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TheEmergency(India)
FromWikipedia,thefreeencyclopedia

InIndia,"theEmergency"referstoa21monthperiodin197577
whenPrimeMinisterIndiraGandhiunilaterallyhadastateof
emergencydeclaredacrossthecountry.Officiallyissuedby
PresidentFakhruddinAliAhmedunderArticle352(1)ofthe
Constitutionfor"internaldisturbance",theEmergencywasineffect
from25June1975untilitswithdrawalon21March1977.Theorder
bestowedupontheprimeministertheauthoritytorulebydecree,
allowingelectionstobesuspendedandcivillibertiestobecurbed.
FormuchoftheEmergency,mostofGandhi'spoliticalopponents
wereimprisonedandthepresswascensored.Severalotheratrocities
werereportedfromthetime,includingaforcedmasssterilisation
campaignspearheadedbySanjayGandhi,thePrimeMinister'sson.
TheEmergencyisoneofthemostcontroversialperiodsof
independentIndia'shistory.[2]

Contents
1Prelude
1.1RiseofIndiraGandhi
1.2Tendencyoftheexecutivetocontrolthejudiciary

PrimeMinisterIndiraGandhi,who
hadPresidentFakhruddinAliAhmed
proclaimastateofnational
emergencyfrom25June1975to21
March1977

1.3Politicalunrest
1.4RajNarainverdict
2ProclamationoftheEmergency
3Administration
3.1Arrests
3.2Laws,HumanRightsandElections
3.3Familyplanning
3.4CriticismagainsttheGovernment
4Resistancemovements
4.1Sikhopposition
4.2TheroleofRSS
5Electionsof1977
6Thetribunal
7Legacy
8Inculture
8.1Literature
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8.2Film
9Seealso
10References
11Sources
12Furtherreading
13Externallinks

Prelude
RiseofIndiraGandhi
Between1967and1971,PrimeMinisterIndiraGandhicametoobtainnear
absolutecontroloverthegovernmentandtheIndianNationalCongressparty,
aswellasahugemajorityinParliament.Thefirstwasachievedby
concentratingthecentralgovernment'spowerwithinthePrimeMinister's
Secretariat,ratherthantheCabinet,whoseelectedmembersshesawasathreat
anddistrusted.Forthisshereliedonherprincipalsecretary,P.N.Haksar,a
centralfigureinIndira'sKashmiriPanditdominatedinnercircleofadvisors.
Further,Haksarpromotedtheideaofa"committedbureaucracy"thatrequired
governmentofficialstobe"committed"toideologyoftherulingpartyofthe
day.

The1976arrestof
socialistlabourleader
GeorgeFernandes,who
raiseshisshackledhand
defiantly.Thisbecame
aniconicimageofthe
Emergency. [1]

WithintheCongress,Indiraruthlessly
"IndiraisIndia,IndiaisIndira."
outmanoeuvredherrivals,forcingasplitin
1969intotheCongress(O)(comprisingthe
CongresspresidentD.K.Barooah,c.1974[3]
partyoldguardknownasthe"Syndicate")and
herCongress(R).AmajorityoftheAllIndia
CongressCommitteeandCongressMPssidedwiththeprimeminister.Indira'spartywasadifferentbeast
fromtheCongressofold,arobustinstitutionwithtraditionsofinternaldemocracy.IntheCongress(R),on
theotherhand,membersquicklyrealisedthattheirprogresswithintheranksdependedsolelyontheir
loyaltytoIndiraGandhiandherfamily,andostentatiousdisplaysofsycophancybecameroutine.Inthe
comingyears,Indira'sinfluencewassuchthatshecouldinstallhandpickedloyalistsaschiefministersof
states,ratherthantheybeingelectedbytheCongresslegislativeparty.
Indira'sascentwasbackedbyherappealamongthepublic.Alwaysacharismaticfigure,herpullwiththe
masseswasaidedbyhergovernment'snearradicalleftwardturns.TheseincludetheJuly1969
nationalisationofseveralmajorbanks[4]andtheSeptember1970abolitionoftheprivypurse[5]thesewere
oftendonesuddenly,viaordinance,totheuniversalshockofheropponents.Subsequently,unlikethe
Syndicateandotheropponents,Indirawasseenas"standingforsocialismineconomicsandsecularismin
mattersofreligion,asbeingpropoorandforthedevelopmentofthenationasawhole."[6]Theprime
ministerwasespeciallyadoredbythedisadvantagedsectionsthepoor,Dalits,womenandminorities.For
them,shewastheirIndiraAmma,apersonificationofMotherIndia.

