The Emergency in India: A Dark Chapter in Indian Democracy
Prime Minister Indira Gandhi announced the Emergency in India on June 25, 1975, and it lasted until March 21, 1977. It was one of the most contentious and difficult times in the country's post-independence history. India's democratic fabric was severely impacted during this 21-month period by the suspension of constitutional rights, massive political repression, and press control. Background and Causes The June 12, 1975, ruling of the Allahabad High Court, which found Indira Gandhi guilty of electoral malpractices and ruled her election to the Lok Sabha illegal, served as the immediate impetus for the Emergency. Gandhi convinced President Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed to issue a state of emergency, saying internal disturbances, in response to growing political pressure and the threat of losing power. Still, the Emergency had deeper origins. Social trouble economic hardships, and political instability characterized the early 1970s. Widespread discontent has been exacerbated by foo...