Indira Gandhi
- Category : Political
- Type : MGP
- Profile : 3/5 - Martyr / Heretic
- Definition : Single
- Incarnation Cross : RAX Contagion 4
Biography
Indira Priyadarshini Gandhi (November 19, 1917 – October 31, 1984) was an Indian politician who served as Prime Minister of India for three consecutive terms from 1966 to 1977 and for a fourth term from 1980 to 1984.
Born in the politically influential Nehru dynasty, she grew up in an intensely political atmosphere. Her grandfather Motilal Nehru and father Jawaharlal Nehru were prominent Indian nationalist leaders. While studying at Somerville College, University of Oxford, England during the late 1930s, she became a member of the radical pro-independence London based India League.
Returning to India in 1941, she became involved in the Indian Independence movement. In September, 1942 she was arrested by the British authorities and detained without a charge. She was ultimately released on 13 May 1943 having spent over 243 days in jail .
In the 1950s, she served her father unofficially as a personal assistant, while his tenure as India's first Prime Minister. After her father's death in 1964, she was appointed as a member of the Rajya Sabha by the President of India and became a member of Lal Bahadur Shastri's cabinet as Minister of Information and Broadcasting.
Indira Gandhi in popular culture
Although never mentioned by name, Indira Gandhi is clearly the prime minister criticized in A Fine Balance by Rohinton Mistry.
In Salman Rushdie's novel Midnight's Children, Indira is responsible for the eponymous characters' downfall, referred to throughout the novel as "The Widow." This portrayal of Indira Gandhi raised controversy in some circles for its harsh depiction both of her and of her policies.
In Shashi Tharoor's The Great Indian Novel, the villainous character of Priya Duryodhani clearly refers to Indira Gandhi.
Aandhi, a Hindi movie directed by Gulzar, is a partly fictionalized adaptation of some events in Indira's life. Particularly her (played by Suchitra Sen) estranged relationship with her husband (played by Sanjeev Kumar).
Mark Tully and Satish Jacob's "Amritsar - Mrs. Gandhi's Last Battle"
In Yann Martel's novel Life of Pi, Pi's parents criticized Indira Gandhi and remark that "she will pass" (lose power); Pi later remarks that she did "pass," but not in the way they expected.