negative
IndiraGandhiwasthemostcorruptpoliticiansofalltime.Herpoliticswassouglythattoremainin powerandstayasuncrownedqueenofIndiasheimposedemergencyin1977Shemadeextreme lawssuchasforciblevasectomyofmen(unmarriedyoungmenincluded)tocontrolpopulationof India.Shewasanawfulleaderandoneofthebiggestcriminalofalltimes.SheateawayIndia financiallyandalsocausedalotofmayhem.
WhenSikhsopposedherregime(inworldslargestdemocracy),sheturnedagainstSikhs.She attackedGoldentempleon6thjune,1984,codenamedas"operationbluestar",nonethelesstosay thatallsocalledsikhextremistswerecreatedduetoeffectsofherevilregime.Shewasgivenher due...showmorecontent...
Shefollowedpragmaticpoliciesandherrelationswiththeleadersofsuperpowerswerebasedupon coldcalculations.
WhenIndiraGandhicametothehelmofaffairs,thatwasabi–polarworld.Oneblocwasledbythe USandotherheadedbytheSovietUnion.TheColdWarwasatitsheight.Thenuclearracewason. Somerelicsofcolonialismandimperialismwerestillthere.Racialismwasprevalentinsomeparts. WorldpeacewasunderagravethreatInthecircumstancesIndiraGandhifollowedthepolicyof non–alignmentaslaiddownbyNehru.Verysoontheinternationalcommunityrecognisedherasa leaderwhowascommittedtofreedomandpeace.Herroleinthenon–alignedmomentwasduly recognisedattheSeventhConferenceNAMwhenshewaselecteditschairpersonin1983atNew Delhi.ThisConferencewasahistoricone.TheresolutionspassedattheConferencereflectedIndira Gandhi'sstatesmanshipandfar–sightednessHermostimportantcontributionintherealmofworld peacewastheshapingoftheNAM.Herableleadershipprovidedasmoothsailingforthe Conference.Italsoledtoabetterunderstandingofthecommonproblemsoffreedom,peaceand socialjusticeforthepeopleoftheThirdWorldItwasthroughthisConferencethatshemadea majorchunkofhumanityfeelimportantintheUN.Heresheplayedamoredynamicroleasaleader ofmankindintheinternationalarena.Herperformanceas
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WeekTen:ThisweeksanalysisonIndiraGandhihelpedmeunpackhersuccessesandfailures. Someofthemajorfailuresthatmygrouptalkedaboutwastheforcedsterilization,stateof emergency,religiousdivide,censorshipandcorruption.Themassforcedsterilizationwasultimate failureinmyeyesandasItalkedaboutprioramajorhumanrightsviolation.Interestingly,Indira GandhihadnogenderpolicyduringherreignOnewouldthinkthatawomenpoliticianwouldwant toaddresssomanyoftheproblemsthatplaguewomenonadailybasis.IfIwasawomeninIndia duringthetimewhereIndiraGandhicametopower,Iwouldhavebeendevastatedthatshewasnot interestedinimprovingwomen'srightsIndiraalsoreinforcedthereligiousdividewithinIndia, especiallyfortheSikhs.Sheendedupexacerbatingtensionsintheregion,whichultimatelyleadto herdemise.
Whileshedidhavealotoffailures,thisweeksclasshelpedbringtolightsomeofhersuccessesas wellPriortothisclassIonlyreallythoughtofherfailuresandevenduringclassmygrouphada hardtimecomingupwithanything.Ithinkherlackofcredentialsandhershort–sidednessmadeher illpreparedtobearuler.ThroughoutthisclassIbegantoadmireNehruandhisleadershipofIndia; however,withIndiraIfeltmyselfbeingangryanddisappointedwithherrulingstyle.
