Indira Gandhi

On 103th birth anniversary of Indira Gandhi, we bring you an incident that contributed big time in making her political comeback.

Born on 19th November 1917, Priyadarshani Indira Nehru was Jawaharlals and Kamala Nehrus only daughter. Walking on her fathers footsteps Indira Gandhi became India’s third and first woman Prime Minister in 1966.

It was in the year 1977, when late Indira Gandhi lost her Lok Sabha election and for the first time, since Independence, people of India threw Congress out of power from the Centre.

The consequences of Emergency (1975-1977) came as a nightmare for Indiras political career. Just then, news broke out from Bihars Belchi village that few upper caste landowners had ruthlessly killed Dalits of the village.

Indiras heart was shattered but she saw an opportunity to have a comeback ? an incident that could possibility revive her political career ? and to show her compassion towards the poor. Indira wasted no time to reach out to the people who were in pain.

She was all set for Belchi. Looked like the sky was crying too, it was the month of July and the rain added more difficulties in Indiras path.

Mud on the roads, no transportation and even the flooded river couldn’t stop Indira from meeting the people. She first took a train, then a jeep and finally an elephant to reach the village to show them solidarity.

I’m not here to give a speech, I’m here to share the grief of the people; the rain can wait but I can’t, said Indira to a mob in Bihar.

The rain took over the roads; all Indira could see were muddy tracks. She marched forward unflinchingly.

No vehicle can go ahead; an elephant can be of use, said a local who saw Indira walking on waist-deep muddy track. ?Elephant it is then, replied Indira.

People lit their torches and came running towards Indira as she reached Belchi. The fire from those torches could remind India that the Iron Lady is not going to get bogged down.

She listened to the people, offered her condolences and empathised with them. People saw a mother, a protector in her. This gave Indira the break she was in need of.

Not in the Prime Minister’s office but to get back in people’s heart after all she did something, which no man could have thought of doing ? Emergency.

This incident gave Indira a larger than life projection in the hearts of Indians. She was back in power in Loksabha elections in 1980 with a whooping majority of 374 seats, result of which she again became the Prime Minister of India, for the final time.

At 67, her own bodyguards assassinated Gandhi in 1984.