybody anywhere on the basis of suspicion. This made people angry and Congressmen protested everywhere in India.

Public meetings in protest were being held in every nook and corner of country and the British government was furiously suppressing such demonstrations with lathi charge and firings. In April 1919, a public meeting was being held in Jalianwalan Bagh in Amritsar when General Dyer, a ruthless British General, blocked the entrance of the walled garden by stationing troops at the gate.

He issued shooting orders. Being the only entrance, no one was allowed to escape and this created commotion. The army fired non-stop for 10 minutes killing and injuring hundreds of people. Motilal Nehru was so horrified and stunned by this incident that he gave up all his riches and from the life of luxury and comforts, the whole family started leading life of austerity. This incident indeed changed the life of Indira Gandhi as she, for the first time, started facing hardships and developed the virtue of perseverance which had very positive effect on her later life.

Indira Gandhi was very close to her mother who was a lonely yet courageous lady adapting herself to the environment in which she had to bring up her daughter alone as Nehruji had became so committed to the cause of India’s freedom that he had little time for his daughter. Indira Gandhi’s fondness for her mother grew when she started suffering from poor health.

She was admitted to one sanatorium after another and in the end, she died at the age of 37 years. On Kamala’s death, Mahatma Gandhi wrote a note to Indira praising Kamala Nehru having rare qualities and wished that all these qualities would be transferred to Indira Gandhi in equal measure. He blessed her with long life to fulfill her commitments and carve her virtues.

For the next five years, Indira was a lonely soul. She could not be properly ’ educated because of her mother’s ill health and she changed schools so many times that it was very difficult for her to keep track of her studies. In 1923, she was admitted in a school in Allahabad. In 1926, she went to Switzerland and studied in Geneva and Berne. After that, again she came back to Allahabad and studied in St. Mary’s Convent in Allahabad.

Though her education was not systematic, still she was determined to live up to the expectations of her father. She took up Western education to broaden her horizon. She was also taught so many things by the letters wrote to her by her father jawahar Lal Nehru from Jail. He wrote thirty letters on history and other aspects of life. Through his letters he told her to be courageous and also have strong character as character was the foundation upon which all else was built. He advised her not to hide anything as hiding arouses fear and insecurity which destroys one’s potential arid ability.

Important Incidents Affecting Her Childhood

There are so many incidents in the life of Indira Gandhi that left a great impact on her. Once it so happened that both Motilal and Jawaharlal Nehru were arrested and were fined Rs. 500. Since they did not pay the fine, the police took most of the expensive articles for auctioning. Little Indira felt so bad and helpless that she started fighting with Police.

This incident aroused so much hatred against Britishers in little Indira that she resolved to always fight the evil in future. She converted her anger into resolutions. When she was twelve years old, as she was not allowed to work for Congress because she was quite young, she started her own organisation called “Vanar-Sena”. She was able to gather six thousand children in the very first meeting.

At that age also, she had pleasing personality to convince people and leadership quality to make people follow her. The organisation used to do small duties like writing notices, serving water, cooking and carrying messages etc. She knew that “The price of greatness is responsibility.” She was ready to accept responsibility and she was taught by her family that “our first responsibility is to the community.”

Once when Mahatma Gandhi gave nation a call to boycott foreign goods, Indira Gandhi also stopped wearing foreign clothes as the elders of the family were also following the suit. As she was the only child in Ananda Bhavan, she used to play with dolls. One day one relative mocked at her saying that if she had discarded foreign clothes, she should also get rid of foreign dolls.

Although Indira Gandhi was emotionally attached to her doll, but still she was so much committed to the cause that she burnt her doll. She was depressed but at the same time she was satisfied that she had contributed though in small way, to the great cause of freedom.

The incident clearly reflects her dedication towards her country.

Indira’s childhood had been unique. The emotional security of the great love of her parents juxtaposed with the insecurity of their absence. Father was always in prison or on the move; Mother was increasingly bedridden. Loneliness became a part of her life.

This loneliness made her draw towards Feroze Gandhi who was warm hearted and friendly. He first proposed to Indira when she was sixteen before she was sent to Shantiniketan but she turned him down. She went ahead to join Shantiniketan founded by famous Nobel Poet Rabindranath Tagore. There she was very popular among students and Rabindranath Tagore considered her as an asset to the Shantiniketan.

