The Indian Emergency of (1975 - 77) is a 18-month period between 1975 and 1977, when President Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed, upon advice by Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, declared a state of emergency under Article 352 of the Constitution of India, effectively bestowing her the power to rule by decree, suspending elections and civil liberties. It is one of the most controversial periods in the history of independent India. 1975 (MCMLXXV) was a common year starting on Wednesday (the link is to a full 1975 calendar). ... For the album by Ash, see 1977 (album). ... Standard of the President of India The President of India is the head of state and first citizen of India and the Supreme Commander of the Indian armed forces. ... Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed (May 13, 1905 - February 11, 1977) was President of India of 1974 to 1977. ... The Prime Minister of India is, in practice, the most powerful person in the government of India. ... Indira Priyadarshini Gandhi (इन्दिरा प्रियदर्शिनी गान्धी) (November 19, 1917 – October 31, 1984) was Prime Minister of India from January 19, 1966 to March 24, 1977, and again from January 14, 1980 until her assassination on October 31, 1984. ... A state of emergency in India refers to a period of governance under an altered constitutional setup that can be proclaimed by the President of India, when he/she perceives grave threats to the nation from internal and external sources or from financial situations of crisis. ... The Constitution of India was passed by the Constituent Assembly of India on November 26, 1949, and came into effect on January 26, 1950. ... Rule by decree is a style of governance allowing quick, unchallenged creation of law by a single person or group, and is used primarily by dictators and absolute monarchs. ... On August 15, 1947, India became an independent Dominion within the British Commonwealth. ...

Background

The Emergency was rooted in deep-seated political conflicts and wide popular disenchantment with the Government.

Political unrest

Opponents had long made allegations that Indira's party, Congress, had practiced electoral fraud to win the 1971 elections. The Gandhian socialist Jaya Prakash Narayan (JP) had been agitating in Bihar for a change in provincial government, and increasingly sought to direct popular action against the Central Government through satyagrahas. To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Partiet are listed in the following order; First listed are parties registered as National parties, secondly parties registered as State parties and then unrecognized parties that won seats. ... Gandhian is a person who lives his life practicing the teaching of Mahatma Gandhi, that is, one who follows Gandhism or the Gandhian philosophy. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into Jayaprakash Narayan. ... For other uses, see Bihar (disambiguation). ... // INTELLIGENT BEHAVIOURS TO BECOME MORE RICHER AND SECURE WITHIN INDIA REMOVE POVERTY AND TO INCREASE SECURITY OF INDIA, THERE IS A NEED TO USE HIGHER INTELLIGENT, THAT IS TO SAY, TO PROMOTE FOREIGN CITIZENS OF FIRST WORLD COUNTRIES TO BECOME CITIZEN OF INDIA WHEREBY THEY HAVE RIGHTS TO PURCHASE WHOLE... {{for|an account of the opera of that title by Philip Glass| Satyagraha is the philosophy of nonviolent resistance most famously employed by Mohandas Gandhi in forcing an end to the British Raj and also against apartheid in South Africa. ...

JP and his supporters sought to unify students', peasants', and labour organisations in a 'Total Revolution' to nonviolently transform Indian society. Indira's party was defeated in Gujarat by a coalition of parties calling itself the Janata Party (People's Party), and even faced an all-party, no-confidence motion in Parliament. Ahimsa is a religious concept which advocates non-violence and a respect for all life. ... Gujarat (Gujarati: , Hindi: ,, IPA ; also spelled Gujrat and sometimes Gujarath). ... The Janata Party (Peoples Party in Hindi) was an Indian political party that contested the Indian Emergency (1975-77) and became the first political party to defeat the Indian National Congress in the 1977 elections, forming the national government from 1977 to 1980. ... A Motion of No Confidence, also called Motion of Non Confidence is a parliamentary motion traditionally put before a parliament by the opposition in the hope of defeating or embarrassing a government. ... The Parliament of India is bicameral. ...