RajivGandhi'srisetopowerwasevenmoreabruptthanhismothersHewasevenlessqualified thanhis
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SagrikaGhosh'sbareknucklebiographyofIndiraGandhishowsthelifeandinsightsofthelifeof IndiraGandhi.SheisfondlyrememberedasDurgawhowonIndiaitsfirstdecisivemilitaryvictory incenturiesandthestrongstateswomanwhohadthecouragetolookattheAmericanbullyinginthe eyeandnotblink.Inthebeguile?storyofherlife,journalistSagrikaGhoshhasexcavatednotjust IndiratheironladyandpowerfuldictatorbutalsothefleshandbloodladyIthasbeen33years sinceshewasassassinatedbuttheshadowofIndiraGandhicontinuestoloomoverIndianpolitics. EventodaysheholdsonpublicimaginationasIndia'sfirstwomanPrimeMinister,thearchitectof themajormilitaryvictoriesandtheprimemoveoftheshowmorecontent
Shewritesobsessionwithhouseholdorder"overrodeher"intellectualscruplesoverdemocratic norms"cite.Indirawasobsessedwithmaintainingorderbothathomeaswellinpolitics.This dominatingattitudeisanintegralpartofherpersonality.Indira'srelationshipwithherfatherhas beenportrayedbeautifully.Ononehandwhereitwascomplicated.Sheadoredhimbutalsorebelled atthesametimeHerfatheralwayswantedhertobeapowerfulindependentwomanHewantedher tobehealthyandhetaughtherdifferentsportsbutIndirawassomeonewhowasalwaysunwelland cameoutasadisappointmenttoherfather.WhenNehruwasinjailhewouldwriteherlettersabout howsheshouldlearndifferentsportsanddoyogatostayfit.Hefeltthatillnessisasignofthe weak.LaterinlifewhenIndiradroppedoutofOxfordshecameasdisappointmenttoherfatherwho wasveryupsetatthisdecisionofherFurthermore,whenshedecidedtomarryFerozGandhi,Nehru rejecteditbecausehewasfromalowercasteandadifferentreligion.Also,therewererumorsof himbeingadrunkardandthismadeNehruthinkthatitwouldaffecthispoliticalcareer.The relationshipofIndiraandNehruwasclosebutnotverywarmand
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Inthecontemporaryworld,referencestodynastiesrefermoreoftentosportsteamsthantopolitical regimes.Yet,notlongagotwopoliticalleadersowedmuchoftheirrisetopoliticalprominencedue totheirdynasticalheritageThesepoliticalleaderswereBenazirBhuttoofPakistanandIndira GandhiofIndia.Thereasonswhydynasticconnectionshavebeenimportanttotheelectionofthese womenleadersisbecauseoftheirfamilylegacyandthepoliticalinstabilityoftheirrespective nationsIndiscussingthesetwowomenandthesetwoaccompanyingthemes,insightsintothe importanceoftheirgenderwillberevealed,showingthatgenderwasbothirrelevantandsignificant. Itwasirrelevantduetodynasticconnections,yetsignificantwhenconsideringBhuttowasprime ministerofaMuslimmajoritycountryandbothwomenledsocietieswithastrongpatriarchal culture.BothBenazirBhuttoandIndiraGandhihadfatherswhoservedasprimeministersoftheir respectivenationsandbothoftheirfatherswereincrediblypopularduringtheirtenureinoffice TheirpopularitycreatedastablebaseofsupportersfortheBhutto'sandGandhi'sandthelastnames ofBenazirandIndiraundoubtedlycarriedmuchweightduringtheircampaignforelectionduetothe successoftheirrespectivepaterfamiliasItisinterestingtoconsidersocio–economiccontextofthe twonationsandhowthisplayedaroleinvotersdecidingwhotocasttheirvotefor.Indiaand Pakistanshare ...Getmorecontent...
"IfIdieaviolentdeathassomefearandafewareplotting,Iknowtheviolencewillbeinthe thoughtandtheactionoftheassassin,notinmydying...."IndiraGandhi
OnOctober31,1984,IndiraGandhi,thePrimeMinisterofIndia,wasshotdownwhilewalking fromherhousetoherofficeinNewDelhi,India'sCapitalCity(TheNewYorkTimes)Thefatal shootingwascarriedoutbytwomenwhoweremembersofherpersonalbodyguard.Theshooting markedanabruptandtragicendtothelengthypoliticalcareerofthewomanwhowasnotonly India'sfirstfemalePrimeMinister,butalsothedaughteroftheveryfirstPrimeMinisterofIndia, JawaharlalNehru,betterknownasMohandusGandhi.Thenewsoftheassassinationof India'sshowmorecontent
WhenIndiafinallydidbecomeindependent,itwasonlyafteralargepartofherterritorywas partitionedofftoformanewcountry,Pakistan.IndependentIndiacametohaveapredominantly Hinduleadership,althoughthereweremanyMuslimslivinginthecountry,whilePakistanhada Muslimgovernment.ManyHindusinthecountrywereverydissatisfiedwiththelossofland,which resultedfromtheestablishmentofPakistan.Asaresult,relationsbetweenIndia'sMuslimandHindu populationwereoftenstrained,frequentlyeruptingintobloodshedasoneortheothersidefelt underrepresentedorunfairlytreated.ItwasinthisunsettledatmospherethatIndiraGandhifirst cametopowerShewaschosenasPrimeMinisterin1966,andwiththeexceptionofathree–year periodduringwhichshewasfirstvotedoutofofficeandthensubsequentlyvotedbackin,Gandhi remainedthePrimeMinisteruntilherdeath(NewYorkTimes).Theincidentofherbeingvotedout, however,showsthatIndirawasacontroversialfigureinIndianpoliticsShewasaccusedbymany ofbeingadictatorwhosefocusonenlargingherownsphereofpowerledhertoneglecttheneedsof hercountry,swingingitfurtherintopoverty.Whenshewasvotedoutofofficein1977itwasasa resultofanincreasingpublicopinionthatGandhiwastooauthoritarian,andthatshedidnothave India'sinterestsinmind(Rediffonthenet).