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Inthe1971generalelections,thepeopleralliedbehindIndira'spopulistsloganofGaribiHatao!(getridof
poverty!)toawardherahugemajority(352seatsoutof518)."Bythemarginofitsvictory,"historian
RamachandraGuhalaterwrote,Congress(R)cametobeknownastherealCongress,"requiringno
qualifyingsuffix."[6]InDecember1971,underherproactivewarleadership,Indiaroutedarchenemy
PakistaninawarthatledtotheindependenceofBangladesh,formerlyEastPakistan.AwardedtheBharat
Ratnathenextmonth,shewasathergreatestpeakforherbiographerInderMalhotra,"TheEconomist'
s
descriptionofherasthe'EmpressofIndia'seemedapt."Evenoppositionleaders,whoroutinelyaccusedher
ofbeingadictatorandoffosteringapersonalitycult,referredtoherasDurga,aHindugoddess.[7]

Tendencyoftheexecutivetocontrolthejudiciary
InthefamousGolaknathcase,theSupremeCourtsaidthattheConstitutioncouldnotbeamendedby
Parliamentifitaffectsbasicissuessuchasfundamentalrights.TonullifythisjudgementParliament,
dominatedbyPrimeMinisterIndiraGandhi'sIndianNationalCongressparty,passedthe24thAmendment
in1971.Similarly,afterthegovernmentlostaSupremeCourtcaseforwithdrawingtheprivypursegivento
erstwhileprinces,Parliamentpassedthe26thAmendment.Thisgaveconstitutionalvaliditytothe
government'sabolitionoftheprivypurseandnullifiedtheSupremeCourt'sorder.
ThisjudiciaryexecutivebattlewouldcontinueinthelandmarkKesavanandaBharaticase,wherethe24th
Amendmentwascalledintoquestion.Withawaferthinmajorityof7to6,thebenchoftheSupremeCourt
restrictedParliament'samendmentpowerbystatingitcouldnotbeusedtoalterthe"basicstructure"ofthe
Constitution.Subsequently,PrimeMinisterGandhimadeA.N.Raytheseniormostjudgeamongstthose
intheminorityinKesavanandaBharatiasChiefJusticeofIndia.Raysupersededthreejudgesmore
seniortohimJ.M.Shelat,HegdeandGroverallmembersofthemajorityinKesavanandaBharati.
IndiraGandhi'stendencytocontrolthejudiciarymetwithseverecriticism,bothfromthepressandpolitical
opponentssuchasJayaprakashNarayan("JP").

Politicalunrest
During197375,politicalunrestagainsttheIndiraGandhigovernmentincreasedacrossthecountry.(This
ledtosomeCongresspartyleaderstodemandforamovetowardsapresidentialsystem,withamore
powerfuldirectlyelectedexecutive.)ThemostsignificantoftheinitialsuchmovementwastheNav
NirmanmovementinGujarat,betweenDecember1973andMarch1974.Studentunrestagainstthestate's
educationministerultimatelyforcedthecentralgovernmenttodissolvethestatelegislature,leadingtothe
resignationofthechiefminister,ChimanbhaiPatel,andtheimpositionofPresident'srule.Afterthere
electionsinJune1975,Gandhi'spartywasdefeatedbytheJanataalliance,formedbypartiesopposedtothe
rulingCongressparty.
InMarchApril1974,astudentagitationbytheBiharChatraSangharshSamitireceivedthesupportof
GandhiansocialistJayaprakashNarayan,referredtoasJP,againsttheBihargovernment.InApril1974,in
Patna,JPcalledfor"totalrevolution",askingstudents,peasants,andlabourorganizationsnonviolently
transformIndiansociety.Healsodemandedthedissolutionofthestategovernment,butthiswasnot
acceptedbyCentre.Amonthlater,therailwayemployeesunion,thelargestunioninthecountry,wentona
nationwidestrike.ThisstrikewasbrutallysuppressedbytheIndiraGandhigovernment,whicharrested
thousandsofemployeesanddrovetheirfamiliesoutoftheirquarters.

