Indira Gandhi death anniversary: What you need to know about the Iron Lady of India

Indira Gandhi was the only daughter of Jawaharlal Nehru and Kamala Nehru. She was born on November 19, 1917. After her father Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi became the second longest-serving Prime Minister of India. Popularly known as the Iron Lady of India for liberating Bangladesh and taking tough decisions during her tenure, Gandhi was gunned down by her two Sikh bodyguards after she gave the go-ahead to flush out terrorists from Amritsar's Golden Temple during Operation Bluestar on the 31st of October 1984.

Indira Gandhi nationalised banks and also abolished the privy purses of the royal families in India, which created much upheavel during those days and established her credentials as a tough leader. Gandhi also introduced the Green Movement to ensure food security for the burgeoning population of India. India fought Pakistan under her leadership and liberated Bangladesh. Indira showed indomitable spirit when India fought Pakistan despite solid opposition from the USA, who, along with allied powers like France and the UK, demonstrated their might in the Bay of Bengal.

Indira declared the emergency after she was asked to resign as Prime Minister for irregularities in the election process. She refused to step down and put many opposition leaders in jail. Indira lost the following elections in 1977 but made a grand return to power in 1980 and remained PM till her death in 1984.


Indira Gandhi received the Bharat Ratna award. She also studied in Shantiniketan, where Guru Rabindranath Tagore named her Priyadarshini.

FAQs on the same:

1. What was Indira Gandhi’s husband’s name?
   Feroze Gandhi
2. What was Indira Gandhi’s portfolio in PM Shastri’s cabinet?
   The Information and Broadcasting Minister