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About Her
Full Name: Indira Priyadarshini Gandhi
Date of Birth: November 19, 1917
Place of Birth: Allahabad, British India (now in Uttar Pradesh, India)
Date of Death: October 31, 1984 -
Leadership Role & Achievements
Strong Decisive Leader – Took bold decisions, including nationalizing banks and industries.
Led India to Victory (1971 War) – Helped create Bangladesh, strengthening India’s global position.
Boosted Agriculture (Green Revolution) – Increased food production and reduced dependency on imports.
Resilient Visionary – Despite political challenges, she returned to power in 1980, showing strong leadership.
First Female Prime Minister of India – Inspired women in politics and leadership worldwide. -
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Indira Gandhi as Prime Minister (1966–1977, 1980–1984)
First and only female Prime Minister of India to date.
Strengthened India's economy through bank nationalization and industrial policies.
Led India to victory in the 1971 war, leading to the creation of Bangladesh.
Developed India's nuclear program, making India a global power.
Faced political challenges, including the 1975–77 Emergency and later re-election in 1980.
Assassinated in 1984 due to the aftermath of Operation Blue Star. -
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1966–1977: Introduced the Green Revolution
Introduced high-yield variety (HYV) seeds to increase crop production.
Expanded the use of fertilizers and irrigation for better agricultural output.
Made India self-sufficient in food grains, reducing dependency on imports.
Helped fight famine and improve rural livelihoods.
Led to economic growth and modernization of Indian agriculture. -
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Led India to Victory in the 1971 War
Supported Bangladesh’s Liberation Movement against Pakistan.
Provided refuge to millions of Bangladeshi civilians fleeing conflict.
Strengthened India’s military strategy and formed global alliances.
Declared war on Pakistan in December 1971, leading to a swift victory.
Pakistan surrendered on December 16, 1971, leading to the creation of Bangladesh.
Enhanced India's global reputation as a strong and decisive leader. -
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1974: Conducted India’s first nuclear test (Smiling Buddha)
Conducted on May 18, 1974, at Pokhran, Rajasthan.
Made India the first nuclear-armed country outside the five permanent UN Security Council members.
Strengthened India's defense and global standing as a nuclear power.
Carried out under Indira Gandhi’s leadership, showcasing her bold decision-making. -
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Indira Gandhi’s Return to Power (1980)
Won the 1980 general elections with a landslide victory.
Re-established strong leadership after being out of power for three years.
Focused on economic revival and political stability.
Strengthened central authority and government control.
Marked the beginning of her second term as Prime Minister. -
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Operation Blue Star & Assassination of Indira Gandhi (1984)
Ordered Operation Blue Star in June 1984 to remove armed militants from the Golden Temple.
The military action led to significant casualties, including civilian deaths.
Created unrest among Sikh communities, leading to nationwide tensions.
On October 31, 1984, she was assassinated by her Sikh bodyguards in retaliation.
Her death triggered anti-Sikh riots across India.