The Biography of Famous Personalities of India will tell you about the controversies, the dark sides of a person that you may have never heard of.

Change In The Warring Circumstances and Martyrdom of Subhashbabu

A Change In The Warring Circumstances

The British and the American governments increased their supply of military, weapons, aircraft, etc. to a large extent on the Asian front. The troops of the Azad Hind Fauj started facing a scarcity of weapons, supplies and resources. The monsoons began early. So, the soldiers in Imphal and Kohima did not get adequate provisions, and had to survive on the flowers and grass they found in the forests.

About four thousand Indian soldiers lost their lives due to various battles, hunger and natural calamities. In these circumstances, the troops of the Azad Hind Fauj were forced to retreat from Motok, Kohima, Tamu and Palel.

Germany was defeated on 7th of May 1945, and the war in Europe ended. The American and the British military took over Rangoon and Burma. America bombed two cities of Japan, Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and made brought Japan to its knees. The Azad Hind Fauj disintegrated. The Second World War came to an end.

The Contribution of The Azad Hind Fauj

The Azad Hind Fauj formed by Subhashbabu did not succeed in its aim of making India a free country, but they definitely made the national and local Indian situation an international issue. The recognition that Netaji’s government received from nine countries was a significant achievement.

The strong fight given by the troops of the Azad Hind Fauj against the British military at different places on the (Burmese) border, proved that Indian soldiers were filled with patriotic fervour. Most importantly, the Azad Hind Fauj was an example of communal unity.

The Azad Hind Fauj proved the fact that any foreign government that wishes to rule over a country, cannot depend for very long on its military might. The soldiers of Azad Hind Fauj developed a political awareness and a nationalistic fervour among the Indian people.

The Martyrdom of Subhashbabu

Subhashbabu and his colleague, Abib-ur-Rehman, departed from Singapore to Tokyo with a high-ranking Japanese official. The aircraft reached the Taipei airport of Taiwan on 18th August 1945. However, when the aircraft started to take off on the same day from Taipei, it caught fire. Subhashbabu and Abib-ur-Rehman jumped out of the aircraft, but were very badly burned, and were admitted in a Japanese military hospital. Subhashbabu passed away on the same night (18th August 1945).

Subhashbabu may have passed away, but he still remains alive in the hearts of his fellow countrymen. His brave and courageous life, and his sacrifice will always be remembered as inspirational in Indian history. His life was like a shining light. His character contained the qualities of patriotism, simplicity, service, sacrifice and kindness right from his childhood. The many incidents in his life give us glimpses of these characteristics.

The last words of this passionate and enthusiastic patriot were: “This is my proud message to my countrymen: I have lived as a warrior, and I am dying as a hero fighting for the freedom of my Motherland. I have never looked back from my bold actions. Not a drop of blood of martyrs is ever wasted. Jai Hind!”

Subhashbabu’s martyrdom was not in vain. India attained freedom shortly after his death.

Inquiry Into His Death

Indians were suspicious about the declaration of the death of Subhashbabu by the Japanese. The Azad Hind government too suspected this news. So, a committee was formed under the leadership of Azad Hind Fauj’s Captain Shahnawaz Khan to inquire into the demise of Subhashbabu. All the members of the committee found the Japanese report valid – except for one member: Sureshchandra Bose, Subhashbabu’s elder brother.

Suresh Chandra Bose expressed disbelief in his report, stating that the members of the committee had not visited the Taipei airport where the accident took place, nor met the other officers on the aircraft who had survived the fire. The local people were also not asked about the accident. Therefore there is a difference of opinion regarding the validity of the report of his death.

A highly placed official of independent India, Satyanarayan Sinha, visited the site of the accident some years after the incident. He interviewed an official who was present at the time of the accident. The official stated that no accident had taken place at the Taipei airport on 18th August 1945. Many people who were interrogated also answered similarly.

Sinha investigated further. According to the report he had received, the aircraft which had carried Netaji had reached Dariyan (Manchuria) half an hour after leaving the Taipei airport. During this time, the Russians had captured Dariyan city. Therefore, Netaji remained hidden in Dariyan. When the Russians found him out, they thought he was a Japanese supporter and was therefore sent to Siberia. There is no further information about what happened to him in Siberia.

Sinha published his report in The Hindustan Standard, a Calcutta newspaper, in April 1965. However, this report too needs proof and evidence.

