 |
Site Map
| Discussion Topic |
In cultures where women are highly restricted, would educating them imporve thier social status?
Forum |
Related Pages
Countries
India
Links
Credits |
|
 |
Indira Gandhi
Indira Gandhi was born to Kamla and Jawaharlal Nehru on November 19, 1917. She graduated from Visva-Bharati University, Bengal and also matriculated at Oxford. In 1938 she became active in India’s independence movement and joined the National Congress party. When India won its independence in 1947 Jawaharlal, her father, then a widower, became prime mister of India. Gandhi accompanied him on trips and became his official hostess. In 1955 she was elected to the executive body of the Congress party. In 1959 she was elected president of the party. After her father’s death in May of 1964, Gandhi became minister of information and broadcasting. In January of 1966, the current prime minister, Lal Bahadur Shastri, died suddenly. Gandhi succeeded him as prime minister because it was thought that she would be easily manipulated.
Indira was a shrewd political leader who led her country to victory over Pakistan in 1971. However she could not defeat the over whelming poverty and sectarian violence. In 1975 she was found guilty of using illegal practices during her latest election campaign. She was ordered to resign. Her response was to declare a state of emergency. Her political adversaries were jailed and the press was censored. In1977 she felt she had defeated the opposition and held new elections. Her party lost. But three years later she returned as prime minister of India.
In 1984 Gandhi crushed a secessionist movement of Sikh militants. But in doing so one of the holiest Sikh temples was damaged. In November of that year she was assassinated by two of her own Sikh bodyguards. Indira Gandhi was the first female prime minister of India, and the only one to date. She was prime minister from 1966-77 and 1980-84.
|
 |
|
|
