The 1975-1977 Emergency was a nationwide period of authoritarian rule declared by Prime Minister Indira Gandhi on 25 June 1975. It suspended civil liberties, muzzled the press, and led to mass arrests of political dissidents. Fifty years later, the Indian government officially commemorates this day as ‘Samvidhaan Hatya Diwas’ to honour those who defended democracy. While there are still many today of the generation that went through the experience, young people can only become aware of this dark chapter in India’s history by being informed factually on the subject. This is so that history is not repeated.
The 21-month crisis was triggered by the Allahabad High Court invalidating then PM Indira Gandhi’s election, and growing unrest from the movement led by Jayaprakash Narayan. As a result, fundamental rights were suspended under Article 352, pre-censorship was imposed on newspapers, and roughly 100,000 political leaders and activists were imprisoned without trial. The period is heavily criticised for forced mass-campaigns and slum demolitions, heavily driven by Indira’s son, Sanjay Gandhi. Under pressure, Indira Gandhi called for elections in 1977, expecting a victory. Instead, the newly formed Janata Party won, forming India’s first non-Congress government. The backlash reshaped India’s constitutional and legal landscape, leading to the creation of the Shah Commission and adding stringent democratic safeguards to prevent a unilateral suspension of rights in the future.
The era is widely taught as one of the darkest chapters in Indian democracy, and its lessons are actively incorporated into modern educational curriculums, such as being featured in NCERT Class 9 textbooks. It should not just serve as political propaganda but as a safeguard against devaluation of the democratic process. Importantly, it is not just those in power who have the responsibility of remaining on the straight and narrow, but also the opposition. It may be recalled that Indira Gandhi returned to power when the ruling Janata Party fell apart due to ineptitude and individual political aspirations. What followed were even greater political challenges that culminated in the assassinations of Indira and Rajiv Gandhi.
So, when concern is being expressed about the ‘Samvidhaan’ in the present, one needs to look at the present state of the nation’s affairs. The opposition is in almost complete disarray, mostly because of ideological bankruptcy. The various parties have failed to establish proper democratic functioning within and only the dynastic order prevails. They have to set a better example than the ruling party to win over the people’s support. That would truly represent adherence to constitutional values.