Thetensionbetweenautocraticanddemocratic
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Theconceptofheroesinthedailylifeofanordinarymanisancient.Thefirstknownuseofthis wordwasbackinthe14thcentury.Aheroisgenerallyapersonwhodisplaysextraordinarybravery andreadinessforself–sacrifice,andisthereforepraisedbyallInalmostallcultures,aheroisa symbolofstrength,courage,nobilityandselflessness.Thelistofqualitiesofaherodoesnotend here;aheroalsohastobeintelligent,daring,self–reliantforthemostpart,resistantinthefaceof hardshipsandmusthavethewilltotrywhereothersdonotInancientGreekculture,aherowas usuallyademigodwithsupernaturalpowerschargedwiththedutyofcompletingextremelydifficult anddangeroustasks,examplesbeingAchilles,PerseusandHercules.InEgyptianmythology,the GodsandGoddessesweretheheroesasweresomehumans,likeQueenCleopatra.InancientIndian literature,figuresfromfolkloreareconsideredheroes,likeBirbal,MajnuandRanjha.Aherocan alsosimplybesomeonewhohasachievedwhatonecannot,orwhatonehopestoachieveInthis way,IndiraGandhi,formerprimeministerofIndia,wasaherototheIndiannation.Intheeyesof manyIndians,shewasarolemodelforwomeneverywhere,andfortheThirdWorldcountries.She wasanepitomeofdecisiveness,commitment,strongwillanddeterminationBeingafemale,which isconsideredtheweakergender,shestillwastheheadoftheworld'smostpopulousdemocracyfor morethana
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Anonlinepollshowed81%ofpeoplebelieveIndiraGandhi'sassassinationwasjustified.Itwasa sunnydayinNewDelhi,IndiawhentheprimeministerofIndiadied.ThedaywasOctober31, 1984;shewasshotby2ofherbodyguardsnamedBeantSinghandSatwantSingh.The assassinationofIndiraGandhiwasunjustbecauseshewenttowarforIndia'sindependenceand wantedtohelptheenvironment;however,somepeoplebelieveshewasmakingunintelligent decisionsforIndia.Nevertheless,Gandhiusedherpowerandpoliticstoimprovetheenvironment. Shehadpowerandahighposition,sosheusedit."Indira'sministryofEnvironmentandforests itselfisnotedinabuildingcalledthe'IndiraRayavanaBahava'–anenergyefficientstructurethat wasinauguratedin2014,"(IndiratheEnvironmentalist.)Ittalksaboutanaturepreserve/gardenthat wasnamedafterher.Thatonlyhappenswhenyou'reknownforbeingagreenperson.showmore content
SheusedherpositionasPrimeministertohelpIndiagainindependence.GandhiIndependenceDay "TodayiscertainlyadaytocelebratethesuccessofourdemocracyHowever,onthisoccasion,we shouldalsointrospectaboutwhatremainstobedone"(Gandhi1).Whileshewastheprimeminister, shetriedherbesttomakepositivechangesinIndia.GandhifoughtforIndia,shetookthetimeto fightforherterritory,herpeople.Sheusedherpositionas
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PrevalentlyknownastheIronLadyofIndia,IndiraGandhiearnedanimposingnotorietyoverthe globeasa'statesman'.Hersheerfeelingoflegislativeissuesandexcellentaptitudeslaunchher positionintheIndiangovernmentalissues,tosuchanextentthatshewentaheadtowindup distinctlythemainladychosetoheadavotebasednation.Tilldate,sheisthemainladytoholdthe workplaceConceivedinapoliticallycompellinglineanddevelopinginanexceptionalpoliticalair, IndiraGandhihadtakeninthelittle–knowntechniqueveryaheadofscheduleinlife.Shehada tyrantstreakandturnedintothefocalfigureoftheIndianNationalCongressparty,postherdad's passingShewasknownforherpoliticalmercilessnessand
