Step into the world of political prowess, charisma, and controversy as we unveil 15 intriguing nuggets about the enigmatic Iron Lady of India – Indira Gandhi. From power plays to pearls of wisdom, get ready to embark on a journey through history that will leave you both enlightened and entertained. Buckle up, because we’re about to unravel the mystique surrounding one of the most iconic figures in the world of politics!
1-5 Fun Facts About Indira Gandhi
1. She was the only child of India’s first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru.
2. She is unrelated to Mohandas Gandhi.
3. Even at the age of 12, Indira Gandhi played a role in India’s journey to self-determination. Leading the Vanar Sena, a group inspired by the monkey army in the Ramayana, she rallied 60000 young revolutionaries who aided in various activities for the cause.
4. Indira Gandhi received education in Swiss schools and at Somerville College, Oxford.
5. After Lal Bahadur Shastri’s death, she became the Prime Minister in 1966 and nationalized 14 banks during her first term.
6-10 Insane Facts About Indira Gandhi
6. Her tenure was marked by significant events, including a sweeping blackout period from 1975 to 1977, which saw political opponents imprisoned and the press silenced.
7. When Indira Gandhi declared an Emergency in India, Times of India carried a front page obituary that read “D.E.M O’Cracy beloved husband of T.Ruth, father of L.I.Bertie, brother of Faith, Hope, and Justica expired on 26 June”. Later censorship was imposed on newspapers.
8. She supported the independence movement in East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) and led India to victory in the war against Pakistan in 1971.
9. The USSR had its own version of the Nobel Prize, initially named after Stalin and later after Lenin, with notable recipients including WEB Dubois, Fidel Castro, Pablo Picasso, and Nelson Mandela.
10. In 1984, she ordered the storming of the Harmandir Sahib in Amritsar to counter the Punjab insurgency and was later assassinated by her Sikh bodyguards.
11-15 Shocking Facts About Indira Gandhi
11. Her bodyguards had fired 31 bullets at her, 30 of which had struck her; 23 had passed through her body, and 7 were caught inside her.
12. In the aftermath of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi’s assassination, the city of Delhi witnessed devastating violence, resulting in the deaths of approximately 2,100 Sikhs. The quote “When a big tree falls, the earth shakes” from her son and newly sworn-in Prime Minister, Rajiv Gandhi, became an unfortunate embodiment of the tragic events.
13. Indira Gandhi was the only female Prime Minister of India.
14. Known as the “Iron Lady of India,” Indira Gandhi earned her reputation for strong decision-making and a no-nonsense attitude in politics.
15. In the realm of education, the Indira Gandhi National Open University holds the record as the largest university globally, boasting an impressive enrollment of approximately 3.5 million students.
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