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Evenwithinparliament,thegovernmentfacedmuchcriticism.Eversinceshetookchargeasprimeminister
in1966,IndiraGandhi'sgovernmenthadtofacetennoconfidencemotionsintheLokSabha.[8]

RajNarainverdict
RajNarain,whohadbeendefeatedinparliamentaryelectionbyIndiraGandhi,lodgedcasesofelection
fraudanduseofstatemachineryforelectionpurposesagainstherintheAllahabadHighCourt.Shanti
BhushanfoughtthecaseforNarain.GandhiwasalsocrossexaminedintheHighCourtwhichwasthefirst
suchinstanceforanIndianprimeminister.
On12June1975,JusticeJagmohanlalSinhaoftheAllahabadHighCourtfoundtheprimeministerguilty
onthechargeofmisuseofgovernmentmachineryforherelectioncampaign.Thecourtdeclaredher
electionnullandvoidandunseatedherfromherseatintheLokSabha.Thecourtalsobannedherfrom
contestinganyelectionforanadditionalsixyears.Seriouschargessuchasbribingvotersandelection
malpracticesweredroppedandshewasheldresponsibleformisusinggovernmentmachinery,andfound
guiltyonchargessuchasusingthestatepolicetobuildadais,availingtheservicesofagovernmentofficer,
YashpalKapoor,duringtheelectionsbeforehehadresignedfromhisposition,anduseofelectricityfrom
thestateelectricitydepartment.
Becausethecourtunseatedheroncomparativelyfrivolouscharges,whileshewasacquittedonmore
seriouscharges,TheTimesdescribeditas"firingthePrimeMinisterforatrafficticket".However,strikes
intrade,studentandgovernmentunionssweptacrossthecountry.LedbyJP,Narain,SatyendraNarayan
SinhaandMorarjiDesai,protestorsfloodedthestreetsofDelhiclosetotheParliamentbuildingandthe
PrimeMinister'sresidence.ThepersistenteffortsofNarainwerepraisedworldwideasittookoverfour
yearsforJusticeSinhatopassjudgementagainsttheprimeminister.
IndiraGandhichallengedtheHighCourt'sdecisionintheSupremeCourt.JusticeV.R.KrishnaIyer,on24
June1975,upheldtheHighCourtjudgementandorderedallprivilegesGandhireceivedasanMPbe
stopped,andthatshebedebarredfromvoting.However,shewasallowedtocontinueasPrimeMinister.
Thenextday,JPorganisedalargerallyinDelhi,wherehesaidthatapoliceofficermustrejecttheorders
ofgovernmentiftheorderisimmoralandunethicalasthiswasMahatmaGandhi'smottoduringthe
freedomstruggle.Suchastatementwastakenasasignofincitingrebellioninthecountry.Laterthatday,
IndiraGandhirequestedacompliantPresidentFakhruddinAliAhmedtoissueaproclamationofastateof
emergency.Withinthreehours,theelectricitytoallmajornewspaperswascutandthepoliticalopposition
arrested.TheproposalwassentwithoutdiscussionwiththeUnionCabinet,whoonlylearntofitand
ratifieditthenextmorning.

ProclamationoftheEmergency
TheGovernmentcitedthreatstonationalsecurity,asawarwithPakistanhadrecentlybeenconcluded.Due
tothewarandadditionalchallengesofdroughtandthe1973oilcrisis,theeconomywasinbadshape.The
Governmentclaimedthatthestrikesandprotestshadparalysedthegovernmentandhurttheeconomyof
thecountrygreatly.Inthefaceofmassivepoliticalopposition,desertionanddisorderacrossthecountry
andtheparty,GandhistucktotheadviceofafewloyalistsandheryoungersonSanjayGandhi,whoseown
powerhadgrownconsiderablyoverthelastfewyearstobecomean"extraconstitutionalauthority".
SiddharthaShankarRay,theChiefMinisterofWestBengal,proposedtotheprimeministertoimposean
"internalemergency".HedraftedaletterforthePresidenttoissuetheproclamationonthebasisof
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informationIndirahadreceivedthat"thereisanimminentdangertothesecurityofIndiabeingthreatened
byinternaldisturbances".Heshowedhowdemocraticfreedomcouldbesuspendedwhileremainingwithin
theambitoftheConstitution.[9]
Afteraquickquestionregardingaproceduralmatter,PresidentFakhruddinAliAhmeddeclaredastateof
internalemergencyupontheprimeminister'sadviceonthenightof25June1975,justafewminutesbefore
theclockstruckmidnight.
Astheconstitutionrequires,Ms.GandhiadvisedandPresidentAhmedapprovedthecontinuationof
Emergencyovereverysixmonthperioduntilherdecisiontoholdelectionsin1977.