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Gandhi'sImpactOften,whensomeonethinksofhisorherrolemodeltheytypicallythinkoftheir momordad,butmanyIndiancitizenswouldthinkofMohandasGandhi.Gandhiwastheleaderof Indiannationalismandiswellknownasoneofthegreatestnationalleadersinthetwentiethcentury .Hewasstronganddeterminedtogivehiscountrytheindependencetheydeserved.Also,hewas kindofmanwhowouldriskanythingtogiveIndiathefreedomtheywishedforHowever,hedidn't hostviolentprotestsorencourageangrymobs.Instead,Gandhihelpedhiscountrygaintheir freedomusingnon–violence."Non–violenceisthegreatestforceatthedisposalofmankind.Itis mightierthanthemightiestweaponofdestructiondevisedbytheingenuityofman"(Mohandas Gandhi)Gandhiwillcontinuetobeagoodrolemodelforallashewasagreatleader,anadvocate forpeace,andamartyrforhiscountry.Indiaisanextremelypopulousnation,butleadingthe countrybyexamplecamenaturallytoGandhi.Hismethodsandphilosophyofnonviolent confrontationnotonlyledhisowncountrytofreedom,butalsohelpedtheideaofnon–violence spreadallaroundtheworldTheseleadershipskillsformedfromayoungageasGandhiwatchedhis motherandmimickedthewaysheacted.Shewasagentlewomanwhocaredforallpeople,despite theirclassorreligion.Shewasalsoahardworker,whichtaughtGandhitheimportanceofworking forwhatyoubelievein.Gandhieventuallywoulduse
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RoughdraftThisisadocumentexplainingwhyindiragandhiwasagoodprimeministerandwhy herassassinationwasunjust.Indiragandhiwasthefirstwomanleaderofindiaandcametobethe primeministerandaverysuccessfulleader.sheleadindiainawaythatmanyofindia'scitizens wouldonlydreamofshewasverybraveanddidsomethingsverylittlehaveachievedlikesettling disputesbetweencertaingovernmentpartiesAswellasshehelpedwiththecountriesfamineand foodshortagesbutthereweresomewhobelievedthatshewasrecklessandwasunfittobeprime ministersotheassassinationofindiragandhiunjustbecauseshewasaverythoughtleaderandcared verymuchforhercitizensshealsowasverygoodatpoliticsandknewwhentodocertainthingsbut therewerepeoplewhodislikedherandbelievedshewasn'tagoodprimeministerhertobody guardsweretheoneswhokilledherusingtheresubmachinegunstokillheratthetimeshewas walkingthroughherpalacegardenwhenshewasassassinatedthereasontheyassassinatedherwas becausetheyhadhopesthatabetterleadercouldbechosen.Indiragandhiwasaverysuccessful leaderandachievedmanythingsthroughoutherthreetermsshehadvarioustiestodifferent governmentmembers.Herfatherwouldtakehertohisofficeandwhileheworkedshegottomeet herfathersfriendsandasshegotolderandmoreintopoliticsshethenreliedontheseadultsas mentors.Thenwhenshebecameprime
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Haveyoueverbeentoldyoucouldn'tdosomethingbecauseofyourgender.IndiraGandhishowed peoplethatnomatterwhatyourgenderis,youcandowhateveryouwanttodo,butyoudohaveto workhard.YetsomepeoplethoughtthatwhatIndiradidwaswrong.IndiraGandhitookastandfor womeningovernmentbybeingtheveryfirstfemaleprimeministerofIndia,andpavingapathfor womenSheshowedthatwithhardworkyoucandoanything,disregardingyourgender IndiraGandhitookastandforwomeningovernmenteverywhere.Indiragotelectedtoprime ministerin1966Sheserved4totaltermsfrom1966to1977,andthenfrom1980to1984Even withIndira'sadvantagesshestillhadtoworkhard.AccordingtoAnchalProjectIndiraGandhi,The IronLadyofIndiasheoncesaid,"Everypositionhasadvantagesanddisadvantages.Ihadan advantageshowmorecontent
