On June 25, 1975, Indian democracy experienced a profound disruption. The common man, who previously had a voice, became a mere puppet under Prime Minister Indira Gandhi's command. That night, India fell under Emergency rule. With a mere stroke of a pen , civil liberties were suspended, press freedom was abolished , and political opposition was imprisoned. The official justification was “threats to national security” and “internal disturbance.”
But little did the world know that the real reason was a ruling by the Allahabad High Court that found Indira Gandhi guilty of electoral misconduct, invalidating her 1971 election win. Instead of stepping down gracefully, she retaliated—not against her opponents, but against the Constitution itself. The 42nd amendment act in 1976 reduced judicial power, increased the terms of lok sabha and most importantly made the central government more powerful.
Over 100,000 people were detained without trial. As of 1 January 1975, Indian jails housed 2,20,146 prisoners against a capacity of 1,83,369. Among them, 1,26,772 were under-trial prisoners.25,962 government and public sector employees were retired prematurely during the period. Newspapers, silenced by censorship, ran blank columns in protest. Press Restrictions: Power supply to newspaper offices in Delhi was cut off during the early days of censorship enforcement.Content Control Parliamentary and judicial proceedings were censored. Court judgements were edited or controlled in their published form.Media Classification: Newspapers were labelled as ‘friendly’, ‘neutral’ or ‘hostile’ based on their editorial stance and coverage
Student protests were crushed, opposition parties were dismantled, and forced sterilization programs were aggressively carried out under her son, Sanjay Gandhi’s, infamous direction. India had never witnessed such a systematic breakdown of democratic norms. "No one, not even the Prime Minister, should be above the law of the land," stated Morarji Desai.
In an effort to control population growth, the government initiated a harsh sterilization program starting in 1975. The campaign intensified under Sanjay Gandhi’s supervision, who, despite lacking an official role, wielded significant influence.
In 1975-76, there were 26.42 lakh sterilization procedures performed.
In 1976-77, that number more than tripled to 81.32 lakh.
Over 1.07 crore sterilization operations occurred in just two years.
What made this particularly horrific was the coercion involved. In several states, people with more than two or three children who refused sterilization were denied access to food, jobs, healthcare, housing, and education. Men were forcibly taken from buses and trains. Clinics operated under unsanitary conditions, leading to thousands of deaths.
This was not population control—it was a state-sponsored violation of bodily autonomy. Taking away a person’s choice to have children is profoundly inhumane.
The Dynasty That Divides
It appears that, along with political legacy, the ability to divide public opinion has also been passed down through the Gandhi family. The Gandhis have been a constant presence in India’s political scene.
After losing in 1977, Indira Gandhi made a dramatic comeback in 1980, more determined than before. However, her military action at the Golden Temple in Amritsar in 1984 sparked outrage among the Sikh community, she was assassinated by her own Sikh bodyguards, resulting in widespread riots and unrest in an already unstable nation
Her son Rajiv Gandhi, a reluctant politician, took the stage. Charismatic and forward-thinking, he introduced a vision of a modern India. But his efforts were abruptly halted when he was assassinated by a suicide bomber from the LTTE (Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam) during an election rally in Tamil Nadu in 1991.
Still Standing in the Storm Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra carry on the family legacy, facing intense public scrutiny. Despite consecutive electoral losses and criticism of dynastic politics, they continue to represent the Indian National Congress, striving to rebuild a party that once reigned unchallenged.
The Emergency remains one of the darkest times in Indian history—a period when power overshadowed the people, and democracy became a mere illusion. Yet, it also serves as a testament to India’s resilience. The same electorate that was silenced in 1975 roared back in 1977, reclaiming its power through the ballot box.
The story of the Gandhis is complex, marked by vision, tragedy, controversy, and endurance. Ultimately, it reminds us that no leader is bigger than the Constitution and no power is greater than the voice of the people.
Written by Aashna