Administration
IndiraGandhideviseda'20point'economicprogramtoincreaseagriculturalandindustrialproduction,
improvepublicservicesandfightpovertyandilliteracy,through"thedisciplineofthegraveyard".[10]Itwas
famouslysaidthatduringtheEmergencytrainswouldrunontime,employeeswouldbestillbeableto
attendtotheirdutiesandworkcouldstillbecarriedoutingovernmentoffices.

Arrests
Invokingarticle352oftheIndianConstitution,Gandhigrantedherselfextraordinarypowersandlaunched
amassivecrackdownoncivillibertiesandpoliticalopposition.TheGovernmentusedpoliceforcesacross
thecountrytoplacethousandsofprotestorsandstrikeleadersunderpreventivedetention.Vijayaraje
Scindia,JP,RajNarain,MorarjiDesai,CharanSingh,JivatramKripalani,AtalBihariVajpayee,L.K.
Advani,SatyendraNarayanSinhaandotherprotestleaderswereimmediatelyarrested.Organizationslike
theRashtriyaSwayamsevakSangh(RSS)andJamaateIslamialongwithsomepoliticalpartieswere
banned.NumerousCommunistleaderswerearrestedalongwithmanyothersinvolvedwiththeirparty.
InTamilNadutheM.KarunanidhigovernmentwasdissolvedandtheleadersoftheDMKwere
incarcerated.Inparticular,Karunanidhi'ssonM.K.Stalin,wasarrestedundertheMaintenanceofInternal
SecurityAct.Atleastninehighcourtspronouncedthatevenafterthedeclarationofanemergencyaperson
couldchallengehisdetention.TheSupremeCourt,nowundertheIndiraGandhiappointedChiefJusticeA.
N.Ray,overruledallofthemupholdingthestate'spleaforpowertodetainapersonwithoutthenecessity
ofinforminghimofthereasons/groundsofhisarrestor,tosuspendhispersonallibertiesor,todeprivehim
ofhisrighttolife,inanabsolutemanner(thehabeascorpuscase').[11][12]Manypoliticalworkerswhowere
notarrestedinthefirstwave,went'underground'continuingorganisingprotests.[13]

Laws,HumanRightsandElections
ElectionsfortheParliamentandstategovernmentswerepostponed.Gandhiandherparliamentary
majoritiescouldrewritethenation'slaws,sinceherCongresspartyhadtherequiredmandatetodosoa
twothirdsmajorityintheParliament.Andwhenshefelttheexistinglawswere'tooslow',shegotthe
Presidenttoissue'Ordinances'alawmakingpowerintimesofurgency,invokedsparinglycompletely
bypassingtheParliament,allowinghertorulebydecree.Also,shehadlittletroubleamendingthe
Constitutionthatexoneratedherfromanyculpabilityinherelectionfraudcase,imposingPresident'sRule
inGujaratandTamilNadu,whereantiIndirapartiesruled(statelegislaturesweretherebydissolvedand
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suspendedindefinitely),andjailingthousandsofopponents.The42ndAmendment,whichbroughtabout
extensivechangestotheletterandspiritoftheConstitution,isoneofthelastinglegaciesoftheEmergency.
IntheconclusionofhisMakingofIndia'sConstitution,JusticeKhannawrites:
IftheIndianconstitutionisourheritagebequeathedtousbyourfoundingfathers,nolessare
we,thepeopleofIndia,thetrusteesandcustodiansofthevalueswhichpulsatewithinits
provisions!Aconstitutionisnotaparchmentofpaper,itisawayoflifeandhastobelivedup
to.Eternalvigilanceisthepriceoflibertyandinthefinalanalysis,itsonlykeepersarethe
people.Imbecilityofmen,historyteachesus,alwaysinvitestheimpudenceofpower."[14]
AfalloutoftheEmergencyerawastheSupremeCourtlaiddownthat,althoughtheConstitutionis
amenabletoamendments(asabusedbyIndiraGandhi),changesthattinkerwithitsbasicstructure[15]
cannotbemadebytheParliament.(seeKesavanandaBharativ.StateofKerala)[16]
IntheRajancase,P.RajanoftheRegionalEngineeringCollege,Calicut,wasarrestedbythepolicein
Keralaon1March1976,[17]torturedincustodyuntilhediedandthenhisbodywasdisposedwhichwas
neverrecovered.ThefactsofthisincidentcameoutowingtoahabeascorpussuitfiledintheKeralaHigh
Court.[18][19]

