New Delhi: “The President has declared a state of emergency.” There is nothing to be concerned about.” – When Prime Minister Indira Gandhi said these words on All India Radio, few realised it was the beginning of a dark period in Indian politics. Indira Gandhi made the announcement just hours after then-President Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed, on her advice, signed the order late that night on June 25. As the country remembers one of the most turbulent periods in its history since independence, here’s a primer on the Emergency: While Gandhi was wildly popular in India following India’s victory over Pakistan in the 1971 war, she had to deal with several issues, including food scarcity, rising unemployment, and rampant inflation. The situation was exacerbated further by student protests led by Jayaprakash Narayan, who denounced the Congress’s corruption and demanded Indira Gandhi’s resignation.