ThetwopeoplewhoassassinatedherweretwomennamedBeantSinghandSatwantSingh,twoof herbodyguardsShethoughtshecouldtrustBeantbutshecouldn'tBeantandSatwantassassinated herbecauseearlierIndirahadraidedtheGoldenTemple,averyimportantplacetotheSikhs.Beant Singhwaspleasedofhisdoingandneverregrettedit.AccordingtothenewspaperarticleBeant Singh:TheManWhoKilledIndiraGandhi!,heoncesaid,"IhavenohatredforanyHindu,Muslim, Christian,neitherhatredforanyreligion...I'mproudofthetaskthatIdid!Idoardasinfrontof Waheguru!IfIamblessedwithahumanlife,thengivemeadeathofthebravewhenIamhanged" AfterIndirawasassassinatedagenocidehappened.BeantwasaSikh,andbecauseofthatallthe peoplewhohatedhimgotrevenge,andtheykilledtonsofSikhs.Manypeoplediedinthosefour daysAllofthemthoughttheywerestandingupforIndiraManydon'tbelievewhattheyorBeant Singhdidwasright,butthatjustgoestoshowthatIndirawastrulylovedbysomany
"Allmygameswerepoliticalgames;Iwas,likeJoanOfArc,perpetuallybeingburnedatthestake." Thesearemeaningfulwordsoftheeversoloved,hated,andlookeduptowomanofIndia:Indira GandhiIndiraGhil;678andhi,asthelateprimeministerofIndia,isstillisrememberedtothisday fortheimpactshehadontheworld.AstheprimeministerofIndiaduringatimeofpoliticalturmoil andbeingavulnerabletarget,itwashardforhertouseherpowerforbenefits.Althoughthe obstaclesthatmadeherstruggle,shemaintainedstandinghergroundandendedupleadingIndiato wheretheyaretodaypolitically.IndiraGandhiwasbornonNovember19,1917toJawaharlal NehruandKamalaNehru.Indirawaspracticallybornintothepoliticalworld.Herfather,Jawaharlal Nehru,wasthefirstprimeministerofIndia.Indirawasconstantlyaroundpoliticsandbecamevery usedtotheideaofwhatbeingaprimeministerislike.Indirawasmostlytaughtbytutorsinher homegrowingupWhenshedidattendschoolitwasnotyearroundThisletherspendasmuch timeathomewithoneononetutorsasmuchassheneededto.Asachild,theonlytimeshewas aroundherfatherwaswhenhewasn'tawaybecauseofhisjob.Mostofherchildhood,shewas homewithhermother,KamalaItwashardforIndiramostofthetimebecausewhileherfatherwas alwaysworkingandnothome,hermotherwasbedriddenbecauseofmultipleillnesses.Although hermotherbeingsick,
Analyzingthespeech'WhatEducatedWomenCanDo'byIndiraGandhi,publishedintheSelected SpeechesandWritingsofIndiraGandhifromSeptember1972toMarch1977(WordPress.com 2011)stressesontheimportanceofwomen'seducationandtheirneglectnotonlyinIndiabut aroundthewholeworld.Inthisspeech,Gandhiprovidesmanystrongstancesonwomen's educationGandhidiscussesitscultureandsuperstitionsandhowwomeninIndiahavebeen oppressedofproper/formaleducation.Shealsohighlightshoweducatedwomenshouldcarry themselveswellbynotforgettingtheirmaternalobligationanddomesticduties.
InhercritiqueGandhiemphasizesonthepersuasivemethodsusedbyGandhispecificallyonEthos, Pathos,andLogos.showmorecontent
Nonationwhichhasnoharmonycangrowinanydirectionatall'.Thisisparwiththe(REP)(2008) viewthatwomeneducationisimportantiseverycountry.
'Therightforgirlstobeeducatedisoneofthemostcriticalofallrightsbecauseeducationplaysan importantroleinenablinggirlsandwomentosecureotherrights'.
Gandhiwasthe3rdPrimeMinisterofIndia.Duringherreign,shewaslookeduptoasan independentindividualwhowasabletobringchangetoIndiaHerpassiontowardfightingfor independenceandwomen'srightsbeganatanearlyage.
'IndiraGandhiwasthedaughterofthefirstprimeministerofIndiahoweversheledaveryunsettled childhoodduetothefactthatherfamilywasinvolveinthefightforfreedomfromBritishrule' (WordPress.com,2011).Gandhiwasalsoaninfluentialwomenandarolemodelforherpeople.The citizensofIndiarecognizedhercapabilitiesandbelievedinherstrengthwhichcausedthemtobe loyalfollowers.
'Gandhirecognizedherpoliticalpartywhichresultedinasplitwithheryounger,moreliberaland progressiveelementssidingwithher'(WordPress.com,2011).
