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Indira Gandhi
Born November 19, 1917 -
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Early Political Involvement (1947-1966)
Leadership role-1947 – Actively assisted her father, Jawaharlal Nehru, India's first Prime Minister, in political affairs.
Impact on society- Her early exposure to national and international politics shaped her ability to manage crises and understand India's complexities. -
Political Movement
Leadership Role achievement - 1955 – Became a key member of the Indian National Congress (INC).
Impact on society women's leadership- Her leadership in the INC positioned her as a prominent figure within Indian politics. -
Political Movement
Leadership role achievement - 1959 – Elected President of the Indian National Congress.
Impact on society women's leadership- It demonstrated her political acumen and her ability to inspire and lead within one of India’s largest political parties. -
Political Movement
Leadership role achievement- 1964 – After Nehru's death, she became Minister of Information and Broadcasting in Lal Bahadur Shastri’s government.
Impact on women's leadership- It demonstrated her political acumen and her ability to inspire and lead within one of India’s largest political parties. -
Political Movement
Leadership role achievement- 1966 – After Shastri’s sudden death, she was chosen as India’s first female Prime Minister.
Impact on society- Her leadership would later be defined by strong, decisive actions, centralization of power, and bold policy changes. -
First Term as a Prime Minister
Leadership role achievement- 1971 – Led India to victory in the Indo-Pak War, which led to the creation of Bangladesh.
Impact on society- Strengthened India's global reputation as a strong regional power. -
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Leadership Qualities of Indira Gandhi
Leadership role achievement- Decisiveness – She was known for making bold and sometimes controversial decisions, such as nationalizing banks and imposing the Emergency (1975-77).
Impact on society-Increased political stability and economic efficiency in the short term. -
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First term as a Prime Minister
Leadership role-1975-77 – Declared Emergency, curbing civil liberties and jailing opposition leaders.
Impact on society- Suppressed democratic rights, leading to widespread protests and discontent. -
Setback
Formed the Congress (I) faction after a split in the party. -
Setback
1977 – Lost elections due to public backlash against the Emergency and was briefly out of power. -
Comeback
Made a stunning comeback as Prime Minister after winning elections. -
Second Term
Leadership role- Launched the Sixth Five-Year Plan, focusing on rural development and industrial growth.
Impact on society- Boosted agricultural and industrial productivity, strengthening the Indian economy. -
Second Term
Leadership role- Hosted the Asian Games in New Delhi, modernizing sports infrastructure.
Impact on society-Upgraded Delhi’s infrastructure, including roads, stadiums, and public transport.
Boosted India’s global reputation in sports and event management. -
Death
October 31, 1984 – Assassinated by her Sikh bodyguards in retaliation for Operation Blue Star.