Flashback : The dark day of 31st October 1984 - the assassination of a Prime Minister

 

31st October 1984 turned out to be one of the darkest days in India's political history when the then Prime Minister of India Mrs Indira Gandhi was shot dead by her own body guards . That incident turned the country into big violence for the next few days . Here how the whole incident snowballed into ...

Indira Gandhi, the Prime Minister of India, was tragically assassinated on October 31, 1984. Here are the key details of the incident:

 Assassination:

   - Indira Gandhi was assassinated by two of her Sikh bodyguards, Beant Singh and Satwant Singh, at her residence in New Delhi in the morning hours of 31st October 1984 after she returned from her customary morning work and meeting of onlookers . 

 Motive:

   - The assassination was in retaliation for Operation Blue Star, a military operation ordered by Indira Gandhi just 6 months before  to remove Sikh militants who had taken shelter in the Golden Temple in Amritsar, Punjab.

 Immediate Aftermath:

   - Following the assassination, there were widespread anti-Sikh riots in various parts of India, resulting in the loss of many Sikh lives and significant destruction of property.

 Impact:

   - Indira Gandhi's death had a profound impact on India, leading to a period of national mourning and uncertainty. Her son, Rajiv Gandhi, was sworn in as the Prime Minister of India after her assassination.

Trial and Execution:

   - Beant Singh was shot dead on the spot by other security personnel  and Satwant Singh, and his aide Kewal Singh  were arrested, tried, and subsequently sentenced to death. They were executed in 1989.

Indira Gandhi's assassination was a tragic and pivotal moment in Indian history, and it had significant implications for the country's political landscape and communal relations.

A brief career graph of Indira Gandhi :

Indira Gandhi was an influential political figure in India. Here's an overview of her career in detail:

1. Early Life: 

   - Born on November 19, 1917, in Allahabad, India, to Jawaharlal Nehru, the first Prime Minister of India, and Kamala Nehru.

   - She studied at Oxford University and later became involved in India's freedom struggle.

2. Entry into Politics:

   - Indira Gandhi officially entered politics in the 1950s and held various roles within the Indian National Congress party.

3. Prime Minister (1966-1977):

   - In 1966, she became the first female Prime Minister of India, following the death of Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri.

   - During her first term, she focused on poverty alleviation and the nationalization of banks.

Indira Gandhi won the Indo- Pak war that took place in December 1971 during her tenure  and the result of that war was a birth of a new nation Bangladesh which replaced East Pakistan 

4. The Emergency (1975-1977):

   - Indira Gandhi's declaration of a state of emergency in 1975 was a controversial period in her career, marked by the suspension of civil liberties.

5. Return to Power:

   - She lost the 1977 general elections but made a comeback in 1980, becoming Prime Minister again.

6. Leadership and Policies:

   - Indira Gandhi played a significant role in shaping India's foreign policy and was known for her strong leadership.

   - She was known for promoting the Green Revolution in agriculture, which helped increase food production.

7. Assassination:

   - Tragically, Indira Gandhi was assassinated on October 31, 1984, by her Sikh bodyguards in retaliation for Operation Blue Star, a military operation to remove militants from the Golden Temple in Amritsar.

8. Legacy:

   - Indira Gandhi's legacy is mixed; she is remembered for her strong leadership, centralization of power, and controversial decisions during the Emergency.

   - She remains a prominent figure in Indian politics, and her family, including her son Rajiv Gandhi and grandson Rahul Gandhi, has also played key roles in Indian politics.

Indira Gandhi's career had a profound impact on India's political landscape and its socio-economic development.