Author: Anser Kidwai
Publisher: Global Media
Year: 2005
Language: English
Pages: 220
ISBN/UPC (if available): 8188869147
Description
The book is one of the best biographies of the legendary former Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi who was assassinated by her own bodyguards in the year 1984.
Indira despite 22 years since her death lives in the hearts of millions of Indians particularly villagers in the country for whom the word India was synonymous with Indira.
Twenty years have gone by since Indira Gandhi fell victim to the assassins. Even her sharpest critics have relented and started a reappraisal of India Gandhi’s historic role in keeping the polity from disintegrating and her indelible contribution to making India a strong, stale and self-reliant nation. Politically and socially the country started drifting towards the nadir marked by the rise of mafia politicians and musclemen. The disintegration of the Soviet Union led to the emergence of a unipolar world that, in turn, marked the birth of new imperialism and neo-colonialism.
A large section of the country’s political leadership felt content with playing second fiddle to the lone superpower, even kowtowing to its diktats. This all-round erosion of values gave rise to disgust and dis-illusionment of the people with the new class of politicians making them synonymous with corruption and symbols of money-spinning and opportunism in their love for power.
Indira Gandhi, all her life, had worked to stem this all-round deterioration. She gave her people ideals to live by and strengthen their self-confident and self-belief. Emergency was indeed a mere aberration in her long career as prime minister spread over 16 years.
Contents
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
INTRODUCTION
PART I
The coming
Azamgarh: The Battle Of Ballots
Chikmagalur: Snakes And Ladders
Samastipur: A Rash OF Reverses
Interludes: An Interview Of Sorts
Victory And On
An African Safari: Seychelles
Europe: destination United Nations
An Overview (1980-84)
Passage To History
PART II
Epilogue
Now, Sonia Gandhi
Appendix A
Appendix B
Appendix C-1
Appendix C-II
Appendix D