Familyplanning
SanjayGandhiwasespeciallyconcernedwithissuesofoverpopulation.Heinitiatedabirthcontrol
program,chieflyemployingsterilisation,primarilyvasectomies.Quotasweresetupthatenthusiastic
supportersworkedhardtoachieve.Criticsarouseangerbychargingitinvolvedcoercionofunwilling
Indians.[20]In19761977,theprogramcounted8.3millionsterilisations,upfrom2.7milliontheprevious
year.Thebadnameforcedchangesinthenameoftheprogramandeverygovernmentsince1977has
stressedfamilyplanningisentirelyvoluntary.[21]

CriticismagainsttheGovernment
CriticismandaccusationsoftheEmergencyeramaybegroupedas:
Detentionofpeoplebypolicewithoutchargeornotificationoffamilies
Abuseandtortureofdetaineesandpoliticalprisoners
Useofpublicandprivatemediainstitutions,likethenationaltelevisionnetworkDoordarshan,for
governmentpropaganda
Forcedsterilisation.
DestructionoftheslumandlowincomehousingintheTurkmenGateandJamaMasjidareaofold
Delhi.
Largescaleandillegalenactmentoflaws(includingmodificationstotheConstitution).
TheEmergencyyearswerethebiggestchallengetoIndia'scommitmenttodemocracy,whichproved
vulnerabletothemanipulationofpowerfulleadersandhegemonicParliamentarymajorities.
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Resistancemovements
Sikhopposition
Withtheleadersofalloppositionpartiesandotheroutspokencriticsofhergovernmentarrestedandbehind
bars,theentirecountrywasinastateofshock.ShortlyafterthedeclarationoftheEmergency,theSikh
leadershipconvenedmeetingsinAmritsarwheretheyresolvedtoopposethe"fascisttendencyofthe
Congress".[22]Thefirstmassprotestinthecountry,knownasthe"CampaigntoSaveDemocracy"was
organisedbytheAkaliDalandlaunchedinAmritsar,9July.Astatementtothepressrecalledthehistoric
SikhstruggleforfreedomundertheMughals,thenundertheBritish,andvoicedconcernthatwhathadbeen
foughtforandachievedwasbeinglost.Thepolicewereoutinforceforthedemonstrationandarrestedthe
protestors,includingtheShiromaniAkaliDalandShiromaniGurdwaraPrabandhakCommittee(SGPC)
leaders.
ThePrimeMinisterseemedgenuinelysurprisedatthestrengthoftheresponsefromtheSikhs.Fearingtheir
defiancemightinspirecivildisobedienceinotherpartsofthecounty,sheofferedtonegotiateadealwith
theShiromaniAkalDalthatwouldgiveitjointcontrolofthePunjabLegislativeAssembly.Theleaderof
theprotests,SantHarcharanSinghLongowalrefusedtomeetwithgovernmentrepresentativessolongas
theEmergencywasineffect.Inapressinterview,hemadeclearthegroundsoftheSaveDemocracy
campaign.
"ThequestionbeforeusisnotwhetherIndiraGandhishouldcontinuetobeprimeministerornot.
Thepointiswhetherdemocracyinthiscountryistosurviveornot.Thedemocraticstructurestands
onthreepillars,namelyastrongopposition,independentjudiciaryandfreepress.Emergencyhas
destroyedalltheseessentials."[23]
Whilethecivildisobediencecampaigncaughtoninsomepartsofthecountry,especiallyatDelhi
University,thegovernment'stacticsofmassarrests,censorshipandintimidationcurtailedtheoppositions's
popularity.AfterJanuary,theSikhsremainedvirtuallyaloneintheiractiveresistancetotheregime.Hailed
byoppositionleadersas"thelastbastionofdemocracy",[24]theycontinuedtocomeoutinlargenumbers
eachmonthonthedayofthenewmoon,symbolisingthedarknightofIndiandemocracy,tocourtarrest.
AccordingtoAmnestyInternational,140,000peoplehadbeenarrestedwithouttrialduringthetwenty
monthsofGandhi'sEmergency.JasjitSinghGrewalestimatesthat40,000ofthemcamefromIndia'stwo
percentSikhminority.[25]

