An account of how democracy was suspended in India for 21 months

It had been over two decades since India became independent from British Rule which lasted for around 200 years. Like most nations that have been ravaged by colonialism, India's journey to stability was by no means smooth

But despite the bumpy ride, India had remained a democracy with five national elections and as many state elections taking place all over the nation. 

Winning all of these national elections was the Indian National Congress (INC), a party that was formed to provide organizational support for India’s freedom struggle.

The Prime Minister of India was the head of the INC, Indira Gandhi, who won reelection in 1971 by a landslide.

Her popularity was at its peak following India’s victory over Pakistan in a war in 1971.

But there were other grave issues simmering across the nation at the grassroots.

Unemployment was through the roof, inflation was sky-high and there was a scarcity of food. There was misgovernance and rampant corruption in government. Many began to regard Indira Gandhi as unsuited to govern. Some were troubled by her authoritarian style of function.

Soon protests began across the nation from a grassroots movement called the People’s Front. Leading these protests was Jayaprakash Narayan, a former freedom activist. Narayan’s protest rallies attracted thousands of people from all walks of life such as farmers, workers, intellectuals, etc.

The genesis of these protests was students demonstrating against corruption and inflation in the state of Gujarat.

In parallel Raj Narain, who contested the parliamentary polls against Gandhi in 1971, filed a lawsuit against her in State Court alleging bribery and the misuse of government machinery to manipulate the election.

Gandhi was found guilty of electoral practices and her election was declared null and void by 12 June 1975. She was disqualified, and barred from holding an elected office for six years.

All major opposition leaders united calling for daily anti-government protests in response to the judgment against Gandhi on 22 June 1975.

India’s Supreme Court granted a conditional stay on the judgment against Gandhi, allowing her to remain as prime minister while her appeal was reviewed on 24 June 1975. The Court also ordered her to not oversee any governmental proceedings.

On 25 June 1975, Jayaprakash Narayan, the leader of the People’s Front led a large protest in India’s capital of Delhi which was attended by 100,000 people. Narayan lambasted corruption and misgovernance, he also demanded Gandhi’s resignation.

A few minutes before midnight on that very day Indira Gandhi declared an emergency.

She cited three reasons for this declaration.

Gandhi claims India’s security and democracy were in danger owing to the movement launched by Jayaprakash Narayan which she branded as anarchistic and insurrectional.

Gandhi claimed sinister foreign powers were conspiring to destabilize the nation.

Gandhi claimed there was a need for rapid economic development and upliftment of the underprivileged for which the emergency was essential.

Indira’s son Sanjay who profited due to numerous shady deals under his mother's government was among the primary proponents of the emergency. He led a notorious mandatory sterilization program months later.

By 26 June 1975, Gandhi’s Cabinet ratified the decision to impose the Emergency and by July it was passed in Parliament.

So what did the emergency look like?

Since newspapers were the only media available, hence Gandhi’s government cut off the supply of electricity to major newspaper offices. When power was restored the next day freedom was lost as the government applied tactics of intimation against both individuals and organizations.

State TV and Radio were heavily censored and those who opposed the emergency were banned. Certain movies that were deemed subversive were banned.

Laws were amended to allow the detention without a trial of any person who may pose a ‘threat’ to the nation by voicing opposition.

Nonpolitical but cultural organizations that were seen as a ‘threat’ to democracy, were banned.

In parallel a resistance movement against the tyranny of Indira Gandhi picked up, part of that movement was Indian current Prime Minister Modi was a 25-year-old back then.

Most opposition leaders of any consequence who were part of the resistance were arrested, this included the leader of the movement Jayaprakash Narayan.

By 2^nd November 1975, the Indian Constitution was amended which resulted in a reduction of the power of the judiciary to determine the constitutional validity of laws. It gave Indira Gandhi’s Prime Minister’s Office unparalleled powers.

In all 140,000 people were arrested without trial during the Emergency many were subjected to sub-human conditions. The people detained ranged from adversarial journalists and even newspaper vendors.

The leader of the popular opposition, Jayaprakash Narayan, developed severe health problems following his release from Prison leading to many people wandering if he was poisoned.

There were numerous reports of suspicious deaths and disappearances during that time.

The imposition of curfews without warnings was common.

Vigilante groups empowered by the government would police their localities to monitor ‘insurrectional’ activities, and those deemed guilty were subjected to violence and humiliation.

The fear was so considerable that people were petrified to be critical of the government even with friends because the government has spies all over. There were reports of phones being tapped and letters being monitored.

The unwritten rule was that those who didn’t report subversive activities would be regarded as part of the anarchist conspiracy.

The emergency also empowered the worst kind of instincts among Indira Gandhi’s cronies.

The BBC correspondent Mark Tully was expelled for reporting about the situation and was even threatened with violence.

In January 1977, Gandhi called for fresh elections, while political prisoners were released.

The emergency was repealed on 21 March 1977, that very month Gandhi suffered a humiliating electoral defeat leading the way to the first non-Congress national government in India.

So did Gandhi get away with the emergency for 21 long months?

Because those with the power who stopped her crawled when asked to bend and prostate when asked to crawl. This included government agencies, her colleagues, the media, and the judiciary, all of whom

There were citizens who truly believe in the narrative of subversive forces taking over India and cheered Indira Gandhi being tough the ‘insurrectionists’

There were some who were delighted that governments were operating smoothly and efficiently because officials feared being reported, dismissed, and perhaps even detained.

Many who were part of the regime during the emergency told reporters and others later that they were surprised at how easy it was to subvert the course of democracy.

Here’s a conversation between India’s leading journalists Madhu Trehan and Coomi Kapoor about the emergency.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qsKqdLJB6zY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=24-APN1XT6Y

There was nothing particularly inventive about the emergency, Gandhi was merely following the playbook adopted by dictators all over the world.

Fortunately, India’s resistance prevailed by rallying support across the nation and beyond and India returned to becoming a democracy.

There are parallels between the actions of Indira Gandhi during the 1970s and that of the Democrats since the election of Donald Trump in November 2016.

President Trump’s recent indictment is a turning point that should wake everybody up.

It was America’s turn to resist and learn lessons from the emergency imposed in India almost five decades ago.

Eternal vigilance is the price to pay for freedom.

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