Furthermore,peoplerespectedthededicationGandhihadforherpeoplewhileshewasinprison carryingoutmissionaryduties'Shespent13monthsinjailforherroleinnationalistpolitical demonstrationsagainsttheBritishrule.Whileinjailshetaughtreadingandwritingto
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ShejoinedtheNationalCongresspartyandbecameactiveinIndia'sindependencemovementin 1938.In1955,shewaselectedtotheexecutivebodyoftheCongressparty,becominganational politicalfigureinherownrightFouryearsthereafter,shewaspresidentofthepartyItwasfinally in1966whenIndiraGandhiwasgivenherfirstopportunitytogoverntheRepublicofIndiaasPrime Minister,followingthedeathofPrimeMinisterShastri.Eventhoughshewasgoverningasa reserve,Gandhihadherfirstcampaignvictoryinthenationalelectionsof1971Forthesubsequent years,IndiraGandhiandheradministrationhadsuccessfullygovernedIndia.Shewasinofficefor fifteenyearsovertwo...showmorecontent...
Gandhi'sleadershipwasnottheonlyaspectinjeopardy;herlifewasatriskaswell.
FrustrationwithintheSikhcommunityinPunjabduetothebetrayalandthreateningbehaviourof theIndiangovernmentgavewaytoasmall–scalearmedinsurgencycallingfortheimplementation ofwhattheSikhshadbeenpeacefullyagitatingforsinceIndia'sindependence.[3]Theleaderofthis armedmovementwasapreacherfromaSikhinstitutioncalledDamdamiTaksal,SantJarnailSingh Bhindranwale.[4]Insimplerterms,theaforementionedacknowledgesthefactthatSikhsinPunjab wereindisputewiththeIndiangovernmentoveraterritorythatbelongsdistinctlytoSikhsWhat botheredtheSikhswastheopportunitygiventothemshortlyafterindependence–alandseparate fromHindusandMuslims.Unfortunately,atthetimeofindependence,Sikhsdeclinedthe opportunitytoacquireasovereignterritoryandacceptedtoliveamongstthepeopleofIndiaThe Sikhsrejectedtheofferastheythoughttheywouldbegiventheopportunitytoliveinunitywith otherswithoutbeingsuppressedormisrepresented.
Regrettably,thisisexactlywhathappened.Thegovernment,createdshortlyafterindependence,had representationofmasspopulations,ofwhichmostlywereHindusSikhs,whoonlycomposedtwo percentofIndia,
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IndiraGandhi ChangeandElegance
December,6th,2010IndiraGandhi(NorelationtoMohandasGandhi)wasastrongpoliticalactivist throughoutherlife,eveninherchildhoodIndirawouldprovethatwhatwasmostimportanttoher washercountry,herpeopleandthefreedomofboth.TobetterunderstandtheIndiraGandhi's methodologyandpoliticalcontributions,itisnecessarytofirstanalyzethepoliticalstateofher country,aswellasherbackgroundandcareerasawholeIndirawasbornintotheNehrufamily whomhadastrongpoliticalbackgroundallonitsown.Indira'sfather,Jawaharlal,andher grandfather,Motilal,werebothmembersoftheIndianNationalCongress,whichwasvery sympathetictowardtherisingnationalismshowmorecontent
Indiradidallthatshecouldtohelpeasethestrainonherfather,becomingovertimehisconfidante andadvisor,helpinghimdealwiththetremendouspressuresanddifficultdecisionsthataprime ministermustface.In1955Indira,whowasnowwidelyknownandrespectedbytheIndianpeople, wasnominatedformembershipontheCongressWorkingCommittee.Havingworkedrelentlessly onthecommittee,in1957Indirareceivedmorevotesthanherfatherhimselfformembershiponthe GeneralElectionCommiteeandin1959waselectedPresidentofCongress.Immediately,Indira tookfullchargeofhernewpositionstatingthat,"Thenationisinahurryandwecan'taffordtolose time.Mycomplaintagainstthecongressisthatit'snotgoingasfastasthepeople."(Butler68) However,theactualizationoftheworkingsofIndia'sgovernmentdisheartenedIndiraandin1560 sheresignedaspresidentSpendinghertimenowtendingtoherhusbandwhomhadsufferedaheart attackandlaterasecondfatalheartattack,broughtheragaintoherfather'sside.Jawaharlal,nowin his70'sandsufferingfromkidneydisease,neededIndiramorethanever.Indiratookovermanyof hisduties,travellingalloverIndiaaswellastravellinginternationallyonherfather'sbehalfandon January,19th,1966IndirasucceededLalBahadurShastriasprimeminister,becomingIndia's
