Essay on Indira Gandhi – the Iron Lady of India

Last Updated on November 17, 2016

Indira Gandhi :

  • Indira Gandhi was born on 19th November, 1917 at Allahabad.
  • She is the daughter of Jawaharlal Nehru, the first Prime Minister of India.
  • She had two children, Rajiv Gandhi and Sanjay Gandhi.
  • Indira Gandhi is called the Iron Lady of India for her bold decisions in Indian Politics.
  • She was assassinated by one of her bodyguards on 31st October, 1984.

Indira Gandhi : (Short Essay)

Indira Gandhi was born on 19th November, 1917 at Allahabad. Her parents were Jawaharlal Nehru and Kamala Nehru. After her hometown education, she joined for university studies at Switzerland and England. The death of her mother, Kamala Nehru, in 1937 was a distressing moment in her life. Later, she married a Parsi, Feroze Gandhi, in 1941, despite opposition among conservative Hindus. She had two children, Rajiv Gandhi and Sanjay Gandhi.

Indira Gandhi : (Brief Essay)

Indira Gandhi alias Indira Priyadarshini Nehru is one of the greatest women politician in India. She was born on 19th November, 1917 at Allahabad. She was called Priyadarshini in her childhood days. As the only daughter of Jawaharlal Nehru, she got graduated in Visva-Bharati University at Bengal. She went to University of Oxford in England for higher studies.

How she entered politics

From her family line of father, Jawaharlal Nehru and her grandfather, Motilal Nehru, she was born with patriotic feelings. She has great interest with Gandhiji and was impressed by his views. She joined the National Congress party in 1938. She became actively involving in India’s independence movement. Soon after the prime minister posting of Nehru, she began experiencing politics. She took care of Nehru’s health and well-being. She also served as his confidante and accompanied on his official foreign trips. After the death of Nehru in 1964, she joined his Cabinet as the Minister of Information and Broadcasting. She became the first woman prime minister of India in 1966.

Her leadership

Indira Gandhi was known for her leadership skills. She had firm determination and strong will power. She was the woman behind defeating Pakistan in 1971. She also liberated East Pakistan, which was later renamed as Bangladesh. During her reign, she was convicted for violation of election laws and so declared an internal Emergency on 26th June, 1975. As a result, she got defeated in the 1977 elections. However, she made a great comeback in 1980 with a majority government.

Why Iron Lady

Her bold decisions during the prime minister term were greatly admired. In 1971 she took a drastic step to help East Pakistan and so promulgated war against then Pakistan. She imposed national emergency in 1975 because of her conviction. She made a move to suppress Sikh insurgents, which elicited hatred among Sikhs towards her. She was then assassinated by one of her Sikh bodyguards on 31st October, 1984.

“If I die a violent death as some fear and a few are plotting, I know the violence will be in the thought and the action of the assassin, not in my dying……!” – Indira Gandhi

“I am alive today; I may not be there tomorrow…I shall continue to serve until my last breath and when I die, I can say, that every drop of my blood will invigorate India and strengthen it.” – Indira Gandhi

“Even if I died in the service of the nation, I would be proud of it. Every drop of my blood… will contribute to the growth of this nation and to make it strong and dynamic.” – Indira Gandhi

Then and now, the country has not seen a great women leader like Indira Gandhi. She is always remembered as the greatest Indian woman leaders.