Indira the Positive Leader

Whenever people hear the name “Indira Gandhi”, the first thing they remember is “Emergency” which is widely seen as a negative aspect of Indira. Operation Blue Star and the other big negative policies like “Nasbandi” (forced mass sterilization programme) are extensively in the memories of people even until this day. However, this article here, is a completely different effort. We will be focusing for its inevitability, the positive sides of Indira Gandhi’s rule, which are largely shadowed.

Indira the Positive Leader

Indira Gandhi, is the most powerful Prime Minister that India has ever seen in all its years of political independence. Also the most powerful women leader in the world that has ever been. Her presence was substantially felt and her leadership was noticeable globally by her political contemporaries both local and international.

During the 1971 Parliamentary General Elections, she came up with a powerful slogan of “Garibi hatao, Desh bachao”, which is translated as abolish poverty and save the nation. She was perceived as a pro-poor leader and ideologically a socialistic leader. Her use of the ordinance avenue is a subject of determination towards what she believed. When she abolished the “Privy Purse” in a single ordinance, all the Royal families, then unmoved by the economic status-quo of the country, got damped and were in high shock.

Reading the Preambles of our Constitution before and after Indira, we can observe the addition of Socialist, Secular (Sovereign, Socialist, Secular, Democratic, Republic) in the 42^nd Amendment Act of 1976- Sec 2, an addition that was done during the Emergency. As mentioned in the beginning, Emergency was often countered with dissent, and seldom appreciated or even understood for its positives. We should go through those positives of Emergency.

Vinoba Bhave, said stated it as the “Time for discipline”. The Twenty Point Program during Emergency increased agricultural productivity, manufacturing, foreign reserves and surprisingly exports were also high. Trains were running on the right schedule, efficiency at the workplace was towering, employees were punctual during the Emergency. She strongly said “no” to demonetization, because she understood that the poor will be gravely affected.

The important achievements of Indira Gandhi, the “1971- Indo Pak War”. This event stamped India’s global presence remarkably. Richard Nixon, the then President of the USA was appalled of Indira and his explicit “somebody should stop this witch” comment stands as testimony.

There is a myth among people that Indira took decisions on her own without any consultations and that those were quick, hasty decisions. However, she acted just the opposite. Before the 1971 war, she quietly listened to then General Sam Manekshaw and waited for 9 months. She strongly believed that instead of taking in millions of refugees from East Pakistan, it was economical to go to war against Pakistan. She waited for 9 months to start the war, yet, the war ended by a fortnight. That was the only incident where India supported the creation of a new Nation using its military power.

After creating Bangladesh, India had to come back in a short span. Indira, as planned, did that exactly. India’s exit policy is a spearhead, because developed nations like the USA struggle to exit from Afghanistan and Iran. She was lauded as “Goddess Durga” by the then opposition leader Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

Her other achievements which stunned the global leaders are Aryabhata-first Indian Satellite, Pokhran 1- first Indian Nuke test, Green Revolution and nationalization of private banks. People who criticize Green revolution, fail to relate it to the period when it was initiated. It saved so many lives from dying due to hunger and malnutrition. Food security was given high priority which led to self-sufficiency and the success of Public Distribution System (Ration system) (FYI: Tamil Nadu is the pioneer of PDS). It is true that Green revolution had some drawbacks, but it was an inevitable action.

Nationalization of banks was considered to be a master stroke. She said “Banks should not be profit oriented, they should run to save the people and it should be service oriented” which resulted in 800% jump in deposits. The geographical cover of banks increased, banks reached rural areas and it boosted agricultural development. Nationalization was appreciated by her political rival Jayaprakash Narayanan.

Indo-Soviet treaty, 1971 which took India closer to USSR stunned all capitalist nations. Again, Richard Nixon was highly displeased. India’s operation forward of the 6^th Five Year Plan recovered our Economy from inflation. Such positive impacts are never taught to this generation.

Her son, Sanjay Gandhi’s influence in government especially during Emergency was highly criticized. His program Nasbandi- aggrieved the so called BIMARU states (Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh) which stands as a major reason for defeat of the Congress party in Bihar and UP even in present times.

In her last term, it was not easy for her to handle Operation Blue Star. Her previous experience in Bangladesh made her to think that she can flush out the separatists from the Golden temple in no time. Although, she regretted her action later. It is a fact that she was never informed of the use of tanks during the action. Her personal secretary R.K. Dhawan, noted that “She had a regret on Emergency and Operation Bluestar”.

In her own words Indira strongly placed that “India is not a poor country; it is a country of poor’s”. Talking of Indira, I am always reminded of Dev Kant Barooah, who said “India is Indira; Indira is India”. This has been viewed as a statement of a sycophant; personally, the present India without Indira will be an ignorant joke and an impossible conviction.