The Allahabad conviction

RAJ Narain, whom Indira Gandhi had defeated in parliamentary election, lodged cases of election fraud and use of state machinery for election purposes on Mrs Gandhi in Allahabad High Court. On June 12, 1975, Justice Jagmohanlal Sinha of the Allahabad High Court found the Prime Minister guilty of using government machinery for election purposes, and ordered her to be removed from her seat in Parliament and banned from running for an additional six years. Ironically some serious charges such as bribing voters and election malpractices were dropped and charges such as building of dias by state police and provision of electricity by electricity department to her rally were upheld, when it actually is an essential part for the Prime Minister's Security protocol. Indira Priyadarshini Gandhi (इन्दिरा प्रियदर्शिनी गान्धी) (November 19, 1917 – October 31, 1984) was Prime Minister of India from January 19, 1966 to March 24, 1977, and again from January 14, 1980 until her assassination on October 31, 1984. ... The Allahabad High Court was one of the first High Courts of India to be established in India. ... June 12 is the 163rd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (164th in leap years), with 202 days remaining. ... 1975 (MCMLXXV) was a common year starting on Wednesday (the link is to a full 1975 calendar). ... Please wikify (format) this article as suggested in the Guide to layout and the Manual of Style. ... The Allahabad High Court was one of the first High Courts of India to be established in India. ...

Her conviction was actually upon a small technicality - an official in the Prime Minister's Office had failed to submit his resignation in time before officially beginning work on Indira's election campaign in 1971. However, strikes in labor and trade unions, student unions and government unions swept across the country. Protests led by Narayan and Morarji Desai flooded the streets of Delhi close to the Parliament building and the PM's residence. Morarji Ranchhodji Desai (मोरारजी देसाई) (February 29, 1896 – April 10, 1995) was an Indian freedom fighter and the first non-Congress Party Prime Minister of India. ... It has been suggested that National Capital Territory of Delhi be merged into this article or section. ...

Declaration of Emergency

President Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed declared a State of Emergency. Apart from being a political ally of Indira, the President in India acts mostly upon the advice of the Prime Minister. In her own words, Indira brought democracy "to a grinding halt". Standard of the President of India The President of India is the head of state and first citizen of India and the Supreme Commander of the Indian armed forces. ... Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed (May 13, 1905 - February 11, 1977) was President of India of 1974 to 1977. ... A state of emergency in India refers to a period of governance under an altered constitutional setup that can be proclaimed by the President of India, when he/she perceives grave threats to the nation from internal and external sources or from financial situations of crisis. ...

Elections for the Parliament and state governments were postponed. Invoking article 352 of the Indian Constitution, she granted herself extraordinary powers and launched a massive crackdown on civil liberties and political opposition. The Government cited threats to national security, as a recent war with Pakistan had just been concluded. The strikes and protests had paralyzed the government and hurt the economy of the country greatly. Indira herself had the right to appeal to the Supreme Court of India and had no legal obligation to resign until then. But in face of massive political opposition, desertion and disorder across the country, she took the advice of a few close party loyalists and her younger son Sanjay Gandhi, who had become a close political advisor. The Constitution of India, the worlds lengthiest written constitution (with 395 articles and 8 schedules) was passed by the Constituent Assembly on November 26, 1949. ... The Supreme Court of India is the highest court of the land as established by Part V, Chapter IV of the Constitution of India. ... Sanjay Gandhi on a stamp Sanjay Gandhi (December 14, 1946 - June 23, 1980) was an Indian politician; he was the younger son of Feroze Gandhi and his wife Indira Gandhi. ...

As the constitution requires, Indira advised and President Ahmed approved the continuation of Emergency over every six-month period until her decision to hold elections in 1977.

