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Indira Ganhi was born on 19 November 1917 in Allahabad, India, to Jawaharlal Nehru and Kamala Nehru. -
She studied at Visva-Bharati University, Santiniketan from 1934-1935.
1937-1941 she studied at Somerville College, Oxford, but left without completing her degree -
January 26, 1950 – India became a Republic, and she played an active role as Nehru’s assistant.
1955 – Became a key member of the Congress Working Committee.
1959 – Elected President of the Indian National Congress.
1964 – Appointed Minister of Information Broadcasting after Nehru’s death. -
January 24, 1966 – Sworn in as Prime Minister of India, after the sudden death of Lal Bahadur Shastri.
July 19, 1969 – Nationalized 14 major banks to promote financial inclusion.
December 3-16, 1971 – Indo-Pakistan War; led to the creation of Bangladesh.
May 18, 1974 – India conducted its first nuclear test (Smiling Buddha) in Pokhran.
June 25, 1975 – Declared Emergency due to political unrest, lasting 21 months. -
Indira Gandhi, India’s first female Prime Minister, redefined leadership and inspired women in politics. She nationalized banks, led the Green Revolution, and strengthened India’s global position with the 1971 Indo-Pak war victory. Despite criticisms, she proved women could lead decisively, paving the way for future female leaders. Her legacy remains a symbol of strength and transformation, making a lasting impact on India’s progress and women’s empowerment.
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June 3-6, 1984 – Ordered Operation Blue Star, a military action at the Golden Temple to remove Sikh militants.
October 31, 1984 – Assassinated by her Sikh bodyguards, Beant Singh and Satwant Singh, in retaliation for Operation Blue Star.