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IndiraGandhi(1919–1984)wasamongthemostpowerfulandskilledleadersintheIndianhistory. ShewastheonlydaughterofPd.JawaharlalNehru.Shewascutoutforpolitics.Shehadtheclassic andprerequisitebentofmindwhenitcametopoliticalmachineryandsocialreforms.Incourseof herpractice,shebecamepublic'sfavourite.K.A.Abbasrightlysaidinhisbook'IndiraGandhi: ReturnOfTheRedRose',"IndiraGandhi'saccessionisnothereditaryIt'sthereaffirmationofthe principlesandpoliciesformulatedbyJawaharlalNehru."Shewasfirstappointedtheprimeminister in1966,afterwhichshegarneredmassivepublicsupportandacceptancethroughherextensive workinthefieldofagriculture,abolishingpovertyandalsoshowmorecontent
Thislandedherinaspotofflux.Ontheeveningof25thJune,1975,IndiraGandhihadaconcise meetingwithherclosefriendsandconfidantsatherresidence.Amongthemwasanoldadvisorand friendSiddharthShankarRay,homeministerOmMehta,PrashnachandraandRKChanda.They wentthroughallthedocumentsandlegalaccounts,andultimately,asperArticle352,theycameto aconclusionthatinternalemergencyshouldbedeclaredTheyalsogavemanyreasonsforthesame; someofthembeingthatthegovernmentcitedthreatstonationalsecurity,the1973oilcrisis,the economyofIndiawasinshamblesandtherewasrampantdesertionanddisorderacrossthenation. Hence,owingtoallthesereasons,andaboveall,safeguardingherpositioninthepoliticalhierarchy, IndiraGandhidecidedtowritealettertothepresidentofIndia,seekingagreementonherdecision ofdeclaringinternalemergencyBeforethis,sheaskedthreequestionstoSiddharthShankarRay Herfirstquestionwas,canaletterregardinginternaldemocracybewrittentothepresidentwithout consultingthecabinet.Second,shequestionedhimregardingthelanguageandtoneoftheletter.
Andlastly,shequestionedhimregardingthecontentofthe
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SamanthaDevapiriam
Grayson
HonorsWorldLiterature
21November2014
DraftOneROL
MohandasKaramchandGandhi,betterknownasMahatmaGandhi,wasaprominentIndianleader whowasinfluentialinIndia'sstruggletogainindependencefromGreatBritain.GandhiledIndiato independencethroughnon–violentmethodsofprotestingGandhi'speacefulapproacheswerelater copiedbygreatleaderssuchasMartinLutherKingJr.retaughtbypeaceexpertslikeSisselaBok, andfollowedbyordinarypeoplelikeMadelineSlade,whichattestedhowpowerfulhislegacywas. MahatmaGandhi'sleadershipandnon–violentmethodsinIndia'sfightforindependenceinfluenced manygreatleadersafterhim,provingthatGandhi'slegacyliveson.
Prominentteachershowmorecontent
Gandhi'sgrandsonArunGandhiwasmovedbyhisgrandfather'slifeandlegacy.Arunsaidthathis parentsandGandhitaughthimaboutnonviolence(LegacyLove).Gandhi'sencounterwiththe policethatthrewhimoffatrainwerewhatstartedhisnonviolencephilosophy(LegacyLove).This philosophyiswhatArumstrivestoliveby(LegacyLove).Gandhi'slastpieceofwisdomtohimwas "togrowsothat'yourmindislikearoomwithmayopenwindowsLetthebreezeflowinfromall directions,butrefusetobeblownawaybyanyone'"(LegacyLove).Gandhi'shopeforArunwas thathewouldkeepanopenmindforallnewconceptsandideas,butneverbecarriedawaybyone singlethoughtArunsaidthathisgrandfather'sstoriesandstruggleswerewhatinspiredhimand influencedhislife(Legacy
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CrucialsimilaritiesbetweenMartinLutherKingJrandIndiraGandhiThebestleadershave momentousimpactonasocietyduetotheirenormouseffortofenchantingtheircountriesby bringingaboutimportantchanges,andmanypeoplewanttobeliketheseinfluentialpublicfigures However,notallpeoplearebornwithqualitiestobegreatleaders.Although,somepeopleareborn tobehonorableandmemorableleaders,suchasMartinLutherKingJrandIndiraGandhi.Usually, manykidsspendmostoftheirtimeplayingwithcars,dollsorplayingwiththeirfriends,butthese twodidn'thaveusualchildhoodsasothershad.Instead,manypeoplewouldsay,bothMartinand