Prime Minister Indira Gandhi’s car was moving fast on the roads of Lutyens Delhi early in the morning. That day was special. Therefore, the civic administration had removed beggars and stray cows from the roads. Another effect of the emergency was that the roads of the capital now looked clean and neat.
Indira was going towards the Red Fort. It was 15th August 1975. She had to address the nation from the ramparts of the Red Fort. She had to bring back the lost freedom of the people. Indira was about to make some big announcement on the emergency. Just then her protocol chief gave a news. This was such a news that Prime Minister Indira, who had already declared emergency in India, was stunned. She had not even imagined this. It was unbelievable. The protocol chief told her that her friend and the President of Bangladesh had been killed along with his family. Indira was devastated. She believed that this was the work of the CIA.
The coup that took place in Bangladesh on 5 August has revived many events recorded in the pages of history. The emergence of Bangladesh as a new nation, the declaration of emergency in India, then the massacre of Sheikh Mujiburahman’s family; these events had some or the other vein in common with each other.
Today, when Bangladesh is going through a period of violence, these incidents remind us of the political turmoil in South Asia in the 1970s.
Spanish author Javier Moro wrote a book on the personality of Sonia Gandhi ‘The Red Sari’ He has written in great detail about the Bangladesh Liberation War, the Emergency in India, and Indira’s personality.
Indira Gandhi had declared emergency in the country on 25 June 1975 under extraordinary circumstances but she did not want to prolong it for long.
Indira wanted emergency for only two months
Javier Moro writes in this book, “Indira told Pupul that she wanted to impose the emergency only for two months and during this period she wanted to implement a twenty-point program so that the country could be put on the path of development.”
Let us tell you that Pupul Jayakar was Indira’s close friend and she had access to Indira Gandhi’s dining table.
So, had the time come on 15 August 1975, that is, about 50 days after the imposition of Emergency, when Indira wanted to end the Emergency?
Javier Moro writes in The Red Sari, “Indira wanted to announce the lifting of the Emergency on August 15, 1975, at the same place and time where her father had delivered his famous speech 28 years earlier.”
He further wrote, “Indira was going towards the Red Fort when her protocol chief gave her the news which deeply saddened her, her friend, Bangladesh President Sheikh Mujiburahman was defeated in a military attack, what was worse was that Sheikh, his wife, three sons, daughters-in-law and two nephews were killed, so that no one would carry on his lineage.”
Indira’s speech was full of emotions
This was such a news that shook Indira. Referring to Indira’s speech that day, Xavier Moro writes,“The speech she gave from the Red Fort that day was full of emotions, as if she was trying to stop herself from getting carried away by her emotions, who knows where her strength had gone. Pupul was listening to that speech in which Indira spoke of freedom, the need to take tough steps, sacrifice, service and courage, faith and democracy. But she did not say a single word about the Emergency.”
According to Xavier, this incident made Indira very insecure. She was sure that she would be the next target. The RAW chief also said that he had come to know of many conspiracies that were made to eliminate Indira. According to Pupul, she was extremely apprehensive and was suspicious of everyone. She felt as if there was an enemy hiding behind every shadow.
My grandson is also of the same age as Sheikh Rehman’s son, tomorrow…
Spanish author Javier writes that Indira told Pupul Jayakar, “Who can I trust? My grandson is of the same age as Sheikh Rehman’s son. Tomorrow his turn could also come. They want to destroy me and my family by any means possible.” Indira realised for the first time that not only her life but the lives of her entire family were in danger.
If we look at the political situation of that time, Indira was caught in such a vicious circle that she could not see any way out of it. According to Moro, she used to feel safe in the crowd but now she was scared even at home. She was actually scared of the threat to her life. She was scared of losing power. She was frustrated because she was not getting the desired results while fighting on many fronts.
According to Javier Moro, these events influenced his decision not to immediately end the emergency. He writes, “He felt that in this situation it would be better not to lift the emergency. On the contrary, it was necessary to arrest some more people without any charge or legal action so that they could ensure the safety of themselves and their families.”
Do not sleep in the room near the main door
During this time Indira Gandhi was extremely worried about Sanjay Gandhi’s safety. Indira was so scared that she would forbid Sanjay from sleeping in the room near the main gate. This is mentioned in ‘The Red Sari’ like this, “I don’t want you guys to sleep in the room next to the main door. It’s not safe. It would be better if you guys sleep in the last room in the corridor, opposite my room.” When a friend asked her the reason for doing so, she said she was not feeling well and if Sanjay was in the next room, she could call him for help at odd hours of the night.
It can be said that despite her image as Iron Lady, Indira Gandhi was deeply affected by the incident of the assassination of Sheikh Mujiburahman in Bangladesh. Indira, concerned about her safety, did not immediately decide to lift the emergency despite understanding its problems. However, there was a reason behind her decision in the internal politics of India.
Indira Gandhi was moved to hear the story of teacher’s sterilization
Sanjay Gandhi’s sterilization program was making headlines in the country for the wrong reasons. Indira realized this when a poor man reached Akbar Road in Delhi after a five-day march. The soles of his shoes were worn out. He was a village teacher who came to tell Indira that he had only one daughter, yet he had been sterilized. The police had beaten him with punches. Indira was moved to hear this story.
By this time, almost 19 months had passed since the Emergency was imposed. Indira now wanted to take a big decision on the Emergency. But Sanjay still wanted to wait for a year. He wanted to wait for a year after releasing the leaders so that people could forget all the problems and the rumours could be suppressed.
This time Indira did not listen to her stubborn son. On 18 January 1977, she surprised the entire country by announcing elections in the next two months. Indira said that ‘with this occasion all the confusion and misconceptions will end. With this, the Emergency ended with the declaration of election results in March 1977.
Source (PTI) (NDTV) (HINDUSTANTIMES)