The Emergency Administration

President Ahmed signed the decree, invoking a state of emergency under the Constitution. The Government used police forces across the country to arrest thousands of protestors and strike leaders. J.P. Narayan, Morarji Desai, Charan Singh, Jivatram Kripalani, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Lal Krishna Advani and other protest leaders were immediately arrested. Organizations like the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and opposition political parties were banned. Charan Singh could mean Choudhary Charan Singh, the former prime minister of India or Charan Singh (guru), the late Charan Singh of Radhasoami Satsang Beas. ... Jivatram Kripalani, also referred to with the prefix Acharya (Teacher: Hindi), was an Indian freedom fighter and political leader, who became a nationwide leader of the Janata Party revolt against the Indian Emergency. ... Atal Bihari Vajpayee (अटल बिहारी वाजपेयी in Devanagari) (born December 25, 1924) was the Prime Minister of India in 1996 and again from October 13, 1998 until May 19, 2004. ... Lal Krishna Advani Lal Krishna Advani (Devanagari: लाल कृष्ण आड़वाणी) also known as Lal Kishenchand Advani (born November 8, 1927/1929, Karachi, Pakistan) was the President of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) until year-end 2005 and is Leader of the Opposition in the 14th Lok Sabha. ... It has been suggested that RSS survey be merged into this article or section. ...

Indira attempted to re-write the nation's laws with the help of the Parliament, where the Congress controlled over a two-thirds majority. She felt her powers were not amassing quickly enough, so she utilized the President to issue "extraordinary laws" that bypassed parliament altogether, allowing her to rule by decree. She constructed a 20-point economic program to increase agricultural and industrial production, improve public services and fight poverty and illiteracy. Also, she had little trouble in making amendments to the constitution that exonerated her from any culpability in her election fraud case, declaring President's Rule in Gujarat and Tamil Nadu where anti-Indira parties ruled (state legislatures were thereby dissolved and suspended indefinitely), and jailing thousands of opponents. Rule by decree is a style of governance allowing quick, unchallenged creation of law by a single person or group, and is used primarily by dictators and absolute monarchs. ... Presidents rule is enabled by article 356 of the constitution of India. ... Gujarat (Gujarati: , Hindi: ,, IPA ; also spelled Gujrat and sometimes Gujarath). ... Tamil Nadu (தமிழ் நாடு, Land of the Tamils) is a state at the southern tip of India. ...

One of the cases of emergency era are that when the Supreme Court of India ordered that though the counstitution is subject to amendment (as used by indira) but changes that are ultra vires to the basic structure of the constitution cannot be made by the Parliament of India.

Elections of 1977

See Also: Janata Party, Jaya Prakash Narayan, Morarji Desai The Janata Party (Peoples Party in Hindi) was an Indian political party that contested the Indian Emergency (1975-77) and became the first political party to defeat the Indian National Congress in the 1977 elections, forming the national government from 1977 to 1980. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into Jayaprakash Narayan. ... Morarji Ranchhodji Desai (मोरारजी देसाई) (February 29, 1896 – April 10, 1995) was an Indian freedom fighter and the first non-Congress Party Prime Minister of India. ...

On January 23, 1977, Indira Gandhi called fresh elections for March and released all political prisoners. Emergency officially ended on March 23, 1977.

It is suggested that official intelligence sources told the Prime Minister that her administration was popular across the country. It has also been known that Indira feared that Field Marshall Sam Manekshaw, then Chief of Army Staff threatened to depose her if she did not immediately call elections, even though Maneckshaw denied any intentions in a later interview to The Times of India. The Janata Party alliance of political parties opposed to Indira swept the polls, winning a majority in Parliament. Many Congress Party loyalists deserted Indira, who herself lost her constituency seat. Morarji Desai became the first non-Congress Prime Minister of India. Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw Field Marshal Sam Hormusji Framji Jamshedji Manekshaw (born April 3, 1914) was the Indian Army Chief of Staff who led the Indian forces during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971. ... The Times of India logo The Times of India, often abbreviated as TOI, one of Indias leading daily newspapers, has the highest circulation amongst English language daily broadsheets in the world. ... The Janata Party (Peoples Party in Hindi) was an Indian political party that contested the Indian Emergency (1975-77) and became the first political party to defeat the Indian National Congress in the 1977 elections, forming the national government from 1977 to 1980. ... Morarji Ranchhodji Desai (मोरारजी देसाई) (February 29, 1896 – April 10, 1995) was an Indian freedom fighter and the first non-Congress Party Prime Minister of India. ...