After attaining independence, the Indian government appointed committees in 1956 and in 1977 to inquire into the demise of Subhashbabu. Both these committees reported that Subhashbabu had died in the accident. But both these had had no communication or contact with the Taiwan government.

In 1999, a third committee was formed under the chairmanship of Manojkumar Mukherjee. During talks with this committee in 2005, the Taiwan government stated that there had been no accident involving an aircraft on the territory of Taiwan in August, 1945.

Finally, the Mukherjee committee submitted their report to the Indian government at the end of 2005. They stated that there was no evidence to prove that Netaji had died in an air crash or an aircraft accident. The Indian government refused to accept this report.

Recently, Subhashbabu’s great-nephew, Sugat Bose, published a book titled ‘His Majesty’s Opponent’. Many details about Subhashbabu and his photographs have been presented in this book for the first time. This book claims that the report of his demise in a Japanese military hospital due to major burns, is true. This book is well-known for its vivid description and presentation of Subhashbabu’s life, his thoughts and his work.

It is unfortunate that the mystery regarding the death of such a great freedom fighter of India is still unresolved.

The Biography of Famous Personalities of India will tell you about the controversies, the dark sides of a person that you may have never heard of.

Chandra Bose Departure From Germany and Azad Hind Fauj

Departure From Germany

Subhashbabu went to Vietnam to meet his wife and daughter, Anita. Germany was surrounded by clouds of war. Roadways and airways were unsafe. Germany prepared to send Subhashbabu to Japan. So he handed over the charge of the Indian troops to trustworthy people and departed from Germany. Hitler had arranged for him to leave by submarine.

Subhashbabu arrived at Keel Harbour with his companion, Abid Hassan. On the 8th of February 1943, he departed from the Keel port by a German submarine, U-190, for Japan. In order to avoid the British ships, the German submarine crossed the Atlantic Ocean and stopped at a pre-decided spot off the coast of Madagascar in the Indian Ocean. On the 28th of April, 1943, Subhashbabu and Abid Hassan were transferred from the German submarine to a Japanese submarine.

The submarine reached Sumatra, and from here, they went with the Japanese Colonel Pamamoto to Tokyo by flight on 13th June 1943.

The Azad Hind Fauj

At the meeting in Tokyo with Tojo, the prime minister of Japan, Subhashbabu was assured of Japanese military assistance against the British, as well as Japanese assistance in setting up an interim government in India. Both the leaders reached an amicable agreement regarding the working and status of the Azad Hind Fauj. Subhashbabu delivered a speech to the Japanese Parliament on 16th June 1943.

Subhashbabu reached Singapore on 2nd July 1943, where he was given a hearty welcome. Here, Rasbihari Bose declared Subhashbabu the president of the Indian Independence League and the chief of the Azad Hind Fauj at a meeting on 4th of July 1943 of the five thousand representatives of the thirty lakh Indians living in southern Asia. The Indians there gave him the title of Netaji. On Radio, Tokyo Subhashbabu declared his intention to oppose the British from the eastern border of India with armed forces. It was here that he gave his soldiers the slogan of ‘Chalo Delhi’. (Onwards, to Delhi !)

Subhashbabu re-structured the Azad Hind Fauj in July 1943. Mew soldiers were recruited in the Fauj. Different brigades were formed and their tasks assigned. A women’s brigade called Rani Laxmibai was formed under the leadership of Colonel Laxmi Swaminathan. The territories won by the Fauj were to be assigned to the Japanese military, according to the agreement.

On the 21st of October, 1943, in Singapore, an interim independent Indian government, the Arzi Hukumat- e-Azad Hind, was established amidst a crowd of thousands of Indians, with Subhashbabu as the Chief Prime Minister, Defence Minister of this government. This government was recognized by nine countries – Japan, Germany, Italy, the Republic of China, Siam, Burma, Philippines, Croatia and Manchuria.

The interim government declared Hindi as its language of communication, the Tricolour as its national flag, Jana Gana Mana as its national anthem and Jai Hind as its official greeting. The ministers of this interim government also declared war against Britain and America.

The Japanese military won control over the Andaman and Nicobar islands, and handed it over to the Arzi Hukumat- e-Azad Hind. Thus, the interim independent government of India won its first territory. These islands were named ‘Shahid’ and ‘Swarajya’. For purposes of convenience, the interim government declared Rangoon as its capital.