TheroleofRSS
RashtriyaSwayamsevakSangh,whichwasseenclosetooppositionleaders,andwithitslarge
organizationalbasewasseenashavingthepotentialoforganisingprotestsagainsttheGovernment,was
alsobanned.[26]Policeclampeddownontheorganisationandthousandsofitsworkerswereimprisoned.[27]
TheRSSdefiedthebanandthousandsparticipatedinSatyagraha(peacefulprotests)againstthebanand
againstthecurtailmentoffundamentalrights.Later,whentherewasnoletup,thevolunteersoftheRSS
formedundergroundmovementsfortherestorationofdemocracy.Literaturethatwascensoredinthemedia
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wasclandestinelypublishedanddistributedonalargescaleandfundswerecollectedforthemovement.
Networkswereestablishedbetweenleadersofdifferentpoliticalpartiesinthejailandoutsidefortheco
ordinationofthemovement.[28]
TheEconomistdescribedthemovementas"theonlynonleftrevolutionaryforceintheworld".Itsaidthat
themovementwas"dominatedbytensofthousandsofRSScadres,thoughmoreandmoreyoungrecruits
arecoming".Talkingaboutitsobjectivesitsaid"itsplatformatthemomenthasonlyoneplank:tobring
democracybacktoIndia".[29]

Electionsof1977
SeeAlso:JanataParty,JayaprakashNarayan,MorarjiDesai
On18January1977,GandhicalledfreshelectionsforMarchandreleasedallpoliticalprisoners.The
Emergencyofficiallyendedon23March1977.TheoppositionJanatamovement'scampaignwarned
Indiansthattheelectionsmightbetheirlastchancetochoosebetween"democracyanddictatorship."
IntheLokSabhaelections,heldinMarch,Mrs.GandhiandSanjaybothlosttheirLokSabhaseats,asdid
alltheCongressCandidatesinNorthernstatessuchasBiharandUttarPradesh.ManyCongressParty
loyalistsdesertedMrs.Gandhi.TheCongresswasreducedtojust153seats,92ofwhichwerefromfourof
thesouthernstates.TheJanataParty's298seatsanditsallies'47seats(ofatotal542)gaveitamassive
majority.MorarjiDesaibecamethefirstnonCongressPrimeMinisterofIndia.
TheelectionsinthelargeststateUttarPradesh,historicallyaCongressstronghold,turnedagainstGandhi
andherpartyfailedtowinasingleseatinthestate.Dhanagaresaysthestructuralreasonsbehindthe
discontentagainsttheGovernmentincludedtheemergenceofastrongandunitedopposition,disunityand
wearinessinsideCongress,aneffectiveundergroundopposition,andtheineffectivenessofGandhi'scontrol
ofthemassmedia,whichhadlostmuchcredibility.Thestructuralfactorsallowedvoterstoexpresstheir
grievances,notablytheirresentmentoftheemergencyanditsauthoritarianandrepressivepolicies.One
grievanceoftenmentionedasthe'nasbandi'(vasectomy)campaigninruralareas.Themiddleclassesalso
emphasisedthecurbingoffreedomthroughoutthestateandIndia.[30]MeanwhileCongresshitanalltime
lowinWestBengalbecauseofthepoordisciplineandfactionalismamongCongressactivistsaswellasthe
numerousdefectionsthatweakenedtheparty.[31]Opponentsemphasisedtheissuesofcorruptionin
Congressandappealedtoadeepdesirebythevotersforfreshleadership.[32]

