Prime Minister Indira Gandhi's car sped through the streets of Lutyens' Delhi early in the morning. It was a special day. The civic administration had cleared the streets of beggars and stray cows. One of the effects of the Emergency was that the streets of the capital now appeared clean and orderly.
Indira was heading towards the Red Fort. It was the 15th of August, 1975. She had to address the nation from the ramparts of the Red Fort and restore the lost freedoms to the people. Indira was set to make a major announcement regarding the Emergency. Just then, her protocol chief delivered shocking news. It was something she couldn’t have imagined. It was unbelievable. The protocol chief informed her that her friend and President of Bangladesh, along with his family, had been assassinated. Indira was shattered. She believed this was the work of the CIA.
The coup in Bangladesh on August 5 brought several events in history back to life. The emergence of Bangladesh as a new nation, the declaration of the Emergency in India, and the massacre of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's family—all these events were interconnected.
Today, when Bangladesh is experiencing violence, these events remind us of the political turmoil in South Asia during the 1970s.
Spanish author Javier Moro detailed the Bangladesh Liberation War, the Emergency in India, and Indira's personality extensively in his book
'The Red Sari'
Under extraordinary circumstances, Indira Gandhi had declared a nationwide Emergency on June 25, 1975, but she didn’t intend to extend it indefinitely.
Indira Wanted the Emergency for Only Two Months
Javier Moro writes in his book,
"Indira told Pupul that she intended to impose the Emergency for only two months to implement a 20-point program designed to put the nation on a development path."
Pupul Jayakar was a close friend of Indira and had access to her inner circle.
Source: aajtak
So, was the time approaching on August 15, 1975, just 50 days after imposing the Emergency, that Indira wished to end it?
Javier Moro writes in 'The Red Sari,'
"Indira intended to announce the end of the Emergency in the same place and on the same day where her father had delivered his famous speech 28 years ago."
He further wrote,
"As Indira was heading to the Red Fort, her protocol chief delivered the distressing news that her friend, Bangladesh's President Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, had been overthrown in a military coup, and worse, his entire family was murdered to erase their lineage."
An Emotion-Laden Speech by Indira
This news deeply shook Indira. Describing Indira's speech that day, Javier Moro writes,
"Her speech from the Red Fort was overwhelmed with emotions, as if she was struggling to hold back the tides of her feelings. Pupul listened to a speech filled with references to freedom, the need for tough measures, sacrifice, service, courage, faith, and democracy, but not a single word about the Emergency."
According to Javier, this incident plunged Indira into severe insecurity. She was convinced that she would be the next target. The RAW chief confirmed several conspiracies to eliminate her. According to Pupul, she grew extremely suspicious and fearful, feeling as if enemies lurked behind every shadow.
"My Grandson is Sheikh Rahman's Son's Age; What if..."
Javier writes that Indira told Pupul Jayakar,
"Who can I trust? My grandson is the same age as Sheikh Rahman's son; what if they come for him next? They want to decimate me and my family by any means necessary."
It was the first time Indira felt that not only her life but also the lives of her entire family were at stake.
Given the political climate, Indira found herself trapped in a vicious cycle with no apparent escape. According to Moro, crowds made her feel safe, but now she felt scared even at home. She was truly fearful for her life, the threat to her power, and was frustrated by not achieving desired outcomes despite numerous struggles.
Javier Moro asserts that these events influenced Indira’s decision not to end the Emergency immediately. He writes,
"She felt it was more appropriate to extend the Emergency and detain more individuals without trial to ensure her and her family's security."
"Do Not Sleep in the Room Near the Main Door"
During this period, Indira was particularly concerned about Sanjay Gandhi's safety. She was so terrified that she forbade Sanjay from sleeping in the room near the main entrance. 'The Red Sari' mentions,
"I don't want you to sleep in the room near the main door; it's not safe. It's better if you sleep in the room at the end of the corridor, opposite my room. When a friend asked the reason, she explained that she felt better knowing Sanjay was nearby so she could call for assistance at any time."
Despite her Iron Lady image, Indira Gandhi was profoundly impacted by the assassination of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. Concerned for her safety, she chose not to lift the Emergency immediately, although there were internal political reasons for her decision.
A Teacher's Sterilization Story Moved Indira
Sanjay Gandhi's sterilization program was gaining negative attention. Indira realized its impact when a poor villager, with worn-out shoes, reached Akbar Road in Delhi after a five-day journey to inform her that despite having only one daughter, he was forcibly sterilized, and the police had brutally beaten him. Indira was deeply moved by his story.
By this time, almost 19 months had passed since the Emergency was imposed. Indira was now ready to make a significant decision about the Emergency. However, Sanjay wanted to wait another year, believing that people would forget the issues and rumors would subside if leaders were released after a year.
This time, Indira did not acquiesce to her stubborn son. On January 18, 1977, she surprised the nation by announcing elections within two months. She added, 'This opportunity will end all confusion and misconceptions.' Consequently, the Emergency ended with the election results in March 1977.