Indirahaduniquelives.Theyhadvarioussimilaritiessuchasparticipatinginpublicactivities, havingsupportiveparents,sacrificingthemselvesfortheircountryandbeingassassinated.Ever sincetheywerekids,theyparticipatedinpublicactivitiestosharetheirvoices.ForMartinLuther KingJr,beingablackandsegregateddidn'tmakeanysensetohimHehadtobeinadifferentplace fromwhitepeopleevenifhewasinarestaurant.Inafactthat,hewasn'tallowedtohaveaseatona busbecausethecolorofhisskin.Attheageofsix,hehadafriend,indeed,whowasawhiteboy whosefatherhadnointentionoflettinghimplaywithKingAlso,losinghisfriendmadehimdeeply concernedaboutracesegregation.Inaddition,heattendedBookerT.WashingtonHighSchool, wherehebecame
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Anonlinepollshowed81%ofpeoplebelieveIndiraGandhi'sassassinationwasjustified.Itwasa sunnydayinNewDelhi,IndiawhentheprimeministerofIndiadies.ThedaywasOctober31, 1984;shewasshotby2ofherbodyguardsnamedBeantSinghandSatwantSingh.The assassinationofIndiraGandhiwasunjustifiedbecauseshewenttowarforIndia'sindependenceand wantedtohelptheenvironment;however,somepeoplebelieveshewasmakingunintelligent decisionsforIndia.Nevertheless,Indirausedherpowerandpoliticstoimprovetheenvironment. Shehadpowerandahighposition,sosheusedit."Indira'sministryofEnvironmentandforests itselfisnotedinabuildingcalledthe'IndiraRayavanaBahava'–anenergyefficientstructureshow morecontent...
SheusedherpositionasPrimeministertohelpIndiagainindependence."Todayiscertainlyaday tocelebratethesuccessofourdemocracy.However,onthisoccasion,weshouldalsointrospect aboutwhatremainstobedone"(Gandhi
Independenceday)Whileshewastheprimeminister,shetriedherbesttomakepositivechangesin India.Shetriedtohelptheenvironmentwhilefightingalongsideothers.IndirafoughtforIndia,she tookthetimetofightforherterritory,herpeople.Sheusedherpositionasprimeministertokeep IndiaIndependent.Duringherindependencedayanniversaryspeech,shesaidherpeopleshould celebratethisday.Whileshewastheprimeminister,shetriedherbesttomakepositivechangesin IndiaSomepeoplebelieveshewasmakingpoordecisionsforIndiaIndirawasnotmakingwicked decisionsforIndia,shewasactuallybeingsmartandlogical.IoncereadanarticlefromIam Courage.Itsaid,"IndirabuiltuponthefoundationslaidbyJawaharlalNehrutoconvertIndiaintoa growingnuclearpower"(NuclearProgrammeofIndia)SomepeoplebelieveIndiawasmaking criticaldecisionsforIndia,butinreality,shewasn't.TheNuclearProgrammewasaveryintelligent moveonherpartandprovesmycounterclaimwrong,thatshewasmakingfaultydecisionsfor
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WhenIndiabecameindependentinAugust1947andestablishedindependencefromtheBritish Empireafteryearsofcolonialruleandoppression,variousconflictswerefacedwithintheissueof addressingandrunninganewstate.ThenewstateofIndiawasaccompaniedbyavastarrayof issues,relatingtomatterssuchasinequalityandprejudice.Theseproblemsthatoccurredafterthe independenceofIndiawereaddressedbytheCongressPartyundertheleadershipofJawaharlal Nehru,andafterhisdeathin1964,hisdaughterIndiraGandhi,whoranasPrimeMinisterfrom 1966to1977andthenagainfrom1980untilherassassinationin1984.Duringtheirtimeasthe PrimeMinisterofIndia,JawaharlalNehruandIndiraGandhiimplementedmanysignificantsocial, politicalandeconomicpoliciesandreformsthathadamajoreffectintheestablishmentofthe world'slargestdemocracy.Howevermanyissueswereencounteredsuchasthepartisanviolence andthelanguageandculturalbarrierswhichresultedinthefeelingoferasurebyvariousfaithsand communities.Nehrualsoimplementedaspectsofdemocraticsocialismandasecularstateduringhis timeasPrimeMinister,andwithinhisgovernment,ashiscontinuouspersistencewiththeadvocacy formorerightsforwomen,hiseducationalreformsandhisindustrialisationpolicies,suchasthe various5YearPlansfrom1951onwards.Indira'sstrictindustrialpoliciesalsohadadramaticeffect onIndia,suchastheGreen
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