Thetribunal
TheeffortsoftheJanataadministrationtogetgovernmentofficialsandCongresspoliticianstriedfor
Emergencyeraabusesandcrimeswerelargelyunsuccessfulduetoadisorganised,overcomplexand
politicallymotivatedprocessoflitigation.Althoughspecialtribunalswereorganisedandscoresofsenior
CongressPartyandgovernmentofficialsarrestedandcharged,includingMrs.GandhiandSanjayGandhi,
policewereunabletosubmitsufficientevidenceformostcases,andonlyafewlowlevelofficialswere
convictedofanyabuses.
Thepeoplelostinterestinthehearingsowingtotheircontinuousfumblingandcomplexnature,andthe
economicandsocialneedsofthecountrygrewmoreimportanttothem.
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Legacy
TheEmergencylasted21months,anditslegacyremainsintenselycontroversial.On26June1975,theday
afteremergencywasimposed,theBombayeditionofTheTimesofIndiacarriedanobituarythatread
"D.E.MO'CracybelovedhusbandofT.Ruth,fatherofL.I.Bertie,brotherofFaith,HopeandJusticaexpired
on26June".[33]Afewdayslatercensorshipwasimposedonnewspapers.TheDelhieditionoftheIndian
Expresson28June,carriedablankeditorial,whiletheFinancialExpressreproducedinlargetype
RabindranathTagore'spoem"Wherethemindiswithoutfear".[34]
However,theEmergencyalsoreceivedsupportfromseveralsections.Itwasendorsedbysocialreformer
VinobaBhave(whocalleditAnushasanparva,atimefordiscipline),industrialistJ.R.D.Tata,writer
KhushwantSinghandIndiraGandhi'sclosefriend&OrissaChiefMinisterNandiniSatpathy.However,
TataandSatpathylaterregrettedthattheyspokeinfavouroftheEmergency.[35][36]Othershavearguedthat
Gandhi'sTwentyPointProgrammeincreasedagriculturalproduction,manufacturingactivity,exportsand
foreignreserves.CommunalHinduMuslimriots,whichhadresurfacedinthe1960sand1970s,also
reducedinintensity.
InthebookJPMovementandtheEmergency,historianBipanChandrawrote,"SanjayGandhiandhis
cronieslikeBansiLal,MinisterofDefenceatthetime,werekeenonpostponingelectionsandprolonging
theemergencybyseveralyears...InOctoberNovember1976,aneffortwasmadetochangethebasiccivil
libertarianstructureoftheIndianConstitutionthoroughthe42ndamendmenttoit....Themostimportant
changesweredesignedtostrengthentheexecutiveatthecostofthejudiciary,andthusdisturbthecarefully
craftedsystemofConstitutionalchecksandbalancebetweenthethreeorgansofthegovernment."[37]

Inculture
Literature
WriterRahiMasoomRazacriticisedtheEmergencythroughhisnovelQatrabiAarzoo.[38]
AFineBalanceandSuchaLongJourneybyRohintonMistrytakeplaceduringtheEmergencyand
highlightsmanyoftheabusesthatoccurredduringthatperiod,largelythroughthelensofIndia's
smallbutculturallyinfluentialParsiminority.
BookerPrizewinnerMidnight'sChildrenbySalmanRushdie,hastheprotagonist,SaleemSinai,in
IndiaduringtheEmergency.Hishomeinalowincomearea,calledthe"magician'sghetto",is
destroyedaspartofthenationalbeautificationprogram.Heisforciblysterilisedaspartofthe
vasectomyprogram.Theprincipalantagonistofthebookis"theWidow"(alikenessthatIndira
GandhisuccessfullysuedRushdiefor).TherewasonelineinthebookthatrepeatedanoldIndian
rumourthatIndiraGandhissondidntlikehismotherbecausehesuspectedherofcausingthedeath
ofhisfather.Asthiswasarumourtherewasnosubstantiationtobefound.[39]
India:AWoundedCivilization,abookbyVSNaipaulisalsoorientedaroundEmergency.
ThePlungeAnEnglishnovelbySanjeevTareistheirownstorytoldbyfouryouthsstudyingat
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KalidasCollegeinNagpur.Theytellthereaderwhattheywentthroughduringthosepolitically
turbulenttimes.
TheMalayalamnovelDelhiGadhakal(TalesfromDelhi)byM.Mukundanhighlightsmanyabuses
thatoccurredduringtheEmergencyincludingforcedsterilisationofmenandthedestructionof
housesandshopsownedbyMuslimsinTurkmenGate.
Brutus,You!,abookbyChanakyaSenisbasedoninternalpoliticsofJawaharlalNehruUniversity,
DelhiduringtheperiodofEmergency.
VasansiJirnani,aplaybyToritMitraisinspiredbyArielDorfman'sDeathandtheMaidenand
effectsofemergency.
TheTamilnovelMarukkozhunthuMangai(GirlwithFragrantChineseMugwort)byRa.Su.
NallaperumalwhichisbasedonthehistoryofPallavas&People'risinginKanchiduring725A.D
explainshowthewidowQueenandthePrincesskillthefreedomofthepeople.Mostoftheincidents
describedinthenovelareresemblingwithemergencyperiod.Eventhenameofthecharactersinthe
novelareresemblingwithMrsGandhiandherfamily.