The Tribunal

The efforts of the Janata administration to try government officials and Congress politicians for Emergency-era abuses and crimes were largely a flop due to a disorganized, over-complex and politically-motivated process of litigation. Although special tribunals were organized and scores of senior Congress Party and government officials arrested and charged, including Indira and Sanjay Gandhi, police were unable to submit sufficient evidence for most cases, and only a few low-level officials were convicted of any abuses.

The people lost interest in the hearings owing to their continuous fumbling and complex nature, and the economic and social needs of the country grew more important to them. An impression was created that corruption and political subversion stalled the process of justice.

The Debate over its Legacy

Indira's emergency rule lasted 19 months, and its legacy remains intensely controversial.

Support for Indira's Decisions

The Emergency was endorsed by Vinoba Bhave (who called it Anushasan parva or Time for discipline) and Mother Teresa. Pioneer industrialist J. R. D. Tata, and writer Khushwant Singh were among the other prominent supporters. Some have argued that India badly needed economic recovery after the 1971 Indo-Pak war had strained the exchequer. Indira's 20-point economic program increased agricultural production, manufacturing activity, exports and foreign reserves. The national economy achieved high levels of growth and investment, and as strikes were non-existent, productivity increased rapidly. Communal Hindu-Muslim riots, which had re-surfaced in the 1960s and 70s, virtually ceased, and initially the government seemed to be working with vigour. Police in cities had sweeping powers to destroy gang and syndicate structure Vinoba Bhave (September 11, 1895–November 15, 1982), born Vinayak Narahari Bhave, often called Acharya Vinoba Bhave (Acharya in Sanskrit means teacher) is considered as a National Teacher of India who has left his firm imprint on the religious, social and political consciousness of India. ... Mother Teresa of Calcutta, OM (August 27, 1910 — September 5, 1997) was an Albanian Catholic nun who founded the Missionaries of Charity in India. ... Jehangir Ratanji Dadabhoy Tata (July 29, 1904–November 29, 1993) was a pioneer aviator and important businessman of India. ... Khushwant Singh Khushwant Singh (born February 2, 1915 in Punjab) is a popular Indian writer, writing exclusively in English language. ...

Charges against the Government

Criticism and Accusations of the Emergency-era may be grouped as:

• Wanton detention of innocent people by police without charge or notification of families
• Abuse and torture of detainees and political prisoners
• Use of public and private media institutions, like the national television network Doordarshan, for propaganda
• Forced vasectomy and even castration of thousands of men and women under the infamous family planning initiative. Indira's son, Sanjay Gandhi, was blamed for this abusive and forcible treatment of people.
• Arbitrary destruction of the slum and low-income housing in the Turkmen Gate and Jama Masjid area of old Delhi. The action, purportedly conducted under the personal orders of Sanjay Gandhi by the officials of the Delhi Development Authority, killed hundreds of people and displaced tens of thousands of poor people.

Doordarshan (दूरदर्शन) is a public broadcast terrestrial television channel run by Prasar Bharati, a board nominated by the Government of India. ... For the process of removing or killing all microorganisms from an object, see Sterilization (microbiology). ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Sanjay Gandhi on a stamp Sanjay Gandhi (December 14, 1946 - June 23, 1980) was an Indian politician; he was the younger son of Feroze Gandhi and his wife Indira Gandhi. ... A boy from an East Cipinang trash dump slum in Jakarta, Indonesia shows his find. ... The Jama Masjid is a mosque near Crawford Market in the South Mumbai region of Mumbai, India. ... It has been suggested that National Capital Territory of Delhi be merged into this article or section. ...

Assessment

The Emergency years were the biggest challenge to India's commitment to democracy, which proved vulnerable to the manipulation of powerful leaders and large parliamentary majorities.

References

• The Judgement by Kuldip Nayar
• This article contains material from the Library of Congress Country Studies, which are United States government publications in the public domain. India Country Study
• "Memories of a Father," a book by Eachara Varier, father of a student killed in police custody during the emergency