With the call to march towards Delhi, the Subhash brigade of the Azad Hind Fauj moved towards the Indian border. The first battalion fought a bloody and brutal war with the British and finally won control over the military troop at Motok on the Indian border.

The second and third battalions of Subhashbabu took over the control of Kohima, the capital of Nagaland, at the end of May 1944. The ‘Gandhi’ and ‘Azad’ battalions took over the control of Tamu, and of Palel near Imphal, which was an important military and air base.

The Biography of Famous Personalities of India will tell you about the controversies, the dark sides of a person that you may have never heard of.

The Secret Departure From India and Activities of Bose

The Secret Departure From India

With these thoughts, in order to give freedom to India and in order to ally with the countries against Britain in the war, Subhashbabu decided to escape from his house arrest and leave the country. Under the pretext of illness, he stopped eating during his house arrest. He started looking ill and grew a long beard.

He refused to meet anyone, and would not write letters to anyone. It was rumored that he wished to become a Sanyasi. The police too were informed that he wished to remain alone as he wanted to begin his spiritual journey.

On the 17th of January 1941, at one o’clock in the night, he escaped from his house with his nephew Shishirnath in the disguise of a Fathan. He went by road to Barai, near Dhanbad, where he stayed at Shishirnath’s elder brother, Ashoknath’s place. In the night, he went by car to the Gomah railway station and went to Peshawar by train. At this time, he was disguised as a Pathan and used the name of Mohammed Jiyauddin.

On the 26th of January, 1941, Shishirnath gave the news at Calcutta that Subhashbabu had escaped from house arrest.

In Peshawar

Subhashbabu’s close and trustworthy companion, Akbar, was with him at Peshawar. With the help of Akbar and a Forward Bloc member, Bhagatram, he hid and escaped across the border. Then he reached Kabul by road. A few days later, he used an Italian passport to reach Moscow. On the 28th of March, 1941, he took a flight and reached Berlin. Thus, his journey from Calcutta to Berlin was very adventurous.

Convinced that Britain’s problems were India’s opportunity, Subhashbabu went to make friends with the enemy of an enemy. He first went to Germany and then to Japan to hold talks of friendship with these nations. Break the shackles of slavery and sacrifice everything for the freedom of the nation, he is reported to have urged his fellow Indians in a talk on radio from Germany. His speech increased the enthusiasm of the listeners in India; people in India thus came to know that Subhashbabu was in Germany.

Activities In Berlin

Subhashbabu met the German foreign minister, Ribbentrop, in Berlin. There, he obtained permission to propagate ideas against the British on radio, and to form a military troop of Indian prisoners in Germany to fight for India’s freedom. However, the foreign minister did not permit the declaration of India’s independence by the Axis nations. So he met Hitler personally on 29th of May 1941 and had a long discussion with him. But Hitler too did not permit Subhashbabu’s appeal. It is interesting that Hitler too addressed Subhashbabu as ‘His Excellency’.

Before this meeting, Subhashbabu had established Indian troops In Rome and Paris, and had enrolled three thousand Indians in them. Germany attacked Russia on 22nd June 1941, and an opportunity arose to take Indian troops from Russia to India, but it did not materialize.

So Subhashbabu did not Find his stay in Berlin consequential. At this time, Japan was making significant progress in Asia, winning many wars, and Subhashbabu saw an opportunity to make attempts for India’s independence in south-east Asia. So he decided to go to Japan.

Activities In South-East Asian Countries

The lightning attack made by Japan resulted in their control of Malaya, Vietnam, Siam, Singapore, Indonesia and Burma by March, 1942. Under these circumstances, there was an idea afloat to form a central committee of Indians residing in foreign countries, with the assistance of Japan, in order to gain independence for India.

Under the leadership of a revolutionary leader, Rasbihari Bose, the Indians living in Japan gathered for an assembly at Tokyo on 28th of March 1942. Here, the Indian Independence League was established under the headship of Rasbihari Bose. It was also decided at this assembly to form the Azad Hind Fauj.

From 15th to 23rd of June, 1942, Japan formed the Azad Hind Fauj at Bangkok, comprising of the Indian prisoners of war which the Japanese had taken. Captain Mohansingh was appointed the chief of the Azad Hind Fauj. Subhashbabu was invited to this meet at Bangkok, and was also called to take up the command of the Azad Hind Fauj as well as the Indian Independence League.

The Azad Hind Fauj was officially formed on 1st September 1942.