Film
AmritNahata'sfilmKissaKursiKa(1977)aboldspoofontheEmergency,whereShabanaAzmi
plays'Janata'(thepublic)amute,dumbprotagonist,wassubsequentlybannedandreportedly,[40]all
itsprintswereburned.
Yamagolaa1977Telugufilm(HindiremakeLokParlok)spoofstheemergencyissues.
I.S.Johar's1978BollywoodFilmNasbandiisasarcasmonthesterlisationdriveoftheGovernment
ofIndia,whereeachoneofthecharacters,istryingtofindsterlisationcases.Thefilmwasbanned
afteritsreleaseduetoitsportrayaloftheIndiraGandhigovernment.
AlthoughSatyajitRay's1980filmHirakRajarDeshewasachildren'scomedy,itwasasatireonthe
Emergency.
The1985MalayalamfilmYathradirectedbyBaluMahendrahasthehumanrightsviolationsbythe
policeduringtheEmergencyasitsmainplotline.
1988MalayalamfilmPiraviisaboutafathersearchingforhissonRajan,whohadbeenarrestedby
thepolice(andallegedlykilledincustody).
The2005HindifilmHazaaronKhwaisheinAisiissetagainstthebackdropoftheEmergency.The
film,directedbySudhirMishra,alsotriestoportraythegrowthoftheNaxalitemovementduringthe
Emergencyera.Themovietellsthestoryofthreeyoungstersinthe1970s,whenIndiawas
undergoingmassivesocialandpoliticalchanges.
Gulzar'sAandhi(1975)wasbanned,becausethefilmwassupposedlybasedonIndiraGandhi.[41]
The2012MarathifilmShaladiscussestheissuesrelatedtotheEmergency.
Midnight'sChildren,a2012adaptationofRushdie'snovel,createdwidespreadcontroversyduetothe
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negativeportrayalofIndiraGandhiandotherleaders.ThefilmwasnotshownattheInternational
FilmFestivalofIndiaandwasbannedfromfurtherscreeningattheInternationalFilmFestivalof
KeralawhereitwaspremiredinIndia.

Seealso
Barodadynamitecase

References
1. ^"SymbolinChains(http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,946718,00.html)".Time.18October
1976.(subscriptionneeded)
2. ^"Indiain1975:DemocracyinEclipse",NDPalmerAsianSurvey,vol16no5.Openinglines.
3. ^Guha,p.467
4. ^Singh,MahendraPrasad(1981).SplitinaPredominantParty:TheIndianNationalCongressin1969
(http://books.google.com/books?
hl=en&lr=&id=UOQRWuMXyRMC&oi=fnd&pg=PR5&dq=bank+nationalisation+india++july+1969+desai+indi
ra&ots=y7qWl0tAxb&sig=wRNsllWSvItkkldlC8L).NewDelhi:AbhinavPublications.p.68.
ISBN8170171407.Retrieved21October2014.
5. ^Singh,MahendraPrasad(1981).SplitinaPredominantParty:TheIndianNationalCongressin1969
(http://books.google.com/books?
hl=en&lr=&id=UOQRWuMXyRMC&oi=fnd&pg=PR5&dq=bank+nationalisation+india++july+1969+desai+indi
ra&ots=y7qWl0tAxb&sig=wRNsllWSvItkkldlC8L).NewDelhi:AbhinavPublications.p.104.
ISBN8170171407.Retrieved21October2014.
6. ^abGuha,p.439
7. ^Malhotra,p.141
8. ^http://164.100.47.134/intranet/pract&proc/chapterXXVIII.pdf
9. ^NAYAR,KULDIP(25June2000).Yes,PrimeMinister
(http://www.indianexpress.com/ie/daily/20000713/e1.htm).IndianExpress.
10. ^Jaitely,Arun(5November2007)"AtaleofthreeEmergencies:realreasonalwaysdifferent"
(http://www.indianexpress.com/news/ataleofthreeemergenciesrealreasonalwaysdifferent/235992/0),The
IndianExpress
11. ^PratapBhanuMehta,"TheRiseofJudicialSovereignty,"JournalofDemocracy(2007)18#2pp.7083
12. ^Thehabeascorpusjudgmentwasoverturnedbythe44thamendmenttotheConstitution
13. ^NCERTTextBookForPoliticalScienceonEmergency(p.112)
14. ^H.R.Khanna.MakingofIndia'sConstitution(http://www.ebcwebstore.com/product_info.php?
products_id=100108&id=4&set=1?SSL).EasternBookCo,Lucknow,1981.ISBN9788170121084.
15. ^V.Venkatesan,Revisitingaverdict(http://www.hindu.com/fline/fl2901/stories/20120127290107100.htm)
Frontline(vol.29Issue01::1427Jan.2012)
16. ^"ThecasethatsavedIndiandemocracy"(http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/oped/thecasethatsavedindian
democracy/article4647800.ece).TheHindu(24April2013).Retrieved4September2013.

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