The concentration of excessive power in the hands of a few inevitably endangers the freedom of the people-a truth vividly illustrated by a critical episode in India’s political history. Indira Gandhi, celebrated for her decisive leadership in the 1971 Indo-Pakistan war and for endorsing the creation of Bangladesh, swiftly transformed from a war heroine into an authoritarian figure. Her overwhelming control earned her the moniker “India’s Iron Lady” and “Empress of India.” Her absolute rule only brought the disparate opposition to unite under the leadership of Jay Prakash Narayan. The defining moment came after Indira Gandhi lost a landmark election case to Raj Narain on June 12, 1975 and was consequently unseated. Subsequently, opposition protests skyrocketed, and tensions escalated dramatically. Jay Prakash Narayan’s unprecedented call for even the army to disobey orders from Indira’s government destabilized the political environment further. This turmoil culminated on June 25, 1975, when President Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed invoked Article 352, citing internal disturbances, and declared a national Emergency. The Emergency plunged India into an era of darkness, as the government suspended civil liberties and curtailed fundamental rights guaranteed by the Constitution. Freedom of expression, assembly, and press were severely restricted. Media censorship became rampant, with newspapers forced to submit content for government approval before publication. The infamous Maintenance of Internal Security Act (MISA) empowered the state to detain thousands of opposition leaders, activists, and dissenters without trial or formal charges. Even the Supreme Court largely refrained from intervening, effectively suspending habeas corpus and eroding judicial oversight. Despite the overwhelmingly negative legacy, the Emergency also showcased some less notorious facets. It pressured the bureaucracy to become more efficient and accountable, leading to smoother administrative processes. Law and order improved, with reductions in street crime and communal violence, and public transport services gained in punctuality and reliability. However, this order was maintained through a politically motivated crackdown on dissent, underscoring the authoritarian nature of the regime. When the Emergency was lifted in 1977, Indira Gandhi’s party faced a crushing electoral defeat. The Janata Party, led by Jay Prakash Narayan, emerged victorious, with Morarji Desai becoming Prime Minister. After the Janata Party’s electoral victory, Indira Gandhi faced trial and imprisonment but managed to stage a political comeback by winning the 1978 by-election from Chikmagalur. The Emergency, thus, remains officially recognized as a period when democratic freedoms were severely repressed under a government decree. Fifty years on, the Emergency’s lessons still resonate. The subtle erosion of dissenting voices and press freedoms today cannot be ignored. In 2015, former Deputy Prime Minister L.K. Advani warned that forces capable of crushing democracy seemed stronger in contemporary Indian politics, partly due to a lack of compelling leadership. RSS ideologue and former BJP general secretary K.N.Govindacharya, opined that Advani could have had the centralization of powers and gradual weakening of public institutions in mind then. The phrase “power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely” remains painfully relevant. Yes, Emergency was a dark chapter and in political history, political leaders use power differently and in the end it is the people who will judge and not politicians.
Thursday, June 26, 2025