In 1984, the news of the tragic death of Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi was broadcast on all television channels. She entered the history of world politics as one of the wisest, most courageous and courageous women politicians of the twentieth century.
Indira Gandhi: biography (childhood and teens)
November 19, 1917 in the Indian city of Allahabad in a family belonging to the highest caste of brahmanas, a girl was born, who was called Indira, which from Indian translates as "Country of the Moon." Her grandfather, Motilal Nehru, and her father, Jawaharlal Nehru, belonged to the Indian National Congress (INC) - a party advocating for self-government and independence of India. They were both respected by the people. When she was 2 years old, they were visited by the "father" of the Indian people, Mahatma Gandhi. He caressed the beautiful baby and stroked her head. A quarter of a century later, she will become his surname and will be named Indira Gandhi. Her biography tells that when she was eight years old, at the insistence of the same Mahatma Gandhi, she organized a children's club (union) on the development of weaving in her hometown. From childhood, Indira was involved in public life, often took part in demonstrations and rallies. She was a very smart and capable girl. At the age of 17, Indira entered the People's University of India, however, after studying there for two years, she interrupted her studies. The reason was the death of the mother. After a while, the girl left for Europe. Soon she entered one of Oxford colleges and began to study anthropology, world history, and management. In Europe, she met her longtime friend Feroz Gandhi, and her childhood sympathy grew into true love. During a tour of Paris, in the spirit of French novels, he made Indira an offer of marriage, and she could not resist. But first you had to get the blessing of your father, and for this you need to go to India.
Political career Indira Gandhi
With the outbreak of World War II, Indira decided to return home. Her path ran through South Africa. In Cape Town, she gave a fiery speech to Indian immigrants. Everyone was amazed at the intelligence and strength of this fragile young girl. Returning to her homeland, she married Feroz, and henceforth began to be called Indira Gandhi. Her biography from this moment begins to count the achievements of the daughter of Jawaharlal Nehru in the political field. Immediately after marriage, Indira and her husband, journalist Feroz Gandhi, had to spend time in a prison cell instead of a honeymoon. She spent a whole year in prison for her political views . In 1944, Indira gave birth to a son, who was named Rajiv. Her second son, Sanjay, was born two years later. A year after this, Indira became the assistant and personal secretary of her father, who by that time had been elected the first prime minister of independent India. She accompanied him on all foreign trips, and her husband was with the children forever in the shadow of his bright wife. After 18 years of marriage, Feroz died. Indira was barely able to cope with the loss. For some time, she moved away from politics, but soon came to her senses, pulled herself together and set to work again.
Indira Gandhi (photos in her youth and adulthood confirm this) was distinguished by her beauty and charm, but she never married a second time. From time to time, she recalled the time when she was happy next to Feroz, and her heart was breaking apart, but she had to work and help her father. In 1964,
Jawaharlal Nehru died of a heart attack. After his death, the new Prime Minister offered Indira the post of Minister of Information, and two years later she herself headed the Indian cabinet, becoming one of the first women - heads of government around the world. She then turned 47 years old. This beautiful, bright and intelligent woman led India for 12 years, right up to her tragic death.
The killing of Indira Gandhi
It was 1984. In India, the political situation was not the best. Sikh extremists were rioting the country, and Indira ordered the Blue Star operation to suppress their hooligan actions. As a result, many Sikhs died, and they announced their intention to kill Indira Gandhi. Among her guards were several Sikhs, and her family strongly advised them to get rid of them. But she did not want to show that she was afraid of their threats. On this day, Indira was to meet with the famous English writer and playwright Peter Ustinov. Dozens of reporters from television and radio came to meet with them. She, dressed in a golden sari, was already entering the hall where Ustinov and the journalists were waiting for her. At this time, one of her guards took aim and shot at her, the other two guards also began to shoot at her body. At the hospital, doctors fought for her life for four hours, but Indira Gandhi died without regaining consciousness. October 31, a black date went down in the history of India as a day when the great daughter of the Indian people, Indira Gandhi, was killed. Her biography is interrupted at this. In a few years, her son, Rajiv Gandhi, will also be killed.